Family Law

Experience what it’s really like to be a family lawyer.

Are you interested in becoming a family lawyer? Leo Cussen Centre for Law trains people with a law degree to become practical lawyers. Our training is about putting you in a simulated environment so that you experience what it’s really like to solve family law issues in legal practice. This internship focuses on legal research and communication skills, identifying Parenting and Property Arrangements, and preparing court documents for a client whose children are missing, possibly taken out of the country.

Please note that the tasks within this program are hypothetical and for learning purposes only. The scenario you will hear about is fictional and the client is portrayed by an actor. Please be aware that there is explicit language used within the program, which may be upsetting for some participants.

This program is self-paced. It takes approximately 16-20 hours to complete.

Skills Learned:

• Researching the area of Family Law
  You are introduced to a handful of key Family Law resources to gain a cursory yet useful understanding of Family Law concepts.
  • Researching the Law
  • Applying the Law
  • Synthesising Information
• Parenting and Property Arrangements: taking instructions and categorising
  Listen carefully to the client and categorise which concerns of the client fall under Parenting and which falls under Property.
  • Listening Attentively
  • Categorising Family Law Information
  • Observing Which Parenting Or Property Clauses Might Apply in a Given Situation
• Receiving the call: identifying the issues and ascertaining further information required
  Listen to the client and write a very brief chronology to determine what has happened. Also identify further information that may be required.
  • Listening Attentively and Empathising
  • Organising Information
  • Identifying Missing Information
• Interviewing and taking instructions
  In this task, you will meet a Family Law client. You will consider what you may do to calm the client’s anxiety, listen to them and then attempt to answer their questions.
  • Listen Attentively and Empathetically
  • Interpersonal and Emotional Insight
  • Apply Family Law Knowledge to a Real Client
• Application for contravention of court orders
  Preparing to make an application for contravention of court parenting orders in anticipation that the former husband has deliberately contravened a parenting order but may not be intending to leave the country with the children.
  • Access and Categorise Legal Information
  • Identify Legal Practice Procedures around Contravention of Orders
  • Researching, Ordering, and Organising Legal Information
  • Assisting a Legal Practitioner to Follow Court Procedures
• Sharpening your assertive communication skills
  In this task you will do some guided reading and answer a very simple quiz in assertive communication.
  • Assertive Communication
  • Interpersonal and Emotional Insight
• Advising a client on a Children’s Recovery Order
  Preparing to make an urgent application for a Children’s Recovery Order in anticipation that the former husband is intending to take the children out of the country.
  • Access and Categorise Legal Information
  • Identify Legal Practice Procedures Around Seeking a Children’s Recovery Order
  • Researching, Ordering and Organising Legal Information
  • Assisting a Legal Practitioner to Follow Court Procedures
• Advising on return of children from another country
  Preparing to make an urgent application for children to be returned from another country.
  • Access and Categorise Legal Information
  • Identify Legal Practice Procedures Around Seeking an Application for Children to be Returned from Another Country
  • Researching, Ordering and Organising Legal Information
  • Applying International Law
• Synthesising or summarising information for your supervisor (bonus task)
  Synthesising or summarising the 3 legal practice tasks into one oral summary: 1. Application for contravention of court parenting orders 2. Advising a client on a Children’s Recovery Order, and 3. Advising on return of children from another country.
  • Communicating Effectively
  • Synthesising and Summarising Legal Procedures
  • Verbal Presentation