Blog 2024

Episode 96: Child-Centred Family Law: A Call for Collaboration

In this episode, David Lazzam hosts a compelling discussion with Vincent Ramsay, a retired family law attorney, and Nicholas Bala, a professor specializing in family and children’s law. Together, they delve into the history of Canada’s adversarial family law system and its profound impacts on families and children. Their engaging dialogue highlights the contrasting roles of “peacemaker” and “hired gun” lawyers, while offering educational and policy reform suggestions to promote a more collaborative, child-focused approach to family law. The episode also provides concrete advice for practitioners and policymakers aiming to reshape the family justice landscape.

Episode 94: Transforming the Family Justice System: Continuing to Innovate to Support Family Well-Being

In this episode, host Christine O’Doherty is joined by special guests Tina Parbhakar, Amy Schwab, and Jane Morley, K.C., to explore the Transform the Family Justice System Collaborative, an innovative initiative in British Columbia, launched in 2022.

Episode 93: Telling a New Family Law Story

David Lazzam, CIAJ’s articling student, welcomes back to the podcast Diana Lowe and Justice Rod Jerke to discuss the role of storytelling in effecting systemic change within family law systems, while also catching up on the new story being told at the Reforming the Family Justice System (RFJS) initiative.

Episode 87: 7 Changes for Access to Justice

In this episode, Nathan Afilalo, Argyri Panezi and Daniel J. Escott reflect on the writing of their co-authored report “Access to Justice Summit: The New Brunswick Report – Digital Transformation: Putting People at the Heart of the System.”

Episode 50: Family Law Reform Part III: It’s All About the Children

In Canada and many common law jurisdictions, there has been a longstanding concern about the family justice system. People who work in the system, families who turn to the family justice system for help, and reports about system reform speak about the crisis in family justice. We are hearing that it is not working for families and in fact, can do more harm than good.

Episode 49: Family Law Reform Part II: Brain Science, Adverse Childhood Experiences, and Resilience

In Canada and many common law jurisdictions, there has been a longstanding concern about the family justice system. People who work in the system, families who turn to the family justice system for help, and reports about system reform speak about the crisis in family justice. We are hearing that it is not working for families and in fact, can do more harm than good.

Episode 48: Family Law Reform Part I: The Right to a Good Life

In Canada and many common law jurisdictions, there has been a longstanding concern about the family justice system. People who work in the system, families who turn to the family justice system for help, and reports about system reform speak about the crisis in family justice. We are hearing that it is not working for families and in fact, can do more harm than good.