Dependency Law 101: Representing Parents in Lancaster County (Hybrid)
SCHEDULE
Lunch: 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM
CLE: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
This CLE will be available in a live, hybrid format (in-person and virtual). Please select the corresponding ticket (in-person or virtual) when registering below. Thank you.
ONLINE REGISTRATION INCLUDED BELOW.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD A REGISTRATION FORM
Event Description
Lancaster County has an ongoing need for attorneys to serve as court-appointed parents’ counsel in dependency proceedings. This introductory CLE is designed for attorneys interested in expanding their practice, gaining courtroom experience, and serving families in the community.
Using a case study based on an actual Lancaster County dependency matter, presenters will guide participants through the life of a case, from shelter care and adjudication through permanency planning and resolution. The program will highlight the role of parents’ counsel in advising clients, advocating for reunification, addressing barriers to the family service plan, and navigating alternative permanency options.
Participants will gain a practical understanding of dependency proceedings in Lancaster County and the responsibilities and opportunities associated with serving as court-appointed parents’ counsel.
CREDIT(S):
1.0 SUBSTANTIVE CREDIT
FACILITATOR:
Honorable Leonard G. Brown, III
President Judge, Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas
SPEAKERS:
David Becker, Esquire
Assistant County Solicitor CYA Lead, Lancaster County Office of the Solicitor
Coming soon!
Maria C. Kissinger, Esquire
Associate, Nikolaus & Hohenadel LLP
Maria joined Nikolaus & Hohenadel, LLP in 2023 as an Associate Attorney who handles a broad range of legal matters including family law, real estate law, estate planning, and general civil litigation.
Originally from Hudson, Ohio, Maria earned her undergraduate degree in Health Care Administration from Kent State University. She subsequently received her Juris Doctor in 2020 from Penn State Dickinson School of Law in State College.
Maria brings significant courtroom experience to Nikolaus & Hohenadel, LLP, having served in multiple judicial clerkships and as a court appointed advocate. For two years, she served as a Law Clerk to the Honorable Linda Teodosio in the Summit County Juvenile Court in Ohio, where she conducted extensive legal research, drafted memorandums of law and judicial opinions, and assisted the court in analyzing and preparing civil cases involving juvenile and family law matters.
In 2022, Maria expanded her courtroom experience by clerking for the Honorable Harry M. Ness in the York County Court of Common Pleas, Criminal Division. In this role, she supported the court’s analysis of complex criminal legal issues matters through research and written recommendations.
Finally, Maria served as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), where she represented the interests of children in the court system and provided independent recommendations to families navigating child welfare matters. In this capacity, she collaborated closely with courts, families, and social service agencies to ensure the safety, stability, and overall well‑being of the children under her advocacy.
While attending Penn State Dickinson School of Law, Maria further developed her litigation skills through her work in the Family Law Clinic where she assisted with client counseling, legal research, and case preparation in divorce, custody, and protection from abuse (PFA) proceedings.
QUESTIONS?
Email Lexi Driendl (lexi@lancasterbar.org), Education & Member Engagement Coordinator