What makes a great family lawyer? Opinions will certainly differ, but without question, it’s the judges and judicial registrars who bear witness to the best, worst, and everything between when it comes to family law in practice.
Now they’re sharing what they see – with the launch of ‘Best Practice: Family Law Tips by Registrars for Practitioners’. It’s a podcast series where judges and registrars from the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia slip out from behind the bench to share practical insights observed from their unique view of family law across Australia.
Notebook at the ready and headphones firmly in, Kathryn Kearley, College of Law lecturer, family law specialist, and our regular Family Law contributor, is here to unpack what the Registrars know, and what every family lawyer should be listening to.
Behind the bench: who are the registrars?
Before diving into the podcast itself, it's worth revisiting just how important are the Senior Judicial Registrars, Judicial Registrars and Deputy Registrars.
"Registrars are the engine room of the family law courts," Kathryn says. "They manage the overwhelming majority of cases from directions hearings, interim hearings, to case management. For many parties, an appearance before a registrar may be their only experience of the court and dispute resolution system. That's a significant responsibility. It means registrars see everything."
Indeed, the Courts' CEO and Principal Registrar David Pringle noted that, “Family Law Registrars play a pivotal role in our Courts, ensuring that cases progress and finalise safely and effectively.”
“As highly skilled judicial officers and mediators, their expertise plays a huge part in delivering timely outcomes for Australian families and alleviating workload pressure on Judges,” Pringle continued. “Their work is critical to strengthening access to justice and protecting at-risk children and families.”
So, what is ‘Best Practice’?
Hosted by Senior Judicial Registrar and Executive Director of National Registrar Operations and Practice, Anne-Marie Rice, ‘Best Practice’ is a regular podcast series featuring Registrars — and some special guests — in candid conversation about what makes a great family lawyer, with a focus on children and families.
"What's exciting about this podcast is that it's not theoretical," Kathryn says. "These are insights drawn directly from the registrars' experience on the ground — managing real cases, working with families, and observing what practical tips they can give lawyers working in the family law system."
The series covers a diverse range of topics, with episodes released from 22 October 2025. Ten episodes are currently available, spanning everything from family violence and trauma-informed practice to dispute resolution, case management, and the role of Court Child Experts.
Jason Walker, Chair of the Family Law Section of the Law Council of Australia, describes the podcast as "an excellent resource for family lawyers, whether early in their careers or well established in the field," adding that "the opportunity to fine-tune our practice and the way we represent clients based on insights from inside the courts is invaluable."
What's in the series so far?
The episode lineup reads like a masterclass in modern family law practice. Kathryn highlights several episodes as particularly valuable for practitioners.
‘The Impacts of Family Violence and Trauma-Informed Practice’ are early standouts. "Good family lawyers know there is so much more to practice than just knowing the law," Kathryn says. "Understanding the practicalities of dispute resolution, the key interests of children and the impact of conflict on parents and children is key to effective advocacy and empathetic resolution. These episodes go to the heart of that."
Many families in the family law system carry traumatic histories, such as exposure to family violence, drug and alcohol abuse, systemic racism, and intergenerational trauma. The podcast explores how practitioners can engage with these realities in ways that genuinely serve their clients.
‘Safe Outcomes for Children and Families’ is another episode Kathryn flags as essential.
"A very significant proportion of matters before the courts involve allegations of family violence and other risk factors, including child abuse, drug and alcohol misuse, and mental health issues that compromise the safety of a child and one or both parents," she notes. "Registrars are on the front line of identifying and responding to those risks. Hearing directly from them about how they approach these matters is genuinely instructive."
The episode on Court Child Experts is equally illuminating. In an internationally unique model, registrars of the FCFCA work alongside over 100 Court Child Experts — highly skilled professionals who provide key early reports identifying risks and the needs of children. "As a practitioner, you need to fully consider the role these experts play," Kathryn says. "This episode shines a light on a part of the system that is absolutely critical to outcomes for children."
The case management episode is revealing. "Most matters before the courts do not proceed to final trial," Kathryn says. "Many parties will never see a judge. Their entire experience of the court system may be through registrars. Understanding how registrars approach case management — what they're looking for, what helps a matter progress, and what creates unnecessary delay — is invaluable knowledge for any practitioner."
For practitioners who have ever been uncertain about the hierarchy of registrars and their respective powers, ‘Who's Who and What They Can Do’ is a must-listen. "With almost 150 registrars working across 15 registries, it's critical to understand the delegations, directions, and determinations that registrars can make is fundamental to navigating the system effectively” Kathryn explains.
Why every family lawyer should be listening
SJR Rice describes ‘Best Practice’ as "packed with crucial information to help practitioners in conducting family law cases to best serve their clients and to help them resolve their dispute," and Kathryn agrees.
For practitioners at any stage of their career, ‘Best Practice’ is essential listening — and it's free.
Best Practice: Family Law Tips by Registrars for Practitioners is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart, and via RSS feed: omny.fm/shows/bestpracticefamilylaw.
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Kathryn Kearley is a College of Law lecturer, family law specialist, and regular Family Law contributor.
