Attorney Education in Child Custody and Visitation Matters in 2010 and Beyond
September 16, 2010 - September 17, 2010
8:30-4:00; 8:30-1:00
10.00 MCLE hours, including 2.75 approved Professional Responsibility MCLE credit hours
Presented by Bench and Bar
Co-sponsored by Child Law and Family Law
Robinson, IL
Lincoln Trail College
11220 State Highway 1
(map and directions)
This two-day program is designed to help those attorneys who represent children. Under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 906(c)*, attorneys should receive ten hours of education every two years in child development, roles of guardians ad litem and child representatives, ethics in child custody cases, relevant substantive state, federal, and case law in custody and visitation matters, and family dynamics, including substance abuse, domestic abuse, and mental health issues.
Topics for this video replay seminar include: legislative and case law updates; statues and rules; issues in protecting children; parental custody rights; scheduling parenting time; jurisdiction issues and removing children from Illinois; orders of protection; handling contested custody and visitation matters; mediating disputes involving children; drafting agreements; settlement conferences; evaluations; electronic opportunities for children and families. The roles of attorney, child representative and guardian ad litem are also discussed. A live panel of distinguished Second Judicial Circuit judges and practitioners will offer experiential advice on how to handle contested custody issues and visitation matters.
On-Site Program Coordinator/Moderator:
Hon. Christopher L. Weber, 2nd Judicial Circuit Court, Robinson
Video Replay Program Coordinator/Moderator:
Hon. Michael J. Chmiel, Twenty-Second Judicial Circuit, Woodstock
Julie Ann Sebastian, Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, Chicago
Agenda
Thursday, September 16, 2010
8:30 – 8:45 a.m. Welcome and Introductions
8:45 – 10:15 a.m. Legislative and Case Law Update
Hon. Linda E. Davenport, Eighteenth Judicial Circuit, Wheaton
Prof. Jeff Atkinson, DePaul University College of Law, Chicago
10:15 – 10:30 a.m. Break (beverages provided)
10:30 – 11:15 a.m. Emerging Issues in Protecting Children
Hon. Elizabeth A. Levy, 3rd Judicial Circuit Court, Edwardsville
11:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Mediating Disputes Involving Children***
Joseph Canevello, Connections Counseling, Crystal Lake
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Lunch** (provided)
1:00 – 1:30 p.m. Pursuing and Defending Against Emergency, Interim, and Plenary Orders of Protection
Andrea M. Schleifer, Andrea M. Schleifer & Associates, P.C., Chicago
1:30 – 2:15 p.m. Establishing and Modifying the Custody Rights of Parents
Sandra Crawford, Law Crawford, P.C.. Chicago
2:15 – 3:00 p.m. Structuring and Scheduling Parenting Time
Michael K. Goldberg, Goldberg Law Group, Chicago
3:00 – 3:15 p.m. Break (refreshments provided)
3:15 – 4:00 p.m. Roundtable Discussion on How to Handle Contested Custody and Visitation Matters (Live Panel Presentation)
Steven Ayers, Cox, Phillips, Weber, Tedford, Heap & Ayers, P.C., Robinson
Lindsey Floyd, Law Offices of James D. Stout, Bridgeport
Hon. Kimbara G. Harrell, 2nd Judicial Circuit Court, Olney
Jon J. Racklin, Clark Hough & Racklin Ltd, Olney
Hon. Stephen G. Sawyer, 2nd Judicial Circuit Court, Mt. Carmel
Hon. Mark L. Shaner, 2nd Judicial Circuit Court, Robinson
William K. Thomas, Attorney at Law, Robinson
C. Bradley Vaughn, Attorney at Law, Olney
Tom L. Weber, Attorney at Law, Olney
Friday, September 17, 2010
8:30 – 9:45 a.m. Analyzing the Mix Between and Among Parents and Children***
Dr. Louis Kraus, M.D., Northbrook
9:45 – 10:30 a.m. Dealing with Other Jurisdictions and Allowing Children to be Removed from Illinois
Gunnar J. Gitlin, The Gitlin Law Firm, P.C., Woodstock
10:30 – 10:45 a.m. Break (refreshments provided)
10:45 – 11:30 a.m. Engaging Settlement Conferences and Drafting Agreements***
Sandra Blake, Life Span, De Plaines
11:30 a.m. – 12:15 a.m. Taking on the Role of Attorney, Child Representative, or Guardian Ad Litem
Michael Ruzicka, Illinois Department of Children & Family Services, Fairview Heights
12:15 – 1:00 p.m. Electronic Opportunities for Children and Families
Hon. Michael J. Chmiel, Twenty-Second Judicial Circuit, Woodstock
*S.Ct. Rule 906 addresses attorney qualifications and education in child custody and visitation matters
**Lunch on Thursday is sponsored by the Crawford County Bar Association
***Approved Professional Responsibility MCLE credit