The American Bar Association Commission on Domestic & Sexual Violence, in collaboration with the US Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women, is pleased to present an interactive three-day training: Custody Litigation Training: Representing Victims of Domestic Violence in Custody Cases (Days 1-2) and Interstate Jurisdiction Institute (Day 3), on December 2-4, 2015, in Washington, DC.
Join practitioners and experts from around the country for this three-day intensive and interactive training designed to prepare new and seasoned attorneys to more effectively and holistically represent survivors of domestic and sexual violence in civil legal matters, with a focus on custody cases. Faculty experts will use a variety of practical exercises, role plays, facilitated discussions and demonstrations so participants will be better able to:

* More effectively represent victims of domestic and dating violence in custody/visitation cases;

* Develop an effective case theory incorporating the required elements to establish custody for their clients;

* Use and integrate experts more effectively in their cases;

* Develop advanced client interviewing skills so that they can better solve problems that arise;

* Design safe and enforceable proposed visitation orders and effectively present them to the court;

* Utilize services offered by supervised visitation centers to obtain safe and effective visitation orders;

* Define the roles of guardians ad litem, child's attorneys, and custody evaluators and apply that knowledge to their cases; and

* Employ useful negotiation and settlement strategies and techniques.