Court Improvement Program Update: Rule 13, Rule 56, and the Office of the Appointed Counsel Commission Transition in Tennessee Child Welfare Cases

Tennessee is in the midst of a transition in how counsel is appointed, supported, and compensated in dependency and neglect and termination of parental rights cases. This CLE provides a practical overview of Tennessee Supreme Court Rules 13 and 56, explaining who is entitled to appointed counsel, when appointments must occur, and how the creation of the Appointed Counsel Commission (ACC) fundamentally changes appointment and contract structures for attorneys representing parents and children. Participants will review current statutory and rule-based appointment requirements, examine why early appointment matters for due process and permanency, and understand what remains the same—and what is changing—during the transition period.

The session also explains how the Court Improvement Program (CIP) supports attorneys and courts through this transition. Attendees will learn how CIP’s training pipelines, hearing-quality initiatives, and technical assistance align with ACC expectations and support effective representation under the new model. The program concludes with practical guidance for attorneys navigating new contract expectations, for courts managing appointment processes during transition, and for stakeholders working together to reduce delays, improve hearing quality, and ensure timely, competent representation in Tennessee child welfare proceedings.

Register here: https://www.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/qytqYCqhT7qcBIBX4jyAuw 

This course is approved for 1.5 general CLE hours.