The Family Law Litigation Toolbox - a recorded lunchtime online conference

Hear from the experts at this online lunchtime conference. You can watch it on your computer or on your portable electronic device from anywhere.

The conference will be based on our highly successful video webinar technology: there'll be a chairperson and presentations.

One registration can be shared by colleagues within the same firm utilising the same login.

THE PROGRAM

Session 1: Drafting Water Tight Consent Orders in Family Law Matters

The coronavirus pandemic has provided many parties with the impetus to reach agreement and bypass lengthy court delays and uncertainty. However, care still needs to be taken. The session looks at the key issues in ensuring watertight consent orders, including:

• Understanding the importance of the ‘what if’ factor in drafting consent orders
• Essential inclusions in consent orders
• Careful and comprehensive drafting – what does this really mean?
• Drafting consent orders on property matters
• Parenting matters and consent orders
• Case study – consent order drafting check list
• Practical case studies

Session2: Putting Your Best Foot Forward with Family Law Interim Hearings

Significant court delays are an unfortunate reality for family law clients, and are likely to worsen as a result of COVID-19. With parties often stuck in limbo without a resolution for years, getting the right interim decisions is now more important than ever. This session looks at how you can maximise your returns and ensure you achieve a productive outcome for your client. It covers:

• Interim orders – what can they achieve?
• What is the court looking for during interim hearings?
• Defended interim hearings – key issues to consider
• Can the parties agree on some issues?
• Tips and trips for various types of interim hearings:
  • parenting
  • property
  • other
• Navigating COVID-19 court room procedures for interim hearings
• The role of evidence at interim hearings
• Preparing interim hearing affidavits
• Appeals from interim hearings – practical and procedural issues

Session 3: Litigation Strategies and Procedure in a COVID-19 Landscape

This session looks at some of the less commonly used ‘tools of the trade’ in family law litigation and how they can be utilized for maximum effect. With the courtroom landscape constantly changing due to COVID-19, it is vital practitioners are across all the available weapons on their armoury. This session covers:

• Using litigation ‘tools’ strategically – tips and tricks of the trade in a COVID-19 landscape:
  • How to effectively tender documents via video link
  • Witness integrity issues when cross-examining online
  • When will a decision be open to attack due to credibility issues or lack of fair hearing?
• Notice to admit – when to use it
• Discovery in family law matters
• Using interrogatories – understanding procedural requirements
• FOI request – getting information from Medicare and other regulators
• Case study – Serving someone on Facebook