From 2012 through 2019, the Children’s Commission partnered with TexasBarCLE to broadcast a day-long, 6 MCLE hours’ worth of training for attorneys who represented children, parents, and DFPS in child welfare proceedings. The Commission also worked with TexasBarCLE in 2022 to produce “Building Better Youth Outcomes: The Importance of Being Trauma Informed,” for 1 hour of MLE credit, including 1 hour of ethics. At this time, the Commission’s partnership with TexasBarCLE is focused on participating in the Child Protection Law Section’s Curriculum Committee and supporting that Section through a grant for scholarships to their annual Advanced Training and the annual Child Abuse and Neglect Workshop.
The TexasBarCLE’s Online Classroom of child welfare-related courses is available at a reduced rate to court-appointed attorneys representing children and/or parents. For attorneys representing the State of Texas, TexasBarCLE provides scholarships based on financial need. Judges and their full-time staff attorneys can view these offerings for free.
To view the list of MCLE courses offered through TexasBarCLE, please link below to search for Child Welfare Practice Area offerings:TexasBarCLE Online Classroom
To register for any CLE course, one must be a registered user of the State Bar's website. The account is free and registrants do not have to be a member of the State Bar of Texas.
Offerings available in the Child Welfare Practice area of TexasBarCLE’s Online Classroom may be considered in some jurisdictions to meet the statutory three-hour continuing legal education requirements and/or trauma-informed training requirements set forth in Texas Family Code Sections 107.004 and 107.0131 for attorneys to qualify for court appointments on child protection dockets or to qualify to remain on a court-appointed list. The determination of whether a MCLE offering meets the requirements to receive appointments and/or to qualify to remain on a court-appointment list to represent children and/or parents in child welfare cases is at the discretion of the appointing judge.
Additionally, the TexasBarCLE Online Library offers reports and written materials.
Live broadcasts are archived in the TexasBarCLE’s Child Welfare Practice Area in their Online Classroom. Courses in the Online Classroom are added and rotated off periodically, as needed.
