Family Law Docket

2005 Trial Advocacy Institute Scheduled
for May 21-28, 2005
Whether you are a new Family Law attorney or a seasoned veteran simply wanting to polish up on your trial skills, this program is for you. A sell-out every year, the Advocacy Institute is an intense eight-day program held each May at the University of Houston Law Center. Mark your Calendar and be on the lookout for more information to be posted to our website by the end of November.

2004 Howard C. Schwab Memorial Essay Results
We are pleased to announce the winners of the 2004 Howard C. Schwab Memorial Essay Contest. The contest was very successful again this year, yielding more than 80 requests for entry forms and almost 40 essays entered. Marketing efforts for this years’ contest will begin in the late fall. The deadline will be Monday, April 4th, 2005.

2004-2005
Committee Chairs
and Vice Chairs Selected
Section Chair, Peggy Podell, has appointed over 50 members to lead our committees this year. View the Committee Chairs and Vice Chairs or find out how to join one of our committees.

Section Council Meets at Fall Meeting in Milwaukee
The Section of Family Law held a Council meeting on Friday, October 22 during the Fall Meeting. Read the Council Meeting Minutes

Section Honors Wisconsin Pro Bono Attorneys
Earlier this month the Section of Family Law honored four Wisconsin attorneys for their pro bono service.

Convention on the
Rights of the Child
in the 21st Century
The 4th World Congress on Family Law and Children’s Rights will convene March 20th-23rd in Cape Town, South Africa. The Section is one of the programs many sponsors, view the brochure and read what this great cause is all about.

Family Law Section
& the Commission
on Immigration seek
Pro Bono Assistance
The Section is currently partnering with the ABA Commission on Immigration to provide pro bono assistance for unaccompanied immigrant child victims of persecution, trafficking and other violence. Find out more

Articles

Discovery of Mental
Health Records in
Custody Disputes
by Carlton Stansbury

Contested custody cases can present a conflict between the court’s interest in searching out the truth and a party’s right to privacy as recognized by the privilege surrounding one’s mental health records. This month’s featured article, which covers a topic that was featured at the recent Fall Meeting in Milwaukee, explores how this conflict impacts both the parents in dramatically different ways, and impacts the guardian ad litem’s ability to evaluate the child’s best interests.

New Publications
Section releases revised editions of two popular books. Take advantage of special members only prices, and order your copy today. Call the ABA Service Center at 800-285-2221 or order online at www.ababooks.org

The Business Tax Return Handbook, a valuable resource offering practitioners a line-by-line guide through business tax returns to gather vital information. Price: $79.95.

The Complete QDRO Handbook, a comprehensive manual providing basic knowledge and advanced techniques of all aspects of the substantive law of QDROs. Price: $119.95.


Past and Present CLE
and Events Information

Fall Meeting: Post-Conference Wrap-Up
Over 250 Section of Family Law members and their guests attended the Fall Committee and CLE Meeting in Milwaukee, Wisconsin from October 20 – 23. Read the Wrap Up.

Couldn’t make it to Milwaukee? A limited number of Conference Course Books and CD-Roms are available for purchase through our website or by calling the ABA Service Center at 800-285-2221. View the Table of Contents.

Audio Tapes of the programs offered at the Fall Meeting are also available for purchase.

The Section of Family Law would like to thank the sponsors for their generous support of the 2004 Fall Committee and CLE Conference as well as the program speakers and moderators for their time and efforts.