In the Best Interest of the Child: The 2013 Guardian ad Litem
Training and Update
presented by
The South Carolina Bar-Continuing Legal Education Division
Live at the
Bar Conference Center
1501 Park Street
Columbia, SC 29202
Video-CLE sites statewide:
Anderson, Beaufort, Florence, Greenville, North Charleston, and Spartanburg
About the Seminar
This program qualifies for 6.0 MCLE credit hours and 6.0 GAL credit hours.
This year’s guardian ad litem training and update is designed to give custody attorneys and guardian’s insight into vanguard issues in visitation and child custody as well as practical pointers on best practices. It will feature well-received CLE presenters from around South Carolina, as well as a number of cutting edge topics such as the how House Bill 4614 changes custody law, the use of technology and social media in GAL investigations and a multitude of informative topics to fulfill the annual continuing education of guardians.
This important program has been accredited by the SC Supreme Court Commission on CLE and Specialization for 6.0 hours of GAL continuing education for lay and attorney guardians.
Anyone desiring to continue working as a guardian ad litem in private custody cases or developing greater insight to contemporary guardian practice is encouraged to attend.
Program Agenda
8:30 a.m. Registration
8:50 a.m. Welcome and Opening Remarks
9:00 a.m. Handling a Guardian ad litem Who’s Gone (too) Rogue
Gregory S. Forman
Gregory S. Forman, P.C.
9:30 a.m. How House Bill 4614 Changes Custody Law
Anthony P. LaMantia, III
LaMantia Law Firm
10 a.m. How GALs Can Assist the Mediator in Custody Cases
Hon. Barry W. Knobel
Knobel Mediation Services, LLC
10:30 a.m. Break
10:45 a.m. The Use of Technology and Social Media in GAL Investigations and Reports
David Collins
Collins Law Firm, PC
11:15 a.m. How the New Temporary Hearing Rules Affect Custody Case Strategy
Mary Jane Goodwin
Goodwin & Pruette, Attorneys at Law, LLC
11:45 a.m. How to Get GAL Appointments From the Bench
J. Benjamin Stevens
The Stevens Firm, P.A. Family Law Center
12:15 p.m. Lunch (on your own)
1:30 p.m. What a Guardian Wishes Attorneys Would Do to Help Guardians Do Their Job
Elizabeth J. Stringer
Stringer & Stringer
2 p.m. Interviewing the Child with a Mental or Social Disorder
Lynn McMillian, LISW-CP, LCSW
Forensic Evaluator, Children's Advocacy Center
2:30 p.m. What a Family Court Judge Wants Guardians to Know
Hon. Wayne M. Creech
S.C. Family Court
3 p.m. Break
3:15 p.m. How Fault Ground Allegations Affect the GAL Investigation
Jenny R. Stevens
The Stevens Firm, P.A. Family Law Center
3:45 p.m. The Role of the GAL in Relocation Cases
Howard S. Sheftman
Finkel Law Firm LLC
4:15 p.m. How Guardians Can and Should Work with Child-Related Experts
Michele R. Krize
McGowan Rogers Stewart Hiller & Krize, PA
4:45 p.m. Adjourn