Domestic Violence Update:

This dynamic, interdisciplinary training conference will bring together scholars and practitioners from the fields of mental health, law, substance abuse, social/legal advocacy, alternative dispute resolution, prevention, and the judiciary to offer in-depth presentations on the history of domestic violence in our culture, our current state of knowledge, and suggestions for furthering our understanding and improving advocacy in circumstances of family violence. All presenters will offer commentary that addresses the needs of the interdisciplinary audience (including legal, mental health, substance abuse, ADR).

Participants will:

1. Develop a comprehensive understanding of the historical background of how family violence has been treated by both legal and mental health professionals.
2. Gain knowledge of current best practices in legal advocacy for victims, in prevention efforts, and in assessment/intervention methods for mental health and substance abuse professionals.
3. Identify the major sub-types of domestic violence and their effects on children as suggested by the empirical research literature.
4. Develop awareness of current state and federal-level efforts at preventing family violence.
5. Become aware of the important historical developments in case-law, legislation, prevention efforts, and jurisprudence regarding family violence.
6. Gain understanding of the complex issues involved when those working in alternative dispute resolution intersect with families coping with violence.
7. Learn about the challenges faced by the judiciary in presiding over cases with allegations of domestic violence and about current factors considered when judicial determinations are made.
8. Acquire an increased awareness of the improvements needed in psychological understanding, social/legal advocacy, prevention efforts, judicial options, and dispute resolution models in order to advance services to victims and children.
9. Develop increased awareness of the need for careful case assessment toward the goal of providing effective services for the highest risk cases of DV.

The location for this conference, University at Buffalo School of Law, has for decades been active in legal support for victims of domestic violence. Professor Judith Olin, who has deep experience in the area, was hired in 2016 to run the Family Violence and Women’s Rights Law Clinic, and continue the important commitment that the law school has made to victims of family violence and the community partners working to address violence throughout the region.

This program qualifies for 6.0 transitional or non-transitional NYS CLE credits; 3.0 in the area of Professional Practice, and 3.0 credit in the area of Skills. The University at Buffalo School of Law has been certified by the New York State Continuing Legal Education Board as an Accredited Provider of continuing legal education in the State of New York for the period of March 11, 2014 - March 10, 2017. The University at Buffalo School of Law has a financial hardship policy. For further information on our policy, contact Lisa Mueller, CLE Coordinator at 716-645-3176.