The Dispute Resolution Revolution Is Here To Stay

Source: Family Law Practitioner Association (FLPA)

Speaker: Senior Judicial Registrar Anne-Marie Rice of FCFCOA.

DO NOT BE ON THE RECEIVING END OF A COST NOTATION, says Senior Judicial Registrar Anne-Marie Rice at the FLPA Twilight Case Management in the Court’s webinar. The registrars of the night drove home to the Family Law sector that the Chief Justice is committed to separating parties smarter, “Court should be your last resort” said Senior Judicial Registrar Anne-Marie Rice, “Look elsewhere, look repeatedly elsewhere before filing an application” Rice went on to warn Queensland Family Lawyers. We all have dispute resolution backgrounds, said Rice as she referred to her colleagues on the stage. Eighty per cent of all reviewed applications heard and determined since 1 September have been either dismissed, discontinued, withdrawn or settled by consent, Rice pointed out to FLPA members. Family Lawyers needs to set their client up to comply with the new pathway. We have seen highly experienced practitioners come before the courts with matters that should have been settled outside of the Courts because they refuse to make hard decisions, to give their difficult clients hard advice, said Rice to the audience. FDR conferences have been conducted within the courts since October 2020, they have been the hardest of the hard matters, said Rice, and we are settling over half of those. Rice reminds the profession, that complex matters are capable of being settled in Mediation. Cost notices are crucial tools for the Courts, and Registrars will make notations on orders, where they believe the costs of a matter are disproportionate to the matter. Get your matter settled quickly, and cost-efficiently. This is the overarching purpose of the Court. The dispute resolution revolution is here to stay claimed Rice.

Check out Sherri Gullickson Mediation availability for April below, or visit www.sherrigullicksonmediation.com.au for times in May 2022.