Adoption 303

1 hour TN General CLE

Agency Adoption: Private Agency, State Agency (DCS), and International: Process, packets, loyalties, and adoption assistance 

Public, private, and international adoption can be remarkably similar in basic legal steps. Dawn teaches all three kinds of agency adoption together. Mastering one type creates a transferable skill. This class builds upon the foundation provided by the previous adoption law school classes, or your practice experience, to offer the information and skills to represent clients in agency adoptions of all types. 

Despite similarities, the appropriate role for lawyers can vary a bit from one type of agency adoption to another. For example, private agencies are sometimes so deeply involved in an independent adoption that, without discernment from training or experience, just classifying what you are looking at can be difficult. Similarly, lawyers for the parties in agency adoptions sometimes get so cozy with agencies in return for referrals that ambiguity arises around who they represent. Appropriate classifications, roles, and boundaries are covered alongside the nuts and bolts.

Finally, the important financial benefit of adoption assistance only arises in the context of agency adoptions. To advocate for families or children in agency adoption, lawyers need some basic orientation to adoption assistance. That is also provided. 

Very Basic Adoption Practice is a different Good Law seminar that also covers agency (and relative) adoption, but at a slower pace and with less assumed knowledge. That is the appropriate course for true beginners.