Toughest Cases Webinar Series

This webinar series provides attorneys tips and best practices for overcoming some difficult scenarios that commonly arise when representing a client in an order of protection or family law case.  In the first webinar, attorneys learn how to ethically and effectively represent their clients when there is a pro se litigant on the other side.  The second webinar provides attorneys tools to use when navigating the family court system when there is a criminal case pending against either party.  The third webinar in the series focuses on recognizing and overcoming challenges when representing a client with an abuse and neglect case pending against either party. 

Part I: Effective Litigation and Pro Se Litigants

• Presented by Kelly Behre and Linda Lopez

Cases involving an unrepresented litigant on the other side present a number of special challenges to attorneys in domestic violence or family court.  This webinar provides participants with an overview of the issues that may arise when the opposing party in the case is representing himself or herself pro se.  Participants gain practical strategies to use both inside and outside the courtroom, and tactics for dealing with particularly difficult pro se opposing parties.  

Download Powerpoint HERE

Part II: How to Navigate Civil Cases with Accompanying Criminal Matters

• Presented by Jamie Perez and Jennifer Stolarski

There are times when one or more civil proceedings will arise out of the allegations underlying a criminal charge against either the client or the abusive opposing party.  A civil case may also lead to a criminal case (for example, violation of an order of protection).  In this webinar, participants learn about the complex issues that may arise when there are concurrent civil and criminal proceedings, and the implications that each proceeding may have on the other case.  Participants acquire specific case strategies for representing their clients in civil cases, and ensuring the best outcome for the client in light of the simultaneous case proceedings.  

Download Powerpoint HERE

Part III: How to Navigate Civil Cases with Accompanying Abuse and Neglect Proceedings

• Presented by Amie Lopez and Matt Wilkins

This webinar provides participants an overview of challenges that may arise when an order of protection or family law case is open during the pendency of an abuse and neglect proceeding against either their client or the abusive opposing party.  The webinar examines the impact of Child Protective Services (CPS) investigators on domestic violence and family law cases, and how attorneys can prepare for court proceedings with CPS investigator involvement.  This webinar also addresses petitions filed on behalf of minor children and different methods of offering child testimony or evidence related to or derived from the child in domestic violence and family law cases.  

Download Powerpoint HERE

This project was supported by Grant No. 2014-TA-AX-K027 awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this publication/program/exhibition are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women.