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Digital Certificate in Family Law Advocacy

  • 40 hrs
  • Start Any Time
  • Interactive
  • Start from $1,699.00
  • IC005_FAMA
CPD Calendar

DIGITAL CERTIFICATE IN FAMILY LAW ADVOCACY

Strong advocacy is the foundation of effective family law practice. This comprehensive Digital Certificate—which you can complete  at your own pace—equips you with the ethical, oral, and written advocacy skills needed to excel in court hearings, dispute resolution, and negotiations.

With practical insights and real-world case studies, you’ll refine your ability to uphold professional standards, present compelling arguments, and draft persuasive legal documents.

The Digital Certificate in Family Law Advocacy is divided into three self-paced, 10-hour short courses plus a final assignment:

  • Ethics and Procedure
  • Oral Advocacy in Family Law Proceedings
  • Written Advocacy in Family Law Proceedings

To pass the course, you’ll complete a final assignment, which will be reviewed by a subject matter expert to ensure you’ve mastered the key skills. Once you successfully pass, you will earn a Digital Certificate, demonstrating your expertise in family law advocacy.

With special contributions from:

  • Kathryn Kearley, Family Law Accredited Specialist
  • Clare Dart, Barrister, Inns of Court, Barristers Chambers; and
  • Ray James, Adjunct Lecturer, College of Law

What you will learn:

  • Apply ethical and professional conduct rules in real-world advocacy scenarios.
  • Navigate court etiquette and electronic hearings with confidence.
  • Deliver persuasive oral submissions in financial and parenting proceedings.
  • Lead, cross-examine, and re-examine witnesses effectively.
  • Prepare witnesses to provide clear and compelling evidence.
  • Draft concise, persuasive case outlines and written submissions.
  • Develop strategic position statements for dispute resolution.
  • Apply evidence rules to strengthen and support your client’s case.

Master the art of advocacy in family law. Elevate your practice with confidence, clarity, and integrity.

INCLUDED COURSES

Family law advocacy demands more than legal knowledge—it requires confidence, integrity, and strategic execution. Excellence in this field starts with a deep commitment to ethics, professionalism, and procedural mastery.

This advanced on-demand short course is part of our Digital Certificate in Family Law Advocacy program. Enroll in this short course as a standalone, or go all in with the full digital certificate for a deeper, more comprehensive learning journey.

This particular short course is delivered over 10 hours at your own pace. You’ll sharpen your ability to navigate court proceedings, uphold ethical obligations, and advocate effectively through real case studies and best-practice insights.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:

  • Apply professional conduct rules to real-world advocacy scenarios.
  • Navigate court etiquette and electronic hearings with confidence.
  • Address complex procedural and ethical challenges in family law matters.
  • Integrate case study insights to strengthen your advocacy while upholding professional integrity.

With special contributions from subject matter expert: Kathryn Kearly, Family Law Accredited Specialist

Mastering advocacy takes more than just one course. The full Digital Certificate in Family Law Advocacy course provides in-depth training in both oral and written advocacy, plus an assessment component to earn your Digital Certificate.

  • Core principles of advocacy in family law
  • Best practice guidelines for family law advocacy
  • Best practice for addressing family violence
  • Trauma-informed practice
  • Client relationships and your role as an advocate 

Strong oral advocacy is the foundation of effective family law practice. Whether in court or dispute resolution, the ability to present persuasive arguments, examine witnesses, and apply evidence rules is critical.

This advanced on-demand short course is part of our Digital Certificate in Family Law Advocacy Program. Enroll in this short course as a standalone, or go all in with the full digital certificate for a deeper, more comprehensive learning journey.

This particular short course is delivered over 10 hours at your own pace and equips you with the practical skills to deliver compelling oral submissions, prepare witnesses, and confidently represent your clients in hearings and negotiations.

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

  • Deliver persuasive oral submissions in financial and parenting proceedings.
  • Advocate confidently through leading, cross-examining, and re-examining witnesses
  • Prepare witnesses to provide clear and compelling evidence under examination.
  • Apply the rules of evidence to build strong, credible cases.
  • Represent your client effectively in court hearings and dispute resolution.

With special contributions from subject matter expert: Clart Dart, Barrister, Inns of Court, Barristers Chambers.

Mastering oral advocacy takes more than just one course. The full Digital Certificate in Family Law Advocacy provides in-depth training in both ethics and written advocacy, plus an assessment component to earn your Digital Certificate.

  • Preparing and presenting oral submissions for a court even t
  • Rules of evidence and drafting principals for preparing affidavits
  • Presenting oral evidence and your client as a witness
  • Cross-examination and re-examination
  • Preparing and appearing at a dispute resolution event

Strong written advocacy is essential to effective family law practice. Whether drafting case outlines, written submissions, or other court documents, clear and persuasive writing gives your client’s case the best chance of success.

This advanced on-demand short course is part of our Digital Certificate in Family Law Advocacy course as a standalone, or go all in with the full digital certificate for a deeper, more comprehensive learning journey.

This particular course is delivered over 10 hours at your own pace. It equips you with the skills to craft precise, compelling legal documents for court and dispute resolution.

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

  • Draft clear, concise, and persuasive case outlines for interim hearings.
  • Prepare comprehensive case outlines for final hearings that align with family law case management principles.
  • Write compelling written submissions for various court events.
  • Develop effective position statements and case outlines for dispute resolution.

With special contributions from subject matter expert Ray James, Adjunct Lecturer, College of Law.  

Mastering advocacy takes more than just one course. The full Advocacy in Family Law Digital Certificate provides in-depth training in both ethics and oral advocacy, plus an assessment component to earn your Digital Certificate.

  • Interim hearings: process requirements and evidence
  • Drafting principles
  • Case outline preparation
  • Case outline drafting

Amazing, thorough, easy to understand. Great resources.

On-demand CPD Learner

I enjoyed how it was set out, the reading material is very good. Very helpful and informative.

On-demand CPD Learner

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Digital Certificate

The Digital Certificate will benefit:

  • Lawyers seeking to deepen their knowledge with advanced practice-ready skills in a specific area
  • Senior lawyers looking to confirm their knowledge and stay up to date
  • Lawyers looking to earn a Digital Certificate and badge to demonstrate specific knowledge.
  • Those who may be interested in postgraduate specialisation but seeking a more flexible, confined and cost-effective alternative for right now.

Short Course

The on-demand short course is perfect for:

  • Lawyers wanting to upskill quickly with practical, advanced knowledge in a specific area
  • Senior lawyers looking for a refresher to stay current with key developments
  • Lawyers who prefer a focused learning experience without committing to a full Digital Certificate
  • Those seeking advanced content without the commitment of enrolling in a postgraduate degree
  •  

Flexible online learning, designed for your busy schedule.

Our Digital Certificate courses let you study when and where it suits you.
They’re practical, easy to navigate, and designed to give you real-world skills without unnecessary complexity.

About the Digital Certificate

  • Program length: 40 hours total

  • Structure: Three courses (10 hours each) + a final assignment (10 hours)

  • Modules: Each course contains 4–5 focused modules with clear, actionable insights.

You'll move through interactive activities, apply your knowledge in practical scenarios, and complete an assignment to bring all your learning together. A subject matter expert will review your work and provide feedback.

What you'll get:

  • Interactive learning: Activities that challenge your thinking and sharpen your skills.

  • Clear learning outcomes: Know exactly what you’ll achieve after each module.

  • Expert-led content: Learn from professionals who work in the field.

  • Personalised feedback: Receive insights from a subject matter expert on your assignment.

  • Certificate and badge: Earn a Certificate of Completion and a digital badge when you successfully submit your assignment.

Digital Certificate

Choosing a Digital Certificate course is a smart way to deepen your skills, grow your expertise, and save time and money.

Here’s why:

  • Comprehensive learning: Gain advanced knowledge across three structured courses (10 hours each) and complete a practical assignment.

  • Earn CPD units: Claim 10 CPD units for each course (subject to your local CPD rules).

  • Flexible study: Learn online, at your own pace, when and where it suits you.

  • Better value: Save money by purchasing the full Digital Certificate rather than enrolling in courses individually.

  • Recognised achievement: On completion, you’ll receive a Certificate of Completion and a digital badge to showcase your expertise.

If you're looking for a broader, more in-depth learning experience with expert feedback, the Digital Certificate is the right choice.


Short Course

An on-demand short course is ideal if you want to focus on developing one specific skill, quickly and affordably.

Here’s why:

  • Targeted learning: Choose a specific skill area and dive deep into practical, real-world learning.

  • Earn CPD units: Claim 10 CPD units on completion (subject to your local CPD requirements).

  • Flexible and fast: Complete the course entirely online at your own pace, with no assessment requirements.

  • Practical outcomes: Learn skills you can immediately apply in your practice.

If you want a flexible, focused learning option without committing to a full program, a short course is a great choice.

For a more comprehensive experience — including feedback, a Certificate and badge — consider enrolling in the Digital Certificate instead.

To successfully complete the course, you must pass three assessments:

  1. Drafting an outline of a case document with a memo (20%)

  2. Preparing an outline of oral submissions (40%)

  3. Recording a 10-minute oral submission video (40%)

You’ll have access to a resource list and all your prior course materials. The assignment is designed to take approximately 10 hours to complete. You can claim CPD points for this activity too, subject to your local CPD requirements..

 

Once enrolled, you can access the course 24/7 via the College of Law’s learning portal.

  • You’ll have unlimited access for 12 months from the date of purchase.

  • Study anytime, anywhere, at your own pace.

  • If you want to receive the Digital Certificate and badge, you will need to submit your assignment component within 6 months of purchase. 

Does this educational activity extend your knowledge and skills in areas that are relevant to your practice needs or professional development?

If so, and you’re not a WA practitioner, you should claim 1 unit for each hour of participation, not including breaks.

Please check your local CPD rules for any caps on activity types, such as the private study of non-interactive audio/visual materials. You are responsible for keeping your own CPD records and complying with your local CPD rules.

No. Although the Digital Certificate course is designed at a postgraduate level, it is a non-award short course and does not currently qualify for credit towards a subject in our Postgraduate Program.

If you’re interested in earning a full postgraduate qualification, our team would be happy to help you explore your study options. Send an enquiry and our team will be in touch.
 

No. Western Australian lawyers cannot claim CPD points for our on-demand courses.

However, you may earn CPD points by attending select live CPD events or by completing select CPD Interactive modules.

Yes. If your organisation has multiple employees who would like to enrol in any of the College of Law’s courses, we offer corporate pricing to make professional development even more accessible. Contact us for more information.

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