The Evolution and Significance of the Independent Children's Lawyer
In the 2026 Blackburn Lecture, which falls in the 50th anniversary year of the Family Court of Australia, the Honourable Justice Di Simpson of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 1) will trace the development and evolution of the Independent Children’s Lawyer scheme. This review will acknowledge the pioneering work in the 1990s of women lawyers from Legal Aid offices in the ACT and NSW in particular, in the development of the ICL scheme as we know it today and will illustrate why this work remains vitally important.
THE HONOURABLE JUSTICE SIMPSON
FEDERAL CIRCUIT AND FAMILY COURT OF AUSTRALIA
The Honourable Justice Di Simpson was appointed to the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 1) in February 2025. Prior to her appointment, she was a solicitor with more than 30 years’ experience in family law and in 2007, was a founding partner of DDCS Lawyers in Canberra. At the time of her appointment, she was the immediate past Chair of the Family Law Section of the Law Council of Australia (a position held from 2021 to December 2024). Justice Simpson was the recipient of the Law Council of Australia President’s Award in 2023 for her contributions to family law and advocacy.
DETAILS
- This is an on-demand webinar you can watch at anytime - a link and password will be sent to you when you register
- Cost: Members - Free, Non-Members $70
- CPD: Members will earn 0.5 CPD points in core area 4
- This event was recorded as part of Law Week on Tuesday 26 May 2026
- This recording will expire on 31 December 2026
Registration
| Member ticket | Free | Register |
| Non-member ticket | $70.00(GST incl.) | Register |
