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Local Rules of Superior Court of California, County of Imperial

(c) The attorney’s continuing training or to ascertain if the allegations and/or education shall be in the areas set reports are supported by accurate forth in these rules or in other areas facts and reliable information, related to juvenile dependency consulting with and, if necessary, practice including, but not limited to, seeking the appointment of experts to special education, mental health, advise the attorney or the Court with health care, immigration issues, the respect to matters which are beyond rules of evidence, adoption practice the expertise of the attorney and/or and parentage issues, the Uniform the Court, and obtaining such other Child Custody Jurisdiction Act, the facts, evidence or information as may Parental Kidnapping Prevention Act, be necessary to effectively present the state and federal public assistance client’s position to the Court. programs, the Indian Child Welfare (b) The attorney shall determine the Act, client interviewing and client’s interests and the position the counseling techniques, case client wishes to take in the matter. investigation and settlement Except in those cases in which the negotiations, mediation, basic motion client’s whereabouts are unknown, practice and the rules of civil this shall include a comprehensive procedure. interview with the client. If the client is a minor child who is placed out of(d) When a certified attorney fails to home, in addition to interviewing the submit evidence that he or she has child, the attorney shall also interview completed at least the minimum the child’s caretaker. The attorney or required training and education to the the attorney’s agent shall make at Court by the due date, the Court shall least one visit to the home. notify the attorney that he or she will Thereafter, the attorney or attorney’s be decertified. The attorney shall agent should make at least one visit to have twenty (20) days from the date the child at the child’s placement of the mailing of the notice to submit prior to each review hearing. evidence of his or her completion of the required training or education. (c) The attorney shall advise the client of [Adopted July 1, 2007, Rule 5.33 renumbered to 6.5 the possible courses of action and of 01/01/09, Rule 6.5 renumbered to 6.1.3 01/01/12] the risks and benefits of each. This shall include advising the client of the Rule 6.1.4 Standards of Representation risks and benefits of resolving disputed matters without the All attorneys appearing in dependency: necessity for adhering to court (a) The attorney shall thoroughly and mandated time limits. completely investigate the accuracy of the allegations of the petition or (d) The attorney shall vigorously other moving papers and the court represent the child within applicable reports filed in support thereof. This legal and ethical boundaries. This shall include conducting a shall include the duty to work comprehensive interview with the cooperatively with other counsel and client to ascertain his or her the Court, explore ways to resolve knowledge and/or involvement in the disputed matters without hearing if it matters alleged or reported, is possible to do so in a way which is contacting social workers and other consistent with the client’s interest, professionals associated with the case and to comply with local rules and 46