On Friday 22nd and Saturday 23rd November 2019 the Old Course Hotel in St Andrews found itself overrun by family law practitioners as over a hundred solicitors, Advocates, Sheriffs and others gathered for the annual Family Law Conference.
What is the Family Law Conference?
The conference is a CPD event which aims to bring practitioners together to enable a free exchange of ideas and practice. It presents an opportunity to discuss developments in the law and explore different ways of dealing with specific circumstances.
The event, sponsored by Brewin Dolphin, encompasses speeches and presentations on many areas of law which directly influence family law in Scotland. This year Fiona, Caroline and Sue Anne from our family law team represented the firm at the event.
What did we learn about?
Presentations on domestic abuse, the proposed Children (Scotland) Bill, succession and tax were the order of the day on Friday. The afternoon was rounded out by Sheriff Mundy who provided a view from the bench in case management. A black-tie dinner followed a very productive and informative day. The dinner was a huge success with family practitioners taking over the bar late into the evening.
It was back to business on Saturday morning for speeches from this year’s keynote speaker, Karyn McCluskey from Community Justice Scotland, who provided insight into the ongoing problems facing families living in Scotland. She highlighted the need for early intervention into some families to support them in raising children who can deal with the hardships they face. A case round-up was provided by several advocates to highlight some of the important developments in case law throughout the year.
What did we take away?
The event was enjoyed by the team and it continues to be a valuable resource in discovering how practitioners in different parts of Scotland deal with cases and challenges familiar to all family solicitors. It is important as practitioners to maintain strong links within the Scottish Legal Community and this is one event that furthers that aim.
Get in touch
If you need advice or support on anything related to family law, our team in Edinburgh and Glasgow can help. Contact us to discuss your situation.