A hands-on courtroom skills programme for family lawyers who want to run hearings with confidence

• Work a mock relationship property case with an experienced advocate taking a case to a JSC and final hearing
• Work with the advocate to strategies and plan the case
• Watch the advocate then perform your case preparation
• Gain feed back from judges and ask questions

Presenters

Simon Jefferson KC, Trinity Chambers
Simon Jefferson retired from the practice of law in June 2024 having accrued more than 42 years legal experience specialising almost exclusively in family law since 1983. After 20 years as a partner with Shieff Angland, Simon left to practice at the independent bar in June 2006 and was elevated to the status of Queen's Counsel in 2013. Simon has appeared in the Family Court, the High Court, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. A number of his cases feature in the Law Reports and he is particularly noted for his appellate advocacy. Appointed a Fellow of the International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers in 2005, he was also an Executive Member of the Family Law Section of the New Zealand Law Society from 2001 to 2008. Between 2001 and 2005 he led the faculty created by the New Zealand Law Society to train lawyers for appointment as legal representatives of children in the Family Court. He has also contributed to a number of publications including the Ethics in Practice Guide (A Guide for Counsellors), Psychology and the Law in Aotearoa NZ and presented papers at conferences in New Zealand, the United States, Australia and Cambodia. Since his retirement Simon has continued to contribute to a number of legal education programmes.


Ben Snedden, Barrister, Hobson Chambers
Ben is a practising family law barrister. He has 23 years’ experience as an advocate. Ben has also qualified as a solicitor advocate in England.

Brintyn Smith, Barrister and Mediator, Brintyn Smith Barrister
Brintyn (Tūhoe) is a specialist family law barrister based in Warkworth and Auckland. He deals predominantly with complex care of children, family violence, relocation, and care and protection matters. He also undertakes relationship property work. Brintyn accepts Family Court appointments to act as Lawyer for Child, and is a family legal aid provider and is also a contract Instructor at the Institute of Professional Legal Studies (IPLS). Brintyn is passionate about and actively advocates for the safety and well-being of practitioners. He also has an interest in matters of practice and procedure, evidence, alternative dispute resolution (including mediation and collaborative law), and elder law.

John Gandy, Director|Litigation, Totara Law
John Gandy is Director of Litigation at Totara Law and specialises in family law. He is appointed by the Family Court as Lawyer for Child and Counsel to Assist, is on the New Zealand Central Authority’s Hague Convention panel, and sits on the Executive Committee of the NZLS Family Law Section.

Her Honour Judge EB Parsons, The District Court of New Zealand


Aly Strang, Barrister, Brintyn Smith Barrister
Aly is a specialist family law barrister and legal aid provider. She handles family law legal matters with a special interest in advocacy, procedural and interlocutory matters. Aly routinely appears in the Family Court in respect to parenting and guardianship disputes, Family Violence, Oranga Tamariki and Relationship Property matters. While passionate about litigation, Aly also places significant emphasis on resolving disputes amicably through mediation and collaborative approaches.