Family Law
This is Piddington’s online CPD library with specialist sessions on family law.
If you are looking for other online CPD sessions click the following:
Please note:
Some sessions were recorded before the current CPD year. In accordance with Legal Profession Uniform Law Application Act (2022), Legal Profession Uniform Continuing Professional Development (Solicitors) Rules (2015) and Legal Profession Uniform Continuing Professional Development (Barristers) Rules (2015), the sessions and questions are regularly reviewed for relevance, and changed or deleted where appropriate.
Unless otherwise marked, all of our sessions are considered “interactive”.
Ethical issues with client management and family violence
Led by Nicola Ashford (ASB Law), join this discussion and Q&A on ethics in family law focused on supporting clients when family violence is a factor. Considering the amendments to family law legislation, the speakers will consider issues including proofing clients, gathering evidence and substantiating claims.
Speakers include the Hon Justice Robin Cohen (Family Court of Western Australia), Jane Tudor-Owen (Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions)
CPD points: 1 CA3 (Ethics and Professional Responsibility).
Recorded between 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024.
Getting to yes
Negotiations and mediations can require lawyers to explain why, when and how an offer can benefit clients to avoid protract actions.
In this session, mediators and lawyers will discuss engaging parties early to resolve disputes in shorter timeframes. Consideration is paid to mediation and negotiation processes, unwilling personalities and approaches like best alternatives.
Registrar Jacquie Kubacz (District Court of Western Australia), who won Mediator of the Year at the 2024 Australian Alternative Dispute Resolution Awards, is in discussion with Toby Barrie (Barry Nilson).
CPD points: 1 CA2 (Professional Skills).
Recorded between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2025.
Working with and supporting LGBTIQA+ clients
While most legal discrimination against LGBTIQA+ people has been removed, challenges continue to face the community.
In this session, hear from members of the community and lawyers who have supported LGBTIQA+ people with legal issues and through the justice system. This session will primarily consider supporting these clients and navigating the often complex legal issues that face them.
Speakers: Lauren Butterly (Pride WA), Briannen Morrow (Butlers Lawyers and Notaries) and Aidan Ricciardo (UWA Law School)
CPD points: 1 CA1 (Practice Management).
Recorded between 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024.
Snapchat, disappearing and encrypted message platforms as evidence
The Hon Justice Sam Vandongen (Court of Appeal) and Elly Sturgeon (Corrs Chambers Westgarth) work through issues relating to disappearing message platforms.
Ms Sturgeon provides an overview of the technology and general terms and conditions of platforms. Justice Vandongen outlines the law relating to the technology and how it can be used as evidence.
CPD allocation: 0.5 points in CA4 (Substantive Law).
Recorded between 1 April 2022 and 31 March 2023.
Guiding clients with FASD and related health issues through the justice system
Magistrate Alana Padmanabham (Children's Court of Western Australia) and Dr Hayley Passmore (Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia) give an overview of what FASD is, the impact it has on clients, how to better communicate with them and maintaining their engagement through legal proceedings.
CPD allocation: 0.5 points in CA2 (Professional Skills), 0.5 points in CA3 (Ethics and Professional Responsibility).
Recorded between 1 April 2022 and 31 March 2023.
The In’s and Out’s of Expert Evidence
Registrar Tania Jeyamohan (District Court of Western Australia) works through assessing, applying and examining expert evidence. She considers the purpose of the intended expert evidence, role and duties of the expert, strategy around involving an expert as well as issues of privilege & confidentiality.
CPD allocation: 0.5 CPD points in CA2 (Professional Skills).
Recorded between 1 April 2022 and 31 March 2023.
TRANS AND NON-BINARY ISSUES IN THE LAW
The LGBTQIA+ community in Australia has taken large strides towards equality in recent years. With the spotlight shifting away from marriage equality, the treatment of transgender and non-binary people has gained more attention.
This is a discussion of recent developments in the law in Western Australia and Australia, with a focus on the legal process for changing one’s gender.
This session is chaired by Tom Durkin who is joined by Steven Penglis SC (Fourth Floor Chambers) Robin Cohen (as her Honour then was) and Misty Farquhar OAM (Curtin University). This conversation will highlight where future reforms might lie.
CPD points: 1 in CA4 (Substantive Law)
Recorded between 1 April 2021 and 31 March 2022.
WITHOUT FEAR OR FAVOUR, JUSTICE SARAH DERRINGTON
In this speech The Hon Justice Sarah Derrington, President of the Australian Law Reform Commission, considers their inquiry into judicial bias. Amongst other reflections, her Honour outlines the recommendations made to the Federal Government.
CPD points: 0.5 points in CA4 (Substantive Law).
Recorded between 1 April 2021 and 31 March 2022.
IN THE HOUSE: PROPERTY AND FAMILY LAW
This specialist session for both property and family lawyers will consider contemporary and long-standing issues so that each side can better work together.
This session has Shannon Davies (Stork Davies Legal Advisors) and Nicola Janson (O'Sullivan Davies) in discussion.
CPD points: 1 point in CA4 (Substantive Law).
Recorded between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2021.
ETHICS IN MEDIATIONS
Ethical and professional considerations cross everything we do. With more disputes being resolved in mediations, including online mediations, there are different ethical considerations.
Join this discussion with mediators and practitioners about ethical challenges and experiences. Registrar Russell Trott (Federal Court of Australia) will be joined by Aaron McDonald (Pragma Lawyers) and Lucy Thomas (Paterson and Dowding).
Registrar Trott will be speaking about how ethical conduct by solicitors and counsel can lead to better outcomes, other issues canvassed will include those in family law, ethical requirements and standards in mediations. Mr McDonald and Ms Thomas discuss ethical issues in their respective practice areas.
CPD points: 1 point in CA3 (Ethics and Professional Responsibility).
Recorded between 1 April 2021 and 31 March 2022.
ETHICS IN FAMILY LAW
Nicola Ashford (ASB Law) leads a discussion with the Hon Justice Richard O’Brien (Family Court of Western Australia), Dr Jacoba Brasch QC (Queensland Bar) and Kondwani Mwenda (FMD Legal) on ethics in family law.
Consideration is given to model behaviour, obligations in relation to parenting matters as set out in the Act, what to do when you see an ethical issue coming, client management and capacity issues.
CPD points: 1 point in CA3 (Ethics and Professional Responsibility).
Recorded between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2021.
CONFLICTS AND ETHICS IN FAMILY LAW
Samantha Nadilo (Fourth Floor Chambers) discusses issues regarding ethics and family law as an outsider and what family lawyers should consider from broader civil law ethics.
CPD points: 0.5 points in CA3 (Ethics and Professional Responsibility).
Recorded between 1 April 2019 and 31 March 2020.
COSTS AND THE UNIFORM PROFESSION LAW
Join legal costs expert Amy Pascoe as she provides a comprehensive update to legal costs and the uniform profession law, including highlighting some issues she is seeing arise now the law is in place.
CPD points: 0.5 CPD points in CA1 (Practice Management).
Recorded between 1 April 2022 and 31 March 2023.