Family Law: Domestic Violence in the Current Climate
Delve into the practical ins and outs of the new Family Court and Federal Circuit Court’s COVID-19 & Magellan Lists while examining how new trends in domestic and family violence will impact your matters and your clients. Recent events have increased risks for victims so it’s important for family lawyers and their support staff to be equipped to identify violent, abusive and controlling patterns of behaviour in order to ensure their client’s protection and the safe & effective delivery of legal services.
Description
Attend and earn 2 CPD units in Professional Skills
This program is applicable to practitioners from all States & Territories
Once seminars are completed, delegates from Western Australia may apply to The Law Society of Western Australia for family law specialist accreditation points. Each application is subject to approval by the Accreditation Committee on a case by case basis and approval is not guaranteed. Your request for points form and attached materials can be emailed to accreditation@lawsocietywa.asn.au
Chair: Natalie Kam, Partner, Lavan; Recommended Family & Divorce Lawyer and Parenting, Custody & Children’s Matters Lawyer, Doyle’s Guide 2020
New Family Court and Federal Circuit Court’s COVID-19 List and the Nature of Violence
- The nature of violent, abusive, and controlling patterns of behaviours
- Key identifiers for a dangerous situation
- The importance of legal confidentiality and how to ensure the confidential delivery of legal services
- New practices to adopt if domestic violence is apparent and steps to take to ensure your client’s safety
- Dealing with the new Family Court and FCC COVID-19 List
- Common mistakes
Presented by Shanna Mahony, Barrister, Lachlan Macquarie Chambers and Skye Hayward, Reader, Lachlan Macquarie Chambers, former Family Law & Care and Protection Solicitor, Legal Aid NSW
Dealing with Financial Abuse and Withholding Finances
Explore the legal issues related to financial abuse and withholding finances from a family law perspective, including the considerations and procedures family lawyers should be across.
Presented by Robyn Druitt, Barrister, Lachlan Macquarie Chambers
Presenters
Natalie Kam
Natalie is a Partner in the Lavan family law team and an accredited family law specialist.
In addition to her family law practice, Natalie was a legal adviser for the Family Relationship Advice Line; an initiative of the Commonwealth Attorney General Department. Natalie is the Secretary the Family Law Practitioners’ Association Committee (FLPAWA). Natalie is a current member of the Law Society of Western Australia; Family Law Practitioners’ Association of Western Australia; Women Lawyers of Western Australia and Family Law Section.
Shanna Mahony
Shanna Mahony is a member of the NSW Bar practicing at Lachlan Macquarie Chambers specialising in family law and care and protection matters. Prior to coming to the Bar she was the Director of Mahony Family Lawyers, a local Parramatta firm specialising in Family Law, Care and Protection and Wills and Estates. Shanna is an Accredited Specialist in Family Law and has extensive experience in both litigation practice and non litigious matters. Shanna is a passionate advocate for the protection of women and children from violence and am a regular presenter at CLE seminars and conferences on Family Law practice and in particular issues involving family violence and child abuse.
Skye Hayward
Skye was admitted as a solicitor in May 2006 and worked briefly in commercial litigation before moving to working almost exclusively in family law in 2008. From 2006 until 2014 Skye worked in a number of well known private law firms in Western Sydney practicing in family law and care and protection. Skye has been on the legal aid panel to act for adults in care and protection matters in the Children’s Court of NSW since 2009. In 2014 Skye moved from private practice to Legal Aid NSW and was based primarily in the Parramatta family law and care and protection litigation team. During her time at Legal Aid NSW she gained significant experience in representing children in both the family law and care and protection jurisdictions as well as continuing to represent adults in both jurisdictions. Whilst working at Legal Aid NSW Skye has conducted work in the Sydney metropolitan area as well as work in regional areas such as Lismore, Orange and particularly Broken Hill where she conducted the Circuit representing children in the Federal Circuit Court and the Children’s Court. Skye was called to the Bar in 2020 and continues to work in all areas of family law and care and protection
Robyn Druitt
Robyn Druitt is a barrister at Lachlan Macquarie Chambers. She was admitted to the bar on 4 February 1991. Prior to this Robyn practiced as a solicitor from 1977-1991 in country New South Wales then suburban Sydney. Robyn's bar practice is now mainly in the area of Family Law, where she has a particular interest in advocacy in Family Law and sexual abuse. Robyn has extensive experience in the Children's Court (including Children of God litigation) and Common Law Claims against DOCS and NSW Department of Education (for the Crown in indigenous and non indigenous claims by wards as to abuse in care and sexually abused pupils in public schools). She was previously the President of NSW Young Lawyers (1983-1984) and a member of Family Law Committee (Law Society and Bar Association), the Legal Aid Committee (Law Society) and the Equal Opportunity Committee (Bar Association). Robyn is married with 3 children