Family Law Junior Advocacy Workshop
Confidence in the Courtroom
Friday 24 October and Friday 31 October 2025
The much-loved Confidence in the Courtroom workshop is back in 2025! After fantastic feedback from our previous programs, this highly interactive advocacy workshop will once again give early career family lawyers the chance to step into the courtroom, hone their skills, and learn from experienced members of the profession and judiciary.
Spots are strictly limited and always sell out quickly — so secure your place early!
Tailored for lawyers with less than 3 years PAE (and graduate lawyers awaiting admission), this program offers practical, hands-on experience plus personalised feedback to help build confidence and capability in court advocacy.
This years workshop will include the following:
1. Preparation Session
Thursday, 9 October 2025
5:00pm arrival for a 5:30pm start
Level 6, The Theatre Room, Queensland Law Society, 179 Ann Street, Brisbane QLD
The session will feature insights from the Honourable Justice Jarrett (Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 1)), Senior Judicial Registrar Cartwright (Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 1) and Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2)), and Isaac Douglas of Counsel. Over the course of an hour, they will share practical guidance on preparing for court appearances and fundamentals of effective advocacy. From 6:30pm, participants are invited to continue the conversation over drinks and nibbles at the Pig ’n’ Whistle in King George Square.
2. Day One: First Return Date
Friday, 24 October 2025
3:00pm – 5:30pm
via Microsoft Teams
Participants will appear before a Judicial Registrar or Senior Judicial Registrar for a first return date and begin applying their preparation in a safe, practice-based setting.
3. Day Two: In-Person Interim Hearings & Advocacy Observations
Friday, 31 October 2025
10:00am – 4:00pm
Commonwealth Law Courts Building, 119 North Quay, Brisbane
- Morning: Participants will conduct interim hearings before a Senior Judicial Registrar or Judge and will receive individual feedback from experienced mentors (senior barristers and solicitors).
- Afternoon: Participants will observe experienced Counsel conducting a mock interim hearing on complex parenting and property issues before the Honourable Justice Carew.
4:00pm – 6:00pm
Persone, Level 2, 300 George Street, Brisbane
- Networking Drinks: at the conclusion of the day there will be a networking event for the participants to interact and meet the judicial officers, mentors and other participants in a relaxed social setting.
Materials & Accessibility
All participants will receive:
- court materials in advance to allow for meaningful preparation.
- a video demonstrating how to address the court and run a mock interim hearing.
- a FLPA podcast where our board members talk with a distinguished member of our
profession on advocacy skills.
Note: Electronic attendance can be arranged for regional members for applicable parts of the program.
Cost:
$320 for FLPA members - in person
$350 for non members - in person
$250 for FLPA members - via electronic attendance
$280 for non members - via electronic attendance
The cost includes lunch and networking drinks on Friday, 31 October 2025.
RSVP:
Places are strictly limited and will book out quickly. Click here to register and make payment by Friday, 26 September 2025.
CPD: Rule 48(2) of the Queensland Law Society Administration Rule 2005 and the Bar Association of Queensland CPD Policy permit, on a self-assessment basis, the treatment of attendance at a conference as a CPD activity at the rate of 1 CPD point per 1 hour of attendance (excluding refreshment breaks).
Cancellations non-refundable, substitute permitted.