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such studies, or look into caseload sizes in similar counties to accurately determine the ideal caseload for attorneys in the office. Be sure to have a consistent definition of what a "case" is - a family or a child. When assessing the appropriate number of cases, remember to account for all agency attorney obligations, case difficulty, the time required to thoroughly prepare a case, support staff assistance, travel time, level of experience of attorneys, and available time (excluding vacation, holidays, sick leave, training and other non-case-related activity). If the agency attorney manager carries a caseload, the number of cases should reflect the time the individual spends on management duties. Commentary: High caseload is considered one of the major barriers to quality representation and a source of high attorney turnover. It is essential to decide what a reasonable caseload is in your jurisdiction. How attorneys define cases and attorney obligations vary from place-to-place, but having a manageable caseload is crucial. One study found that a caseload of 40-50 active cases is reasonable, and a caseload of over 60 cases is unmanageable.l~ The standards drafting committee recommended a caseload of no more than 60. 3. Develop a system for the continuity of representation Action: The agency attorney manager should develop a case assignment system that fosters ownership and involvement in the case by the agency attorney. The office can have cone-attorney: one-case (vertical representation) policy in which an attorney follows the case from initial filing through permanency and handles all aspects of the case. Alternatively, the cases may be assigned to a group of attorneys who handle all aspects of a case as a team and are all assigned to one judge or one group of caseworkers. Commentary: Agency attorneys can provide the best representation for the agency, and therefore get the best results for children, when they know a case and are invested in its outcome. Additionally, having attorneys who are assigned to particular cases decreases delays because the attorney does not need to learn the case each time it is scheduled for court. Rather, the attorney has the opportunity to monitor action on the case between court hearings. This system also makes it easier for the agency attorney manager to track how cases are handled. 4. Provide agency attorneys with training and education opportunities Action: The agency attorney manager must ensure that each agency attorney has the opportunity to participate in training and education programs. When a new agency attorney is hired, the agency attorney manager should assess that attorney's level of experience and readiness to handle cases. The agency attorney manager should develop an internal training program during which the new attorney will be paired with an experienced "attorney mentor" who will work with the new attorney. The new attorney should be required to: 1) observe each type of court proceeding (and mediation if available in the jurisdiction), 2) second-chair 20 .:,