‘Cases of Conflict – Do shared lives with orders and the court approved parenting app help parents experience justice in the family court? – Dads House Family Law Clinic

Dads House Family Law Clinic and Our Family Wizard’s Pro Bono Week Panel Event.

Cases of Conflict – Do shared lives with orders and the court approved parenting app help parents experience justice in the family court?

This event will focus on family, private child jurisdiction, with a focus on why shared lives with orders reduce conflict within Section 8 Children Act 1989 proceedings.

After the main discussion there will be a Q&A session for attendees, then networking.

The key themes of pro bono week below are below:

1. Barred from justice – the powerful, everyday stories of the impact of lawyers and law students who give their time to protect the rights of those most disadvantaged in society.

2. Embedding pro bono in your organisation and career – placing pro bono at the heart of everyone’s practice and hearing from those at the forefront of establishing business structures for pro bono within law firms, chambers, in house, universities and charities.

3. How technology can enhance access to justice – existing and new tools to ensure pro bono is innovative and effective.

This panel event is being held during pro bono week, featuring Dads House Family Law Clinic. Highlighting the need to future lawyers to do pro bono work within the current family jurisdiction where we do have legal aid. It is worth noting that this response addresses the second theme of pro bono week. This event will focus on the family, private child jurisdiction, with a focus on why shared lives with orders reduce conflict within Section 8 Children Act 1989 proceedings. This event will be addressing the nexus between the issues of father’s being barred from justice and how shared lives with orders can address this issue and injustice.

Another question considered is whether parenting apps, specifically Our Family Wizard a court recommended parenting app, reduce conflict within private child matters and assist the court both in reducing the burden on the courts and promote the rule of law. In this case, the paramountcy and best interests of the child within Child Act 1989.

This event will also discuss how the power of pro bono will help you develop your career. This can be discussed within the context of Dads House Family Law Clinic and how in person clinics where students attend learn client skills, case management, conferences skills and understand the law in practice from highly expert practitioners both solicitors and barristers.

Panel Members:

1. HHJ Sapnara, recently appointed as a Senior Circuit Judge as of the 11 October 2024;

2. Simon Bruce (Legal Director of Dads House Family Law Clinic and partner at Dawson Cornwell);

3. Sophie Hill from Coram Chambers and a member of Middle Temple;

4. James Evans (Head of UK Professional Education at Our Family Wizard).

In the spirit of Pro Bono week, student tickets for this event are free of charge. This has been made possible thanks to the sponsoring of the event by Our Family Wizard.

For Middle Temple members, both student and called members, they can purchase tickets on their website:

https://www.middletemple.org.uk/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=42084

For non Middle Temple legal professional and Dads House Family Law Clinic students they can purchase tickets on our Eventbrite website:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/panel-event-dads-house-and-middle-temple-tickets-1042815959607?aff=oddtdtcreator

Handling Vulnerable Clients Training- Osborne Clarke (Internal event only)

As part of celebrating Pro Bono Week 2024, Osbourne Clarke deliver training on how to handle vulnerable clients.

This event is for Osborne Clarke Staff only.

Celebrating a year of Pro Bono Expert Support

Hosted by the National Pro Bono Centre at the IDRC, in collaboration with Pro Bono Connect and the Access to Justice Foundation.

Expert Support Breakfast, Wednesday 6th November, 8.30am registration for 9am start; 9- 9.45am – summary of year and speakers; 9.45-10.30am optional networking over breakfast.

We are delighted to invite you to join Pro Bono Expert Support for breakfast to soft launch the new Pro Bono Costs Order branch, delivered in partnership with the Access to Justice Foundation. Focusing on Pro Bono Week 2024 theme “the power of pro bono”, we’ll showcase innovative examples of the power of partnership working, celebrating strong outcomes and showing partnership working at its finest.

You will hear examples of partnership working with the litigation support sector throughout the past year, in addition to how Pro Bono Cost Orders benefit the free legal advice sector.

After a short panel we’ll gather for a buffet breakfast with the opportunity to network with Pro Bono Connect member firms, chambers, Expert Support companies and colleagues from across pro bono and litigation.

We are very grateful to the International Dispute Resolution Centre for hosting the Pro Bono Expert Support Breakfast.

Any questions relating to the Pro Bono Expert Support Scheme please email esherratt@nationalprobonocentre.org.uk

Hybrid event.

Registration link can be found here – Celebrating a year of Pro Bono Expert Support Tickets, Wed, Nov 6, 2024 at 8:30 AM | Eventbrite

Supporting & Empowering Clients in Distress

Join this unique hybrid panel event taking place during Pro Bono Week 2024 hosted by the National Pro Bono Centre, in collaboration with LawWorks and Advocate. Listen to our inspirational speakers share their personal journeys on supporting and empowering vulnerable clients including adapting ways of communicating with clients in distress and trauma informed lawyering, wellbeing strategies and boundary setting. We are delighted that Rebecca Wilkie, CEO of Advocate, will be moderating the event.

Registration and welcome drink from 6.30pm for a 7pm start. The panel discussion will run from 7-8pm with Q&As to round off followed by a valuable opportunity for networking over drinks and nibbles, finishing by 9pm.

We are very grateful to Sidley Austin for hosting this event.

Online attendees will be emailed a link to join the event nearer the time.

Speakers:

District Judge Lynda Nightingale
Ollie Persey, Barrister
Rebecca Norris, Barrister, Co-founder of Trauma Informed Law
Naga Kandiah, Solicitor
Louise McCarthy, Pro Bono Counsel

Any questions please email wendy@probonoweek.org.uk or Emily esherratt@nationalprobonocentre.org.uk

Meet the speakers

Lynda Nightingale

Lynda started her career with a City Law firm. As a newly qualified solicitor she established the firm’s first pro bono advice scheme, working with a Law Centre to set up an evening advice surgery to assist those struggling to get free legal help. Social welfare law lured Lynda away from the corporate world and she spent fifteen years working as a housing solicitor, firstly in a high street legal aid practice and then in a law centre. Lynda became a deputy district judge in 2003 and a full-time district judge in 2008. Lynda now spends her days hearing cases in the county and family court in Guildford, seeing, on a daily basis, litigants who have had no access to legal advice, who have no representation or support and many of whom are very vulnerable. She has worked as a course tutor for the Judicial College producing the first training module for judges in ‘open justice’ focussing on the needs of litigants in person. Lynda is the litigant in person liaison judge for Surrey.

Naga Kandiah

Naga Kandiah is a solicitor specialising in immigration and human rights law. Known for his tireless dedication to promoting human rights and advocating for migrant communities, he has received numerous accolades for his work. He often takes on complex pro bono cases, representing vulnerable clients, such as survivors of domestic violence and descendants of Windrush migrants. His commitment to his clients and the protection of their rights is evident in his hands-on approach, going above and beyond to achieve positive outcomes. His passion for justice and equality continues to drive his legal practice, making a significant impact in his field.

Louise McCarthy, Pro Bono Counsel, Sidley Austin LLP

Louise McCarthy is a Pro Bono Counsel at Sidley Austin LLP, based in the firm’s London office. Sidley’s pro bono program in London focuses on tackling barriers to access to justice, and volunteers participate in several access to justice projects which aim to bridge the gap that is continually widening for the most vulnerable and disadvantaged groups. Louise was previously an associate in the London office’s litigation practice, during which time she oversaw the welfare benefits appeals project, and she continues to work on these cases as part of her now full time pro bono practice.

Oliver Persey, Barrister, Garden Court Chambers

Ollie is a public law and human rights barrister at Garden Court Chambers. He is ranked in Chambers & Partners and the Legal 500. Ollie won the Legal Aid Newcomer Award at the Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year (LALY) Awards 2024, and was a finalist for a ‘Junior of the Year’ award at the Legal 500 Awards 2022 for his work in his core practice areas. He is a member of the Equality & Human Rights Commission’s panel of preferred counsel.

Rebecca Norris, Coach, Consultant, Barrister, Co-founder, Trauma Informed Law

Rebecca is a certified coach, consultant and practising barrister. She specialises in training and supporting individuals, teams and businesses navigating trauma, distress, heightened emotions and overwhelm in connection with the legal system. With over 14 years of London-based legal experience, she has diverse experiences of supporting vulnerable clients – ranging from working in prisons with complex trauma-based behaviours to advising board-level commercial executives on the cusp of burnout. She has observed, and experienced, the profound impact that pressure, overwhelm, and trauma can cause, both personally and professionally. She is passionate about the need for trauma-informed practice in order to advance the safety and integrity of our legal system. Rebecca runs Coyra Coaching (coyra.co.uk) and co-founded Trauma Informed Law (traumainformedlaw.co.uk). Please visit the websites for further details of support available within all legal practice areas.

18:30 – 19:00 – Registration

19:00 – 20:00 – Panel discussion and Q&A

20:00 – 21:00 – Networking, drinks and nibbles

Hybrid event.

Registration for this event can be found here – Supporting & Empowering Clients in Distress Tickets, Thu, Nov 7, 2024 at 6:30 PM | Eventbrite

XXIV Old Buildings – Chambers seminar with Advocate

Advocate caseworkers will be delivering a short presentation about how and why to take on pro bono work, and how it can help with practice development and silk applications. Clerks and members invited to attend, from all levels.

Internal only event.

Deka Chambers seminar with Advocate

Internal only event.

Landmark Chambers with Advocate

Advocate caseworkers will be delivering a short presentation to juniors at Landmark Chambers, sharing key information about how to get involved in pro bono work, make the most of working with Advocate and how pro bono work can help with practice development. Juniors are invited to attend the Young Lawyers Event directly after this event.

Internal only event.

St Philips Chambers seminar with Advocate

St Philips Chambers, Birmingham, Pro Bono Breakfast

William Horwood and Advocate’s Midland Circuit Caseworker will be delivering a short presentation about how and why to take on pro bono work, the benefits of pro bono, and how it can help with practice development and silk applications. Clerks, juniors and pupils invited to attend.

Internal only event.

Advocate & Deans Court Chambers – pro bono information evening – Northern Circuit

Advocate would be delighted to welcome all pupil barristers and new tenants to join their Northern Circuit Caseworkers, Emily and Chloe, at a short information evening on pro bono work, kindly hosted by Deans Court Chambers on Tuesday 5^th November. If you have thought about doing pro bono work but aren’t sure where to start, please do come along and ask any questions you might have. You will also hear from barristers who have taken on pro bono work, learn about the benefits it has made to their practice and how they incorporate it into their busy diaries. We would be delighted to see you there. Please RSVP here.

Relevant links: https://www.tfaforms.com/5146102