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Family-law conference a ‘must-attend’

The upcoming annual conference of the Law Society’s Family and Child Law Committee comes at a time of great change in Irish family law, according to committee member Keith Walsh SC. 

“The new section 32 guidelines, developments regarding hearing the voice of the child and child advocacy, the Family Courts Act, civil legal-aid issues, civil restraint orders, and Gerry Durcan’s annual review of case law form part of this year’s conference,” the family-law solicitor says. 

He adds that the committee is also looking back, as well as forward, to understand the context for the current and future family-law system. 

Ms Justice Nuala Jackson will provide the keynote speech to the conference, examining how far Ireland has come in the last 30 years since the introduction of divorce. 

“This conference is a must-attend for any family-law solicitors, barristers, members of the judiciary, or other stakeholders in the family-justice system,” says Walsh. 

Five CPD hours 

The event, designed in collaboration with Law Society Professional Training, will take place in the main lecture theatre in Blackhall Place on Friday 25 September (9.30am to 4.30pm). 

Attendance is worth a total of five CPD hours by group study – 4.5 hours general and 0.5 hours for professional development and solicitor wellbeing. Registration is now open. 

Committee chair Siún Hurley (solicitor, O’Donovan, Murphy & Partners LLP) will chair the conference.

The speakers are:

• Ms Justice Nuala Jackson (High Court),  
• Gerard Durcan SC,  
• Keith Walsh SC (Keith Walsh Solicitors LLP),  
• Nicola McCarthy (Child Court Advocate Service),  
• Claire O’Connor (Child Court Advocate Service),  
• Noeline Blackwell (Children’s Rights Alliance),  
• Bronagh O’Neill (head of Law Society Psychological Services), 
• Donagh McGowan (principal, Donagh McGowan & Co Solicitors),  
• Tony Watson (head of investigations, complaints, and resolutions, Legal Services Regulatory Authority), and  
• Pam Howard (investigations, complaints, and resolutions, Legal Services Regulatory Authority).