Presented by Brian Galbraith, Alex Beadie, and Christina Garisto. Successful family law lawyers are great communicators. You will learn new strategies to enhance your communication skills in this session. Based on Charles Duhigg’s book Super Communicators, which explores social science research on building meaningful connections, this session will delve into practical ways divorce professionals can apply these insights when meeting clients—especially during initial consultations. Mastering these techniques will help you establish trust, secure new clients, and better address their needs.

Adam Prewer and Aaron Frank's case law update focuses on family law issues, emphasizing the need for swift judicial intervention in complex decision-making responsibility and parental alienation cases. Mental health considerations are increasingly significant, influencing decision-making responsibility and parenting decisions and underscoring the necessity for comprehensive evaluations to ensure children’s best interests. Courts are prioritizing parenting orders for adult children with disabilities, reflecting a growing recognition of their unique needs and rights. Allegations of family violence are taken seriously, significantly impacting decision-making responsibility determinations and reinforcing the judiciary’s commitment to protecting vulnerable family members. Early intervention in parental alienation cases is crucial to preventing long-term emotional harm to children, highlighting the need for proactive legal measures. Recent decisions also address grandparent access rights, recognizing their positive impact on a child’s emotional development. Recognizing that foreign divorces are becoming more common, decision-making responsibility and financial arrangements are affected in cross-border family disputes. Additionally, courts address financial considerations such as imputing income and occupation rent and ensuring fair decision-making responsibility and support arrangements outcomes.