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can have a great deal of impact on the trial judge who heard the case and in trial <br />courts throughout the state. <br />26. Request an expedited appeal, when feasible, and file all necessary <br />paperwork while the appeal is pending <br />Action: If the state court allows, the attorney should always request an expedited <br />appeal. In this request, the attorney should provide information about why the <br />case should be expedited such as any special characteristics about the child and <br />why delay would be personally harmful to this child. The request for an expedited <br />appeal should always be considered. <br />Commentary: Appeals can delay the court process. Every effort should be made <br />to move the child's case forward. The attorney should take great care during the <br />appellate process to do so. <br />27. Communicate the results of the appeal and its implications to the <br />client/agency <br />Action: The agency attorney should communicate the result and its implications <br />to the agency. lf, as a result of the appeal, the agency needs to take action in the <br />case, it should be instructed to do so. lf, as a result of the appeal, the attorney <br />needs to file any motions with the trial court, the attorney should do so. <br />D. Ethical and Practice Considerations <br />D-1 Ensure a conflict resolution system is created <br />Action: The agency attorney and agency should jointly develop a conflict <br />resolution system to cover attorney-caseworker conflict and conflicts among <br />caseworkers.9 <br />Key principles of the system should include: I) the attorney and caseworker (or <br />two caseworkers) should start with aface-to-face meeting to try to resolve the <br />conflict; 2) if there is no resolution, the system should delineate how each should <br />go up their respective chains of command; and 3) the system should set out <br />examples of issues that are legal and those that are social work decisions, <br />understanding that most issues will need to be resolved jointly. The system <br />should incorporate timeframes for resolution so as not to delay a case. The agency <br />attorney should prepare a caseworker before court so that conflicts do not surface <br />in front of the judge. <br />Commentary: A conflict resolution system should be in place before conflict <br />occurs. The attorneys and caseworkers should work as a team to reach the best <br />outcomes for children and families. <br />16 <br />