The Child Advocacy Committee of the Young Lawyers Division of The Mississippi Bar is launching a new endeavor that will directly benefit your local courts, bar association, and Mississippi youth.  For the past several years, Chancellors as well as Youth Court Judges throughout the state have often commented upon the noticeable shortage of certified guardians ad litem available to serve in their courts.  Juvenile advocates have also observed the shortage.

To confront and address this imminent need, the Child Advocacy Committee of The Mississippi Bar, together with The University of Mississippi School of Law and Mississippi College School of Law, has produced a video for purposes of certifying more guardians ad litem.  Copies of this video will be made available to each judicial district as a courtesy of the Child Advocacy Committee and The Mississippi Bar.  The video, which will be available on DVD, has been approved for six (6) hours of CLE credit.  Corresponding supplemental written materials are available in PDF format at the links below. These instructional materials have been approved by the Bar and comply with the Mississippi CLE requirements.

Any attorney licensed in Mississippi may check out the video.  After viewing, the participating attorney will sign an affidavit verifying that he or she has watched the video, understands its contents, and will comply with the regulations governing guardians ad litem.  The attorney will then be placed on a list of lawyers willing to serve pro bono on one case.  That bar member will remain in a queue of volunteers for one year from the execution date of the affidavit.
 
Attorneys who view the Guardian Ad Litem Training DVDs may utilize the training for both certification and CLE purposes once per year.  René Garner, Section and Division Coordinator for The Mississippi Bar, will monitor earned credit hours and maintain records including accurate and up-to-date lists of volunteer attorneys available to serve within each jurisdiction.  

Thank you for your interest in becoming a certified guardian ad litem and for dedicating your service for the benefit of Mississippian children.
 
Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact René Garner at 601-355-9226 or rgarner@msbar.org. 

                                                                  2008-2009 Child Advocacy Committee

The Mississippi Bar,

Young Lawyers Division

The Guardian Ad Litem Training DVDs are available with the Chancellors in your area. Contact your local Chancellor to check out the DVDs.

To obtain continuing legal education (CLE) credit and to be added to the queue to serve pro bono on one GAL case per year, you will need to download the forms below and mail both forms along with $25 to The Mississippi Bar, Attn: Rene' Garner, PO Box 2168, Jackson, Mississippi 39225-2168. For additional information, please contact Rene' at rgarner@msbar.org. 

        CLE form, click here

        Affidavit, click here