Thank you and welcome to our web site LegalCounseling.com . As a certified
specialist in family law, and as a qualified civil mediator, I am able to offer
my clients competent and effective legal representation and/or mediation
services, at a reasonable cost.
Whether it is via mediation or through
litigation, our firms services are designed to resolve my client’s issues as quickly,
clearly, and as inexpensively as possible. We understand that you are here at our
website because you are faced with an important legal challenge and concern, and
we commend you
for taking time to carefully evaluate the qualifications and services of
available attorneys before you select one to represent your interests. This
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and services.
When you have finished studying our law firms
web site, if you still have any
unanswered questions or want to set up an initial appointment, please give my
office a phone call. I look forward to your call and to helping you.
Sincerely,
Ronald K. Stitch
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What is a CFLS? Please see below.
The Standards must be read in conjunction with the
Rules
Governing the State Bar of California Program for Certifying Legal Specialists
which govern the Program requirement.
1.0 DEFINITION
Family law is the practice of law dealing with all aspects of the California
Family Code and including, but not limited to, the following: taxation issues
incident to family law practice; contempt; enforcement proceedings; mediation
and/or negotiation of family law disputes; psychological and counseling aspects
of family law; family law writ and appellate practice; postmarital agreements;
nonmarital domestic relationships; child custody in any forum; and public
enforcement of child support.
2.0 TASK REQUIREMENT FOR CERTIFICATION
2.1 An applicant must demonstrate that within the five (5) years immediately
preceding the initial application, he or she has been substantially involved in
the practice of family law, which shall include actual experience in each of the
following areas:
2.1.1 Restraining orders/domestic violence proceedings;
2.1.2 Dissolution of marriage, legal separation, or nullity of marriage
litigation;
2.1.3 Custody of children;
2.1.4 Child support;
2.1.5 Spousal support;
2.1.6 Modification of support;
2.1.7 Division of community property;
2.1.8 Confirmation of separate property;
2.1.9 Taxation issues incident to dissolution of marriage;
2.1.10 Contempt and/or enforcement proceedings;.
2.1.11 Mediation and/or negotiation of family law disputes; and
2.1.12 Psychological and counseling aspects of dissolution of marriage.
2.2 A prima facie showing of substantial involvement in the area of family
law is made by completion of at least four (4) of the following five (5)
categories:
2.2.1 Principal counsel in twenty (20) contested family law hearings
involving one or more issues set forth in section 2.1, submitted to a court for
a decision;
2.2.2 Principal counsel in five (5) hearings or trials under the California
Family Code which are within the definition of family law in section 1.0 of
these standards, and which are three (3) hours or more in length and involve
testimony of witnesses; or other alternative task and experience which the
advisory commission deems to substantially comply with the foregoing task and
experience requirement, including but not limited to:
2.2.2.1 Evidentiary hearings or trials in other practice areas;
2.2.2.2 Sitting as pro tem judge or arbitrator in contested hearings or
trials under the California Family Code or within the definition of family law
in section 1.0 of these standards;
2.2.2.3 Successful completion of a recognized trial advocacy program;
2.2.3 Principal counsel in a minimum of thirty (30) negotiated family law
judgments or negotiated marital settlement agreements;
2.2.4 Principal counsel in thirty (30) stipulated temporary family law
orders; or
2.2.5 Principal counsel and principal author of the briefs in three (3)
California family law appeals in which an opinion was filed.
Principal counsel is the attorney who spends a majority of the time on a case
in the activities of preparation, review, filing and representing a client at an
interview or hearing. There can be only one principal counsel per case.
3.0 EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENT FOR CERTIFICATION
An applicant must show that, within the three (3) years immediately preceding
the application for certification, he or she has completed not less than
forty-five (45) hours of educational activities specifically approved for family
law as follows:
3.1 Not less than nine (9) of the required units must be satisfied by
completion of approved educational programs in the areas of dissolution of
marriage, contempt and/or enforcement, or mediation and/or negotiation of family
law disputes;
3.2 Not less than six (6) of the required units must be satisfied by
completion of approved educational programs in the area of custody of children;
3.3 Not less than nine (9) of the required units must be satisfied by
completion of approved educational programs in the areas of child support,
spousal support, or modification of support;
3.4 Not less than twelve (12) of the required units must be satisfied by
completion of approved educational programs in the areas of division of
community property, confirmation of separate property, or taxation issues
incident to dissolution of marriage;
3.5 Not less than six (6) of the required units must be satisfied by
completion of approved educational programs in the area of psychological and
counseling aspects of dissolution of marriage; and
3.6 Not more than three (3) units may be satisfied by completion of approved
educational programs in the following areas
3.6.1 Paternity litigation,
3.6.2 Adoption litigation,
3.6.3 Problems of the nonmarital family,
3.6.4 Writs and appeals from dissolution of marriage, legal separation or
nullity of marriage litigation,
3.6.5 Proceedings to free a minor from the custody and control of parent(s),
3.6.6 Problems of domestic violence;
3.6.7 Guardianships of the person or children, and
3.6.8 Law office management of a family law practice.
4.0 TASK REQUIREMENT FOR RECERTIFICATION
4.1 An applicant for recertification must show that during the current five
(5) year certification period he or she has participated in a total of fifty
(50) of the following proceedings in any combination:
4.1.1 Contested hearings or trial proceedings under the California Family
Code, or within the definition of family law, section 1.0 of these standards,
which are three (3) hours or more in length and involving testimony of
witnesses.
4.1.2 Negotiated or mediated family law judgments, property settlement
agreements, marital settlement agreements, stipulated temporary or post judgment
orders and/or stipulated appeal settlements;
4.1.3 Acted as mediator, arbitrator, evaluator, or special master in any of
the proceedings delineated in section 1.0 of these standards.
4.2 Compliance with the foregoing requirements may be demonstrated, in the
discretion of the Commission, by sworn statement that the applicant has engaged
in the practice of family law substantially to the same extent as described in
the application for original certification.
5.0 ALTERNATIVE TO TASK REQUIREMENT FOR RECERTIFICATION
As an alternative to the task requirements listed in section 4.0 above, an
applicant may qualify by completing any of the following:
5.1 One-half (1/2) day superior court family law pro tem judge service in
contested hearings or trials shall be the equivalent of two (2) contested
hearings or trials;
5.2 Teaching a minimum of fifty (50) actual hours of educational programs
approved by the Commission shall be the equivalent of fifteen (15) contested
hearings or trials;
5.3 Preparation of a case for contested proceedings under the California
Family Code or within the definition of family law, Section 1.0 of these
standards, shall be equivalent to a contested hearing or trial;
5.4 Acting as principal counsel and principal author of the pleadings and
briefs in twelve (12) appeals and/or writs filed with a Court of Review,
involving proceedings under the California Family Code or within the definition
of family law, section 1.0 of these standards;
5.5 Acting as principal counsel and principal author of the pleadings and
briefs in one appeal and/or writ filed with a Court of Review, involving
proceedings under the California Family Code or within the definition of family
law, section 1.0 of these standards, shall be the equivalent of four (4)
contested hearings or trials.
6.0 EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENT FOR RECERTIFICATION
An applicant for recertification must show that during the current five (5)
year certification period he or she has completed not less than sixty (60) hours
of educational activities specifically approved for family law , of which not
less than six (6) nor more than ten (10) hours shall be in psychological and
counseling aspects of family law.
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