- The Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia is led by one Chief Justice and two Deputy Chief Justices, overseeing both divisions.
- The Court is then broken up between Judges, Senior Judicial Registrars (SJR) and Judicial Registrars.
- You may be asking yourself what are the differences between each?
The following video explains this for you
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Independent Children’s Lawyer (ICL)
What is an Independent Children’s Lawyer (ICL)?
An ICL is a lawyer appointed by the Family Court to represent a child’s best interests in family law cases. The Court can appoint an ICL if someone asks for it, such as a child, a child welfare organization, or another person concerned about the child.
When is an ICL appointed?
The Court might appoint an ICL in these situations:
- If there are claims of abuse or neglect involving the child.
- If the parents are in serious conflict.
- If there are claims about what the child thinks, and the child is old enough to share their views.
- If there are allegations of family violence.
- If there are major mental health issues affecting the parents or the child.
- If the case is very complex.
What does an ICL do?
An ICL’s job is to:
- Gather important evidence and present it to the Court.
- Help the child take part in the case in a way that suits their age and the case’s needs.
- Make sure the child’s views are shared with the Court.
- Act as a mediator between the child and the parents and help with settling disputes if needed.
How does an ICL decide what is best for the child?
The ICL will:
- Meet with the child to hear their views, unless the child is very young, doesn’t want to meet, or there are special reasons not to.
- Talk to the child’s counsellors, teachers, and others who know the child.
- Look at records from schools, child welfare agencies, or the police.
- Review medical and psychological records.
- Question people involved in the case during the hearing.
- Get expert advice if needed.
What the ICL can not do:
- Give legal advice to the parents.
- Assist you with your case
- Speak privately with you ‘off the record’.