Guardian Ad Litem Workshop (Law 790)

Professor Mary Kay O’Malley

Course Description: Advanced study of guardian ad litem practice. Topics may include adult and child orders of protection, requirements for guardian ad litem appointments, role of the GAL, ethical considerations, working with social workers and other professionals, and best practices in investigation, recommendation, and representation. Students will partner with volunteer attorneys to act as guardians ad litem in order of protection cases.

Course will begin with a full-day training session, to be attended by attorneys and students together. Students would be assigned to attorneys appointed as GAL. Several attorneys in the Kansas City office of the Sonnenschein law firm, along with individual volunteer attorneys, have agreed to act as supervising attorneys with students on GAL cases. Students would conduct interviews with pertinent family members, obtain relevant records, obtain information from state agencies, schools, etc.; conduct home visits in appropriate cases, participate in filing pleadings and motions; identify resources and development of parenting plans for negotiated resolutions; and participate in court hearings. Additional meetings and training sessions on advanced topics will be scheduled throughout the semester.

Students may enroll in the workshop subject to instructor approval. To apply for the program, students should submit a letter of interest and resume to Professors O’Malley. Students must obtain a “permission to enroll” letter signed by Professor O’Malley before enrolling in the course. To be eligible for the workshop, students must have successfully completed civil procedure, evidence and professional responsibility In order to screen for conflicts of interest, all students must disclose any part-time legal employment (whether paid or volunteer) they are or will be undertaking during the clinic year. Students must consent to a criminal and child abuse background screening. Students must be eligible and apply for Rule 13 certification for law student practice through the Dean’s office. The Rule 13 applications may take up to eight weeks to be approved; thus, early application is critical if students are to be eligible to undertake courtroom representation upon beginning their field work. Students may not receive compensation for their work.

Students are assigned credit-no credit grades based on a combination of in-class work, field work (30 hours minimum), and reflective journals.

Students should sign on to the TWEN course page

ASSIGNMENTS TO COMPLETE BEFORE Initial Training Session:

What is a Guardian ad Litem?

Twenty Questions on the Child Order of Protection Act

Review the Ethical Standards for GAL Practice

Missouri Supreme Court Standards for GAL

ABA Standards for Attorneys Representing Children in Abuse and Neglect Cases

Missouri Supreme Court Rules Governing the Missouri Bar and Judiciary (pay particular attention to Rules 1.1-1.4, 1.6, 1.14 and 3.7)