Non-Collusive Practice: Ethics, Advocacy and Family Violence | Women’s Legal Service Victoria
The second webinar in our Conversations on Legal Practice -Trauma-Aware Lawyering series focuses on non-collusive practice as a foundation of trauma-informed legal work.
Representing persons who use violence in family violence and family law matters can raise challenges in maintaining role boundaries and meeting ethical obligations.
Contemporary legal practice requires lawyers to develop their non-collusive practice skills, meaning effectively representing clients without excusing, minimising or reinforcing violence-supporting attitudes and their use of violence.
This panel discussion will explore non-collusive practice as a core competency skill in trauma-informed lawyering that ensures legal representation minimises harm.
Drawing on professional expertise working across family violence and family law settings, the panel will reflect on:
- ethical obligations when engaging with persons using violence
- practical strategies when legal processes are misused as tools of coercive control
- how victim-survivor safety operates as a foundational principle across both jurisdictions, when providing advice to a person using violence.
Panellists
- Nadine Di Blasi, In-House Counsel, Family and Children’s Law, Victoria Legal Aid
- Celeste Katherveloo, Respondent Practitioner, Courts Services Victoria
- Laura Brennan, Director of Legal Services, First Steps Legal, Perpetrator Accountability Project and the Safety, Wellbeing & Accountability Program (SWAP)
The session will include opportunities for audience Q&A.
Who is this for?
Lawyers working in family violence and family law
Register here