The Hampden County Bar Association received an IOLTA Grant from the Massachusetts Bar Foundation for funding of the HCBA Juvenile Court Mediation & Advocacy Program which was established in 2007. Through this program a certified mediator is appointed to negotiate an amicable resolution for care and custody cases in the Juvenile Court in which they are not entitled to appointed counsel through CPCS or any other program and/or do not have access to any other mediation program. In the event the mediation is unsuccessful, a program attorney is appointed to advocate for the child(ren) in the Hampden County Juvenile Court proceedings.

The program is looking for qualified attorneys to act as mediators and advocates in disrupted guardianship cases in the Hampden County Juvenile Court. Mediators and advocates are paid at a rate of $50.00 per hour with a maximum amount of $500.00 paid per appointment on mediations and $1,000 maximum on advocacy cases. If you would like information regarding this worthwhile program, please contact the Hampden County Bar Association at (413) 732-4648 or via email at admin@hcbar.org. Click here for an application to become an approved panel member of the Juvenile Mediation & Advocacy Program.