3-Hour Program

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Overview

Why You Should Attend

You should attend this training if you are a pro bono or legal services attorney who provides, or would like to provide, legal services to clients with mental disabilities in disability cases and/or improve your representation of clients with challenging behaviors in any area of law. This two part training provides instruction on 1) components of a mental status exam and insight into interviewing clients with mental disabilities where the mental health of your client is the subject matter of the litigation; and 2) how to effectively represent clients with challenging behaviors generally. Experienced practitioners from across the state will share their expertise on how to best approach issues that arise when representing clients with mental disabilities and challenging behaviors including interviewing strategies, providing accommodations, harm reduction lawyering, and managing expectations. At the end of the morning, you will have many tools you can use to develop a positive working relationship with all of your clients.  

What You Will Learn

  • Components of a mental status exam which can be used by attorneys to document a client’s behavior for a disability case
  • How to use potential questions within a clinical interview to understand functional impairment
  • Techniques to prevent challenging client behaviors from undermining effective representation
  • The harm reduction representation model, including meeting your clients where they are without judgment and recognizing alternative success outcomes
  • Legal and ethical obligations when representing clients with disabilities
  • How to provide reasonable accommodations
  • Managing client expectations and setting appropriate parameters to foster a positive working relationship and optimal outcomes for both attorneys and clients

Who Should Attend

Legal aid and private practitioners who work with clients with mental disabilities or challenging behaviors in any area of civil law, including disability or other government benefits, housing, special education, immigration or family law.

Credit Details