PRO BONO TRAINING:
The Guardian ad Litem Office is committed to its partnership with pro bono attorneys. Pro bono attorneys provide an invaluable service by assisting the Guardian ad Litem Office in advocating for children’s best interests while in Florida’s child welfare system.
Free Florida CLE is a one-stop-shop for Florida attorneys that provides complimentary continuing legal education. It provides virtual courses on various subjects, including appeals, trial skills, dependency, mental health, and more. All of the courses are either CLE-certified or pending certification. Need an ethics credit? We have two courses that fit the bill
Free Florida CLE is our commitment to our pro bono attorneys and the legal community. Attorneys can choose which courses best suit their interests, practice area, and pro bono goals. The training is self-paced, providing flexibility to allow attorneys the ability to complete the training as their schedules permit. New courses and topics are continually added to keep the content relevant and up to date. Free Florida CLE is the place for interesting and informative CLE courses to expand knowledge and advocacy.
We encourage you to visit Free Florida CLE: LeGAL Support for Your Pro Bono Practice and subscribe so that you will be notified when new courses are added.
PRO BONO RESOURCES:
Legal Resources
Chapter 39
Read the updated Chapter 39, Florida Statutes with statutes governing normalcy, quality parenting, independent living, the ICPC Articles and Regulations, paternity, adoption, and excerpts from the Rules of Juvenile Procedure.
2016 Guardian ad Litem Dependency Practice Checklist
Florida Dependency Benchbook
Keeping Children Safe PowerPoint
The Keys to Independence
The Florida Keys to Independence Act was signed into law in 2014 as pilot project and passed as a permanent project in 2017. It is targets youth in licensed foster care between the ages of 15 to 21. The project reimburses youth and caregivers for the costs associated with driver’s education, driver’s licenses and other costs related to getting a driver’s license as well as motor vehicle insurance. It is important that the youth, caregiver, case manager and others involved with the youth have a discussion about the readiness of the youth to get their driver’s license and that it be included in the youth’s transition plan. Visit the Keys to Independence to find resources, learn how to apply, get insurance and learn how to get reimbursed.
Legal Survival Guide
Once you turn 18 years old, you are legally considered an adult in this country. But what does that actually mean? From the right to cast your vote in the next election to entering into a lease for your first apartment to serving on a jury, you are about to enter a new and exciting world of rights, responsibilities, and obligations. The Florida Bar’s Legal Survival Guide is key in understanding how the law will impact your daily life.
Federal Statutory Resources
- Thomas-U.S. Congress on the Internet
- Protect Our Kids Act of 2012
- The Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act
- ASFA: Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997
- The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, Including Adoption Opportunities and the Abandoned Infants Assistance Act, as Amended by P.L. 111-320, The CAPTA Reauthorization Act of 2010
- Foster Care Independence Act of 1999 (Chafee Act)
- ICWA: Indian Child Welfare Act — 25 U.S.C., ch. 21
- Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-351)
- The Affordable Care Act
- Keeping Children and Families Safe Act of 2003 (PDF Document)
- ICPC: Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children — The Association of Administrators of the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children
- The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act of 2015
- ADA: Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. § 12101-12189
- FERPA: Family Education Rights Privacy Act, 20 U.S.C. § 1232g
- HIPPA: Health Insurance Portability Act (1996)
Legal Writing Resources
All pleadings in Florida State Courts must be pursuant to Florida Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.800 This rule applies to all legal documents, including court opinions. Except for citations to case reporters, all citation forms should be spelled out in full if used as an integral part of a sentence either in the text or in footnotes. Abbreviated forms as shown in this rule should be used if the citation is intended to stand alone either in the text or in footnotes.
All other citations shall be in the form prescribed by the latest edition of The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation, The Harvard Law Review Association, Gannett House, Cambridge, MA 02138. Citations not covered in this rule or in The Bluebook shall be in the form prescribed by the Florida Style Manual published by the Florida State University Law Review, Tallahassee, FL 32306.
Uniform Citation/ Capitalization Reference (2015). Use this quick reference page as an easy reminder of Florida Uniform Citation Rules.