Project Information

Bid Title

TRIAL SKILLS TRAINING FOR JUVENILE DEPENDECY COURT APPOINTED COUNSEL

Issuing Agency

Judical Council of California

Location

California

Published Date

Mar 4, 2026

Closing Date

Mar 23, 2026

Government Level

State & Local

Status

Closed

Ref. #

No. CFCC-2026-02-AC

Original Source

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Bid Documents

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Project Description

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Request for Proposal

TRIAL SKILLS TRAINING FOR JUVENILE DEPENDECY COURT APPOINTED COUNSEL

Important dates

Issued date

March 04, 2026

Deadline

March 23, 2026
03:00 PM

• Status
  Open
• Topic
  Non-Facilities Contracts - Miscellaneous
• Deadline
  March 23, 2026
  03:00 PM
• ID#
  CFCC-2026-02-AC

Description

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.

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 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.

Questions should be directed to solicitations@jud.ca.gov(link sends email) and must be received no later than 3:00 pm, Pacific Time on March 12, 2026.

Proposals must be received by the Judicial Council no later than 3:00 pm, Pacific Time on March 23, 2026.

Attachments

• RFP_CFCC-2026-02-AC Trial Skills New
• Attachment -1-CFCC-2026-02-AC-Administrative-Rules New
• Attachment 2_Judicial Council Standard Terms and Conditions New
• Attachment-3-CFCC-2026-02-AC-Acceptance-of-Terms-and-Conditions New
• Attachment-4-CFCC-2026-02-AC-General-Certifications-Form New
• Attachment-5-CFCC-2026-02-AC-Bidders-Declaration New
• Attachment -6- CFCC-2026-02-AC-DVBE-Declaration New
• Attachment-7-CFCC-2026-02-AC-Darfur-Certification New

Disclaimer

The Judicial Council, as a public entity, prohibits direct contact with any Council personnel during the solicitation process in order to maintain fairness and equality to all proposers.
Proposers are specifically directed NOT to contact any judicial branch entity personnel or consultants for meetings, conferences, or discussions that are related to the solicitation at any time between release of the solicitation and any award and execution of a contract.
Unauthorized contact with any judicial branch entity personnel or consultants may be cause for rejection of the Proposer’s proposal.

Attachment Preview

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

1

rev December 2025

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

2

rev December 2025

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.

3

rev December 2025

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.

4

rev December 2025

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

5

rev December 2025

Commodity Codes

• NAICS 611430Professional and Management Development Training

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