New York State Family Defense Conference 2025

NYS Family Defense Conference 2025 offers presentations on many areas of parent representation provided pursuant to Family Court Act § 262. Speakers include New York Court of Appeals Chief Judge Rowan D. Wilson and Professor Dorothy E. Roberts, a 2024 MacArthur Fellow. This program is suitable for new and experienced attorneys and provides a unique opportunity for family defense teams statewide to grow their professional skills, learn new law, and form lasting connections with other providers.

Topics Include:

• Plenary One – Family Law Update
• Family Policing Abolition Movement Update
• Representing Non-Citizen Clients in Family Court
• The Power of Narrative-Storytelling as Advocacy
• Defending Clients against Substance Use Allegations in Article 10 Proceedings
• You’re Not the Boss of Me
• Family Court Counsel’s Responsibilities Regarding Appeals
• Family Court – Where the Rules are Made up and Nothing Makes Sense
• Reimagining Interdisciplinary Practice
• Recognizing Trauma Response in our Clients and Ourselves