Past events
Family Justice Council Bridget Lindley Memorial Lecture – 5 March 2024
This online event was hosted as part of the Family Justice Council’s annual interdisciplinary conference, which was being held in Birmingham on Tuesday 5 March 2024. This year’s topic was ‘Children and Young People: Promoting a Developmental Approach in the Family Justice System.
The Bridget Lindley Memorial lecture is available to all online. The event was hosted by Sir Andrew McFarlane, President of the Family Division and Chair of the Family Justice Council.
The Bridget Lindley Memorial Lecture, now in its seventh year, was set up to commemorate the life and work of Bridget Lindley OBE who died in 2016. Bridget served with distinction as a member of the Family Justice Council and as the Family Rights Group’s Principal Legal Adviser and Deputy Chief Executive.
This year’s lecture was given by Jacky Tiotto, (Cafcass CEO), The title of the lecture is, ‘A light or a sound in the distance – finding a clearer way through private family law proceedings’.
You can watch the recording of the lecture on YouTube (external link).
December 2023
The Family Justice Council successfully held its 16th Annual Debate and panel discussion in London on 7 December. This was a hybrid event, with over 120 joining online.
The motion was: ‘Should cohabiting couples have the same financial rights and responsibilities as those who are married/in a Civil Partnership?’
Pictured below are the speakers with the Chair of the Family Justice Council Sir Andrew McFarlane.
From left to right: Dr Sheena Webb -Consultant Clinical Psychologist (speaking on behalf of person with lived experience), Michael Horton KC – Barrister, Dr Andy Hayward – Professor at Durham Law School, Sir Andrew McFarlane – President of the Family Division and Chair of the Family Justice Council, Sir Paul Coleridge – Chair of the Marriage Foundation and retired High Court Judge, Elizabeth Darlington MCIArb – Barrister, Professor Rebecca Bailey-Harris – Barrister.
You can watch partial recordings of the event below. The full recording can be found here.
March 2023
The Bridget Lindley Memorial Lecture (online), was given by Dr Sheena Webb, Consultant Clinical Psychologist. The lecture entitled ‘Hidden in plain sight: trauma and the Family Court’, took place on Wednesday 8 March 2023, 10-11am (online).
The online event was hosted as part of the Family Justice Council’s annual interdisciplinary conference, This year’s topic was ‘Trauma in the Family Justice System’.
The Bridget Lindley Memorial lecture will be available to all online. The event was hosted by Sir Andrew McFarlane, President of the Family Division and Chair of the Family Justice Council.
The Bridget Lindley Memorial Lecture, now in its sixth year, was set up to commemorate the life and work of Bridget Lindley OBE who died in 2016. Bridget served with distinction as a member of the Family Justice Council and as the Family Rights Group’s Principal Legal Adviser and Deputy Chief Executive.
The recording is now available below.
View the lecture references document.
December 2022
The Family Justice Council held its 15th Annual Debate on Tuesday 6 December 2022, ‘Should remote hearings continue to play a significant role in family cases?’.
The recording is now available to view on the website.
November 2022
The Family Justice Council hosted a Webinar on Wednesday 16 November 2022 entitled ‘How hot IS the water? Tips for dipping a toe into Family Court work as an expert witness’.
It was chaired by Mr Justice Nick Francis. The speakers Dr Mair and Dr Alison discussed their own personal journeys into expert witness work, reflecting on some of the changes and challenges that they have observed over the years.
Watch the livestream recording of the event: FJC Webinar: How hot IS the water Tips for dipping a toe into Family Court work as an expert witness – YouTube
PowerPoint slides for the event ”How hot IS the water? Tips for dipping a toe into Family Court work as an expert witness” (PowerPoint).
Speakers biographies for Dr Alison White and Dr Mair Edwards (PDF).
October 2022
The Family Justice Council held its Experts Committee Symposium: The Long and Winding Road on 12 October 2022 at Birmingham Children’s Hospital.
The event was hosted by Mr Justice Williams and Sir Andrew McFarlane, President of the Family Division gave the opening address. The aim of the symposium was to provide both an opportunity to undertake training in subjects of interest to experts, would-be experts and legal professionals but also to review progress in implementing the 22 recommendations of the President’s working group report and to chart a way forward to continue that process.
Watch the live stream presentations from Mr Justice Williams, the President and other conference speakers.
July 2022
Open Meeting – more information will follow
April 2022
Family Justice Council Bridget Lindley Memorial Lecture and the annual Conference
Watch the live stream Lecture and clips from the conference speakers
December 2021
The latest Family Justice Council debate:
Family Justice Council – 14th Annual Debate – ‘Should the age of majority be reduced to 16?’
The Family Justice Council held its 14th Annual Debate and panel discussion in London which was live streamed via Microsoft Teams to audiences at home – a first for the event.
Watch the full live stream and clips from the Family Justice Council 14th Annual Debate.
May 2021
Experts and the Family Justice System: Widening the Pool
The Experts Sub-Committee held its inaugural event on 25 March 2021
April 2021
Adoption in the 21st Century and the Bridget Lindley Memorial Lecture – March 2021