Family Law Training Day, Sheffield, October 2008

The first AChippp Training Day outside London was also the first of two training days on Family Law. The aim with both was to engage with local solicitors and a barrister, so that any local issues could be dealt with, as well as the more overall scene.

In Sheffield we were fortunate to have a series of impressive speakers experienced in their field. Patrick Troy, Family Solicitor and Deputy District Judge, led us through the intricacies of private and public law proceedings in a very detailed session. Patrick was quick to acknowledge that when dealing with Family Law, content might, at times, be dry, but it had to be covered. Members later said how grateful they were for the densely packed information that was presented in as entertaining a way as possible. Patrick was praised for his seamless delivery.

Jill Troy took us through how to prepare for the day in court. Her talk was bursting with useful tips as well as the general considerations of court procedure. The motto “Be prepared” was taken to heart. Jill ably demonstrated how this could make an expert feel more confident on the day.

The afternoon was the turn of the psychologists, looking at issues specific to us. Jane Ireland in her talk “Psychologists as Witnesses” was packed with details of the pitfalls for psychologists and psychiatrists, in terms of how not to present evidence or prepare reports. Lorna Selfe linked with Jane Ireland in outlining the potential dangers for the “rooky” expert witness.

Jacqueline Siner concluded the day urging psychologists always to use their skills as psychologists to think laterally. In the face of challenges like the public law outline, she outlined possibilities to change and develop within the psychologist’s role in Family Law. She maintained that the important aspects were to ensure that our services to children, to ourselves in terms of job satisfaction and to the solicitors who instruct us, remain at the highest standard.

The feedback from the session was gratifying, with members rating it an excellent day. Ideas for the next AChiPPP training day in the north, please.