Ethical Issues in representing alleged perpetrators of family and domestic violence

Course Info

Price
$149.00

CPD Points 1.5

Competency
  • C3: Ethics and Professional Responsibility (1.5)

Courses by this Author

Author Profiles

Ethical Issues in representing alleged perpetrators of family and domestic violence

Lara Anstie

Lara is a working parent, social justice warrior and law nerd. Born and raised in Tasmania, Lara moved to Western Australia in 1999 after completing a Bachelor of Laws at the University of Tasmania. Soon after, Lara took up a role as a Judge’s Associate in the Family Court of Western Australia.

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Ethical Issues in representing alleged perpetrators of family and domestic violence

Michael Berry SC

Michael graduated from the University of Western Australia with degrees in philosophy (honours) in 1992 and law in 1995. He was admitted to practice in December 1996 and until 1998 worked at Ilbery Barbett and from 1998 until 2005 he worked at Kim Wilson & Co. Since November 2005 he has been a barrister at John Toohey Chambers specialising in all aspects of family law advice and representation at both trial and appellate level. In November 2014 he was appointed Senior Counsel.

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Course Summary

Course Details

Family lawyers are frequently advising on cases involving allegations of family and domestic violence against clients. This seminar examines how to be effective advocates without colluding with perpetrators including:

Understanding the family and domestic violence dynamic
• The pattern of coercive control
• Legislative definitions as informed by social science
• National Domestic and Family Violence Bench Book
• Do we (or the Courts we serve) have an unspoken idea of an ideal victim?
• Perpetrator accountability as a policy objective

Our duties as officers of the Court
• Procedural justice
• Testimonial justice
• How a perpetrator may groom their lawyer
• Avoiding collusion in systems abuse

Mitigating the client’s risk
• Proofing your client and supporting witness
• Reality testing
• Identifying when the client is minimising

This seminar has been approved for 1.5 Family Law Specialist Accreditation points.