COURSE CATEGORY
Ethics and professional responsibility
Ethical considerations for family law practitioners
Published 20 January 2026
Ethical judgment is central to effective family law practice. Practitioners routinely manage emotionally charged disputes, vulnerable clients, power imbalances and heightened professional risk, all within a complex ethical and regulatory framework. A sound understanding of ethical obligations is critical to protecting clients, maintaining professional standards and avoiding regulatory or reputational harm.
By attending this course, you will explore how to:
- Apply Simic & Norton [2017] FAMCA 1007 in ethical decision-making
- Identify key ethical sources for family law practitioners
- Navigate solicitor conduct rules, the Family Law Act and practice directions
- Apply best practice guidelines in daily practice
- Manage AI use, inadvertent disclosure and conflicts ethically
- Respond to self-represented litigants and social media risks
- Meet ongoing duties of disclosure in family law proceedings
Completion of this course will earn you 1 CPD unit.
TARGET AUDIENCE
All practitioners
CPD POINTS
1
TYPE
Video-based interactive module
Course Author: Kathryn Kearley
Kathryn practised at a number of leading national law firms and is now her own firm. She worked in the areas of family law, litigation and dispute resolution and property practice. Kathryn is an accredited family law specialist with the Law Society of NSW, an accredited mediator and collaborative practitioner.
Kathryn Kearley has over 30 years in legal practice and over 20 years of experience as a law teacher. Kathryn holds degrees of Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Laws (UNSW), Master of Laws (Hons) (UNE) and Master of Higher Education (Macquarie University).
