“Let’s just let it percolate” – lessons learnt with Stephanie Azzi & Jessica Strangio at the Pacifica Congress Conference through interdisciplinary & interstate dialogue & why Rafton’s have sponsored

Jessica Strangio and Stephanie Azzi from Rafton Family Lawyers https://rafton.com.au/

At the Pacifica Congress Conference live in Hobart 2023 www.pacificacongress.org

 

The Inside Family Law Podcast is hosted by Zoe Durand at Mediation Answers www.mediationanswers.com.au in partnership with Lawyer Magic and ArtWork.

 

If you would like to attend the champagne celebration on 1 November 2023 for the Inside Family Law and network with our remarkable guests that we have hosted over the years secure your spot at: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/736405357247?aff=oddtdtcreator

 

• “Focusing on outcomes… parties just want to resolve their matters… it is not always about I’m right and you’re wrong.” Jessica Strangio
• “Pacifica Congress was all about supporting families through the dispute resolution process and sharing the knowledge with other practitioners being lawyers and social scientist practitioners… and help families by sharing that knowledge.” Stephanie Azzi
• “how can we best support an expert during cross examination so they can give us the best evidence and information the court needs?” Stephanie Azzi
• Value of interdisciplinary discussion (across disciplines)
• Safe spaces for informal discussion: the role of coffee in law as a pressure valve and informal conversations
• Key highlights of the conference – single experts
• Value of hearing practices in other states (across states/ geography)
• Input and amount of time to prepare a Family Report
• Understanding at the Conference how does an expert get from A to B to Z. Why is it they think what they think?
• No regulating body for family court reporting experts. Also, when they study there is no family law subjects.
• Shortage of experts. Would having a set criteria or regulating body would that allow more new experts into the area?
• In Tasmania Judges tend to meet with children. Different approaches across the states.
• Proactive approaches we can take at a grass roots level (i.e. not all changes being at the level of legislation, but at the level of what we can seek day to day i.e thinking more creatively about Orders to seek from the Court if suitable).
• Collegiality and connecting with colleagues. How the lawyers having a rapport can actually assist clients -being able to cut through issues more efficiently. This can also save money for the client.
• “things can happen at the level of a gesture” (Zoe) – sometimes it is about being able to pick up the phone and be able to call the other practitioner and resolve it on a practical level.
• Coffee cart (sponsored by Raftons) is a core metaphor for dialogue, informal discussion and rapport between colleagues.