CPD Core Competency Areas for Family Lawyers
Issues covered include: Ethical Issues in Adoption, Parenting and Surrogacy Applications, Costs in the Family Court of Western Australia and Impacts of the New Uniform Laws, Witnesses
Description
Family lawyers need their compulsory CPD points so choose a tailored core competency seminar that takes a deep dive into several complex and critical practice issues for family lawyers. Spend an afternoon gaining practical guidance on managing witnesses in family law cases, reviewing costs in the Family Court of WA and understanding the impacts of the new Uniform Laws and examine some of the clear ethical issues in adoption, parenting and surrogacy applications.
Attend and earn 3 CPD points including:
1 CPD point in Competency Area 1: Practice Management
1 CPD point in Competency Area 2: Professional Skills
1 CPD point in Competency Area 3: Ethics & Professional Responsibility
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: Teresa Farmer, Barrister, John Toohey Chambers
Competency Area 2: Professional Skills
2.00pm to 3.00pm: Practical Guidance on Witnesses in Family Law Cases
- Drafting a witness affidavit
- Ensuring statements are admissible
- Relevance
- Hearsay
- Purpose: the ‘Cheer Squad’ traps
- Strategies for preparation of witnesses
- Ensuring the witness understands what happens next
- Management of witnesses and trial plans
- Preparing vs coaching: knowing the difference and your ethical obligations
Presented by Rachel Oakeley, Barrister, John Toohey Chambers
Competency Area 1: Practice Management
3.00pm to 4.0pm: Costs in the Family Court of Western Australia and Impacts of the New Uniform Laws
- The importance of costs agreements and disclosures
- Exclusive jurisdiction of the Supreme Court in relation to assessment of all solicitor and client costs
- Effectively dealing with solicitor and client costs issues
- Claiming party and party costs
- Recent Full Court decision of Sfakianakis in relation to costs in family law proceedings
Presented by Maria-Luisa Coulson, Managing Director Coulson Legal; Accredited Arbitrator
4.00pm to 4.15pm: Afternoon Tea
Competency Area 3: Ethics & Professional Responsibility
4.15pm to 5.15pm: Ethical Issues in Adoption, Parenting and Surrogacy Applications
- Post Masson: legal and ethical considerations on who is and who isn’t a parent
- Duty of disclosure to the Family Court and parties in adoption cases
- Ethical issues in adoption cases
- Surrogacy: balancing obligations to the client and professional obligations
Presented by Marty Kavanagh, Principal, Kavanagh Family Lawyers
Venue
Mercure Perth
Level 1, 10 Irwin St
Perth 6000
WA
Australia