Following a series of reviews of the family law system, on 22 August 2024 the Australian Government introduced the Family Law Amendment Bill 2024 into the Commonwealth Parliament. The Bill sets out very significant amendments, including those relating to property settlements, pet custody and children’s arrangements, which aim to modernise and improve the family law system in Australia.

The Honourable Robert Benjamin AM SC has been a leading light in the Australian family legal system for decades. In his roles as Judge, Commissioner, President of the New South Wales Law Society, Chair of the College of Law, practitioner and meditator – Robert has had a profound impact on many areas of the law and continues to do so today. We asked the former Justice of the Family Court of Australia for insights into his extraordinary career and today’s family law practices.

The Family Law Amendment Bill 2024 seeks to modernise and improve Australia's family law system, focusing on the key areas of property division and family violence. According to Commonwealth Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus KC, these reforms are intended “to make the division of property and finances safer, simpler, and fairer for separating families, especially where family violence is present.

Considering a career in dispute resolution? You’re onto something. Helping people find resolutions to their problems – strategically and cost-effectively – is stimulating and rewarding work. But how do you get into the field?

There are several different pathways available to you, each requiring specific training and experience. Here, we’ll take a closer look at the two different specialisms.

Family lawyers must be aware of how violence can affect their clients, their client’s case and so be able to identify domestic violence. On 22 September 2023 the National Principles to Address Coercive Control in Family and Domestic Violence were released by the Attorney-General’s Department (‘A-G’).

Resolution Institute and The College of Law are pleased to announce an exciting new partnership aimed at establishing a symbiotic cooperation which will maximise the resources of both organisations through mutual collaboration and the sharing of expertise and efforts in education and training.

Meet Josephine Byrnes-Luna, a counsellor, mediator, and family dispute resolution practitioner (FDRP), and recently named Best Graduating Student – FDRP.

Mediator and former family lawyer Renee Toy knows human conflict does not pause, even during the Great Pause of 2020. Renee was recently recognised as the College’s best graduating student of Family Dispute Resolution Practice (FDRP), a prize generously sponsored by Barry.Nilsson.Lawyers