Twilight Seminar: Rob Grant's Reflection
on Family Law Practice

Wednesday 17 September 2025

The Family Law Practitioners Association of Queensland, together with the Queensland Law Society, is delighted to invite members to a special Twilight Seminar with Rob Grant as he reflects on his remarkable career of nearly 50 years as a practitioner and mediator.

Rob has been at the heart of family law practice in Queensland for decades. Throughout his career, he has been a solicitor, mediator, mentor, and trusted colleague to so many in our profession. Known for his practical wisdom, generosity of spirit, and unwavering commitment to helping families resolve conflict with dignity. As Rob approaches retirement, this event provides a unique opportunity to hear his reflections on how family law and mediation have evolved and the lessons he has learned along the way.

This seminar will be both educational and celebratory - a chance to learn from Rob’s extraordinary experience, while also recognising and honouring the contribution he has made to our profession.

We warmly invite you to join us for what promises to be a memorable evening.

When: 5.15pm for a 5:45pm start, Wednesday 17 September 2025. 

Where: In person at Queensland Law Society (Level 6, 179 Ann Street, Brisbane QLD 4000).

Cost:
$50 for FLPA/ QLS Members
$70 for Non-Members

RSVP:
Please click here for the online form and make payment by COB Monday 15 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.

FLPA may use photos of you at this event for marketing purposes. If you do not wish for this to occur, please refrain from being involved in photos at the event.

More Info:
Contact membership@flpa.org.au

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.

FLPA  in the Tropics - Change of Venue!

Tickets are still available!

Further to our email sent last week about FLPA in the Tropics, we have now been advised that there will be extensive renovations at Club Wyndham on the weekend of the conference, which we had not been aware of when the conference had been booked. To avoid any disruption to the conference we have changed the venue to Mission Beach Resort. The details of the conference otherwise remain the same as previously advised apart from the change of venue. For further details about our conference, please see below.

As detailed in our earlier e-alert, Family Law Practitioners Association of Queensland (FLPA) is coming to Far North Queensland for a not-to-be-missed conference. We invite you to join us for a day filled with valuable insights and professional development opportunities. Our line-up of speakers includes distinguished professionals who will share their expertise on various aspects of family law.

Don't miss this opportunity to enhance your knowledge, network with fellow legal professionals, and stay up to date with the latest developments. Register now to secure your spot and take your legal practice to new heights. We look forward to welcoming you to this exciting event!

Event Details:

Date: Saturday, 18 October 2025

Venue: Mission Beach Resort, Mission Beach, North Queensland

At this conference, there will be approximately 7 hours of informative content, making it an excellent choice for family law practitioners looking to enhance their knowledge and skills.

Our lineup of speakers includes distinguished professionals who will share their expertise on various aspects of Family Law. Here are some of the esteemed speakers you can look forward to:

• His Honour Judge Bowrey OAM - Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia 
  (Division 2)

• Her Honour Judge Cope - Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2)

• Senior Judicial Registrar Stuart - Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia

• Senior Judicial Registrar Jenkins - Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia

• The Honourable Peter Tree KC

• Mr Phil Looney KC - Barrister-at-Law 

• Mr Justin Greggery KC - Barrister-at-Law

• Ms Andrea Lawrence - Barrister-at-Law

• Mrs Rebekah Bassano - Barrister-at-Law

• Ms Deanna Musumeci - Barrister-at-Law

• Ms Tracy Richards - Tracy Richards Psychological Services

• Ms Joanne Meade - Meade Legal

• Mr Stafford Shepherd - QLS Ethics
  
  

View Program

Our speakers will provide valuable insights and address critical topics relevant to the practice of Family Law.

Seating is limited, so we encourage you to register as soon as possible to secure your place at this highly anticipated event.

Don't miss out on this exceptional opportunity to expand your knowledge, and network with industry professionals.

Accommodation will be required by our delegates. We have secured a discount rate at Mission Beach Resort. In order to secure the discount you will need to contact Mission Beach Resort directly on 07 4088 8288 and advise that you are securing accommodation for FLPA so that you can attend the conference. We encourage delegates to organise their accommodation as soon as possible.

We look forward to welcoming you to this event.

COST:

$550 Member
$450 for each staff member of the firm after payment of one registration in full
$650 Non-member

RSVP:

Please click here for the online form and make payment by Friday 10 October 2025 or until sold out.

More Info:
Contact membership@flpa.org.au

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.