Issues of Importance – On-Demand CLE for Attorneys and Legal Professionals
4 CLE credits, Including 1 hour of Ethics
Restorative Sentencing & Transformative Rehabilitation: Reimagining Accountability in Adult Courts
This session explores how restorative sentencing and transformative rehabilitative services can strengthen accountability and community safety by repairing harm rather than simply punishing it. Grounded in lessons from Chicago’s Restorative Justice Courts and the mission of Restorative Community Works, we will examine practical approaches for adult offenders to take responsibility, rebuild identity, and actively contribute to restoration through structured re-entry, victim dialogue when appropriate, and repair of harm agreements. Together, we will discuss which cases are best suited for restorative pathways and how the justice system can expand rehabilitation in ways that reduce recidivism, honor victims’ needs, and promote safer reintegration into the community.
Presenter: Laura Cottrell, Restorative Community Works
The Ethics of Screening for Domestic Abuse and Efficient and Effective Options, for Mediators and Attorneys
This session will examine the ethics related to screening for domestic abuse and power and control issues in couples in family law cases ordered to mediation. Statistics indicate that abuse or power and control issues are present in 25-33% of divorcing couples. The risk of serious violence is greatest at the time of separation, which is when parties are ordered to mediate. Mediation is based on self-determination, which can be compromised by fear of consequences for speaking up. How will you know whether mediation is appropriate? What options do you have for screening efficiently and effectively?
Presenter: Annie Tucker, Mediator, M.A. Conflict Resolution, Director, Mediation Services of Eastern Iowa
Changes to the Child Support Guidelines
The changes to the Child Support Guidelines are effective January 1, 2026. The most significant change is the new childcare add-on, which will be the sole way that childcare expenses are recognized in support amounts going forward. This program will summarize all the changes to the guidelines and provide practice pointers on how to address the changes in your cases and mediations.
Presenters: 6JD District Court Judge Chad Kepros, Chair of the Iowa Supreme Court Child Support Guidelines Review Committee, and Alison Smith, Attorney and Committee member. The first 50 minutes of this session were pre-recorded with both presenters. Judge Kepros will be present for the last 10 minutes to answer questions.
Restorative and Transformative Practice
Restorative practices provide tools for legal and law-adjacent practitioners to address harm of all kinds, with the aim of restoring or repairing relationships that existed before harm occurred. Transformative practices acknowledge that, in many cases, the relationship between people in conflict needs to be something new: something that has not yet existed.
These practices create safe, supported containers for conflict and resolution, centering those most involved, and addressing inherent power imbalances. These practices enable facilitators to participate as interested parties, which broadens the range of conflict types these practices effectively address.
This session will compare these practices with other methods of dispute resolution, give examples of local uses and outcomes, and provide suggestions for practitioners hoping to use restorative and transformative justice in their work.
Presenters: Attorneys Laura Bergus and Julia Zalenski
Each session is $25.