RFP Title: TRIAL SKILLS TRAINING FOR JUVENILE DEPENDECY COURT APPOINTED COUNSEL
RFP Number: CFCC-2026-02-AC
REQUEST FOR
PROPOSALS
JUDICIAL COUNCIL OF CALIFORNIA
REGARDING:
TRIAL SKILLS TRAINING FOR JUVENILE DEPENDECY COURT
APPOINTED COUNSEL
RFP# CFCC-2026-02-AC
PROPOSALS DUE:
March 23, 2026, NO LATER THAN 3:00 P.M. PACIFIC TIME
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RFP Title: TRIAL SKILLS TRAINING FOR JUVENILE DEPENDECY COURT APPOINTED COUNSEL
RFP Number: CFCC-2026-02-AC
1.0 BACKGROUND INFORMATION
1.1 The Judicial Council of California (Council), chaired by the Chief Justice of
California, is the chief policy making agency of the California judicial system.
The California Constitution directs the Council to improve the administration of
justice by surveying judicial business, recommending improvements to the courts,
and making recommendations annually to the Governor and the Legislature. The
Council also adopts rules for court administration, practice, and procedure, and
performs other functions prescribed by law. The Judicial Council’s Center for
Families, Children and the Courts (CFCC) supports programs in court settings
that improve practice and services for children, youth, parents, families and other
court users.
1.2 Children in California who are parties to dependency proceedings are appointed
legal counsel by the court, and parents who are parties are frequently appointed
legal counsel by the court. Court-appointed dependency counsel is a state funded
cost and administered through the Judicial Council of California. Counsel is
provided by numerous firms and local practitioners in the state. There are
approximately 1,000 dependency attorneys practicing in California. The Center
for Families, Children & the Courts provides training and technical assistance for
court appointed dependency counsel, the courts and other justice system partners
to improve skills that will lead to better outcomes for children and families.
1.3 This request seeks proposals for an entity to enter into a contract with the Judicial
Council to develop and deliver a two-day twelve-hour total trial skills curriculum
in San Francisco for 50 dependency attorneys who represent children and parents
(Year 1). At the Council’s discretion, this contract may be extended for two
additional one-year terms (Year 2 and Year 3). During each of these terms, the
recipient of the contract would provide two training courses similar to the training
provided in Year 1, with the following caveat. One of the trainings in the second
optional year may be at the conference known as “Beyond the Bench”, which is
described in more detail in 2.3, below. The training locations shall be chosen by
the Council and are intended to be accessible to attorneys across California. The
outcome sought is improved representation of children and parents in California.
2.0 DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES AND DELIVERABLES
2.1 Introduction
The Judicial Council of California seeks the services of an entity with expertise in
trial skills training to provide training for court appointed dependency attorneys to
improve their confidence, effectiveness and advocacy when representing children.
The successful candidate will have been trained through the National Institute of
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RFP Title: TRIAL SKILLS TRAINING FOR JUVENILE DEPENDECY COURT APPOINTED COUNSEL
RFP Number: CFCC-2026-02-AC
Trial Advocacy and provide these trainings in a similar format. The training must
be conducted in a format that is highly interactive and participatory with
opportunities for attendees to practice and receive individual feedback from the
instructor(s). The funding available for this project is $50,000 for Year 1, $80,000
for Year 2 and $80,000 for Year 3, if option years 2 and 3 are executed. The
funding shall include all expenses associated with faculty travel and deliverables.
Funding is not to be used for attendee travel, or other benefits beyond providing
the training to attendees at no cost. The work for Year 1 is expected to begin on
April 15, 2026, and the first training shall be completed by June 30, 2026.
2.2 General Scope of Services Requirements
2.2.1
The training curriculum must contain two parts: 1) be focused and suitable
for attorneys recently admitted to the state bar; and 2) be focused and
suitable for attorneys who have already had some training or on the job
experience in trial skills. The Contractor shall not charge attendees to
attend a training.
2.2.2
The training content must cover advanced trial skills, including but not
limited to: Welfare and Institutions Code §355 hearsay exception and
limits thereof, general testimonial evidentiary objections, how to introduce
writings into evidence, qualifying witnesses as experts, and identifying
issues and knowing appropriate timelines for writs and appeals. These
skills shall be presented as means to adhere to reunification timelines and
establishing adequate records for an appeal.
2.2.3
The Proposer’s training method and content should be designed to
improve the following skills: case analysis, direct examination, cross
examination, examination of experts and other witnesses, arguments, use
of exhibits and advanced knowledge of and securing strong records for
appeals process.
2.2.4 The Proposer’s training method and content must include facilitation of
optional post-training mentoring for more experienced attorneys to serve
as mentors to less experienced attorneys attending the training.
2.2.5 The training program must include a significant amount of participatory
activity and include a method for practice and individual feedback from
the instructor(s).
2.2.6 The training program must include different methods for discussion that
would include audio/visual vignettes, as well as case studies, other written
materials, handouts and job-aids.
2.2.7 The training program must have an evaluative component.
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RFP Title: TRIAL SKILLS TRAINING FOR JUVENILE DEPENDECY COURT APPOINTED COUNSEL
RFP Number: CFCC-2026-02-AC
2.2.8 Contractor will provide faculty including subcontracting with faculty
when necessary. Faculty will be experienced professionals in their area of
training.
2.2.9 Contractor will secure and pay for all training venues, logistical costs such
as audiovisual equipment and wireless services, and catering costs for
participants.
2.2.10 Contractor will secure and pay for catering. Catering must include lunch
for participants.
2.2.11 Contractor will provide adequate marketing to ensure registration between
a minimum of 20 and up to 50 participants at each training and a mix of
disciplines represented by the participants.
2.2.12 Judicial Council will assist in marketing by disseminating training
information to attorneys statewide.
2.2.13 Contractor will provide registration software, registration services and
other logistical support to participants.
2.2.14 Contractor will provide all written and printed materials required at
training, including handouts/job-aids for each topic under 2.2.2, subject to
Council approval.
2.2.15 Contractor will provide on-site coordination services including
coordination with the venue staff, the faculty, caterers and participants.
2.2.16 Contractor will provide and or assist the Judicial Council in providing
continuing education units for attorneys and other professional credits.
2.2.17 Contractor will administer course evaluations and give the evaluations to
the Judicial Council.
2.3 Tasks and Deliverables.
The Judicial Council anticipates the following major tasks and specific deliverables in
connection with the scope of services described in this Request for Proposal (RFP).
Without changing the Deliverables, the Proposer should correct, validate and expand on
the tasks, as deemed necessary or desirable by the Proposer.
2.3.1 Task 1 – Curriculum Development and Program Presentation (Year 1)
2.3.1.1 Review information about California court appointed attorneys for
children and parents.
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RFP Title: TRIAL SKILLS TRAINING FOR JUVENILE DEPENDECY COURT APPOINTED COUNSEL
RFP Number: CFCC-2026-02-AC
2.3.1.2 Deliverable 1: Meet with and obtain input from CFCC
dependency attorneys on needs, gaps, objectives and outcomes for
this project. Due Date: April 24, 2026.
2.3.1.3 Incorporate content to build skills as described in 2.2.2 and the
following areas: case analysis, direct examination, cross
examination, examination of experts and other witnesses,
arguments, use of exhibits and advanced knowledge of and
securing strong records for appeals process.
2.3.1.4 Design and develop the curriculum that shall include
competencies, objectives, outline and agenda with content to be
covered, instructor training or lesson plan that includes key points
for each learning objective, and participant materials, power point
presentations and other multi-media presentations or training
methods, exercises, hypotheticals, case studies, practice
opportunities with direct and immediate individual
feedback/critique, participant evaluation forms and other handouts.
2.3.1.5 Consult with CFCC attorneys and those designated by CFCC to
give input. Make modifications to curriculum based on feedback
from CFCC dependency attorneys.
2.3.1.6 Deliverable 2: Complete curriculum package, which the Judicial
Council will receive copies of and be able to use for future
trainings, including all items mentioned above, 30 days prior to the
first scheduled training event to provide JCC staff with an
opportunity to review and collaborate on any needed changes.
Due date: May 1, 2026
2.3.1.7 Deliverable 3: Deliver a two-day twelve-hour total curriculum to
25 to 50 child or parent attorneys at the Council’s office in San
Francisco. Due date: June 30, 2026.
2.3.2 Task 2 – Program presentations (Year 2 and Year 3)
2.3.2.1 Consult with CFCC attorneys to incorporate any desired changes
to the two-day twelve-hour total curriculum based on feedback
after Deliverable 2.
2.3.2.2 Deliverable 4, Deliverable 5 (Year 2) and Deliverable 6 and
Deliverable 7 (Year 3), shall be the reproduction of Deliverable
3, which includes but is not limited to: schedule and coordinate
logistics, including registration, reproduction and assembly of
program materials for instructors and participants and any other
tasks necessary to reproduce Deliverable 3. This also includes any
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This is the opportunity summary page. It provides an overview of this opportunity and a preview of the attached documentation.
