Child Law

September 17, 2026
 

12:30 pm - 12:45 pm          Check-In

12:45 pm - 1:00 pm            Welcome/Remarks | Prof. Tim McEvoy

1:00 pm - 1:50 pm              We Need to be Better Listeners: Children’s Disclosures and the Court System (1.0 CLE)    

This presentation will examine why children’s disclosures of abuse are sometimes met with skepticism or disbelief within the legal system and the consequences that can follow. Participants will explore the dynamics that can affect how children disclose abuse, common misconceptions about children’s behavior and credibility, and the ways legal professionals and other system actors can inadvertently discourage or undermine disclosures. The presentation will provide practical strategies for identifying and supporting children who may be experiencing abuse, conducting trauma-responsive interviews and investigations, and advocating for their safety and well-being.

Tim McEvoy, JD, Associate Clinic Professor, Child Welfare and Domestic Violence Clinic
Loyola University New Orleans College of Law

1:50 pm - 2:00 pm              Break

2:00 pm - 2:50 pm             Children and Human Trafficking: Identifying and Supporting Victims (1.0 CLE)    

This presentation will provide practitioners with practical tools for recognizing the signs and indicators of human trafficking involving children and responding appropriately when concerns arise. Participants will explore how trafficking may present in child welfare and legal cases, including less obvious indicators that can be easily overlooked. The presentation will address trauma-responsive interviewing and engagement, safety planning, multidisciplinary collaboration, and advocacy strategies to support children who may be experiencing or have experienced trafficking. Particular attention will be given to avoiding practices that may retraumatize children while ensuring their voices, safety, and needs remain central to the legal process.

Michelle Johnson, 
Advocate-Consultant-Lobbyist -Expert Witness 
Founder MJC Consultants

2:50 pm - 3:00 pm            Break (Snacks)

3:00 pm - 3:50 pm            Abuse Intervention: Breaking the Cycle of Domestic Violence (1.0 CLE)
    
This CLE will examine effective approaches to addressing intimate partner violence, including the differences between restorative and punitive interventions and the appropriate use of abuse intervention programs. Participants will explore the causes and dynamics of IPV, the distinction between anger management and abuse intervention, gender and IPV, and how pro-abuse and pro-social belief systems develop. The presentation will also address the generational cycle of abuse, including the impact of childhood experiences, socialization, learned behaviors, and power structures. Interactive scenarios will provide participants with an opportunity to practice assessing cases and making appropriate referrals.

Amanda Tonkovich, LCSW
Beyond Harm

3:50 pm - 4:00 pm             Break

4:00 pm – 4:50 pm            Wisdom from the Bench (1.0 CLE) 

Join a panel of esteemed judges as they share candid insights on the dos and don’ts that every lawyer should know in and out of the courtroom. Gain practical advice on professionalism, advocacy, and what truly earns respect from the bench. 

Dean Madeleine Landrieu 
Hon. Jennifer G. Womble, Jefferson Parish Juvenile Court
Hon. Amanda C. Calogero, Jefferson Parish Juvenile Court
Hon. Barron C. Burmaster, Jefferson Parish Juvenile Court

September 18, 2026
 

8:30 am - 8:45 am          Check-In/ Light Breakfast

8:45 am - 9:00 am          Welcome/Remarks

9:00 am - 9:50 am          Culture Clash (1.0 CLE) 

Lawyering in the area of child welfare calls upon us to understand the developmental needs of children and families who come from hard places. Lawyers and child welfare experts come to the work without a shared language and often see the case through the lense of their respective training, without an appreciation of the view of a different profession.  This presentation will explore these divergent perspectives and bridge the gap between professional cultures that can clash if not understood.     

Dean Madeleine Landrieu, Loyola University New Orleans College of Law

9:50 am - 10:00 am          Break

10:00 am - 10:50 am         The Importance of understanding Educational Rights Holders (1.0 CLE)  

This presentation will provide practitioners with practical guidance on when and why an educational rights holder may be needed in a child’s case, how to identify the appropriate person for the role, and the scope of their authority. Participants will explore common issues that arise in practice, including communication with schools, educational decision-making, IEPs and 504 plans, school stability, and resolving disputes. The presentation will also address how attorneys and other advocates can ensure that the educational rights holder remains focused on the child’s individual needs and best interests.

Sara Godchaux, Assistant Clinic Professor, Disability Justice Clinic 
Loyola University New Orleans College of Law

10:50 am - 11:00 am          Break

11:00 am - 11:50 am          Children, Trauma, and Mental Health: Understanding, Assessing, and Treating the Impact of Trauma (1.0 CLE)    

This CLE will explore how children experience and respond to trauma and the ways traumatic experiences can affect emotional, behavioral, developmental, and mental health. Participants will learn to recognize common trauma responses and distinguish trauma-related behaviors from other mental health or behavioral concerns. The presentation will also examine how appropriate treatment can be identified and delivered, including considerations for trauma-informed assessment, evidence-based interventions, and the child’s individual needs and circumstances. The goal is to provide practitioners with practical tools for understanding children’s responses to trauma and supporting effective, appropriate treatment and recovery.

Berre Burch, Phd. Licensed Psychologist
Deputy Director of Clinical Services, Children’s Bureau of New Orleans
 

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