The ‘Best Practice: Family Law Tips by Registrars for Practitioners’ is 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

On 16 April 2026, Chief Justice Mortimer issued the Federal Court's new Generative AI Practice Note (GPN-AI), setting out clear guidelines on how the Court expects lawyers to interact with AI, what constitutes unacceptable use, and the baseline expectation that practitioners understand how these tools actually work.

NSW is transitioning to a fully digital survey plan process, and while the reforms are primarily directed at surveyors, they carry significant downstream implications for lawyers, particularly in relation to documents that accompany plans such as section 88B instruments.

How to manage imposter phenomenon in the law. Coach Sue Billen has spent most of her career helping professionals perform at their best and in the law imposter phenomenon is all too prevalent.

Remote wills can be a useful tool. Justice McMillan in the Victorian Supreme Court authority Re Curtis gave guidance on the requirements of the remote execution procedure under s8A of the Wills Act 1997 (Vic). Tasman Ash Fleming, barrister and nationally accredited mediator (AMDRAS) and adjunct lecturer at the College of Law, provides commentary on this significant case.

The Law Society of New South Wales and the Real Estate Institute of New South Wales have just released the 2026 edition of the Standard Contract for Sale and Purchase of Land, and practitioners need to act before the 31 May 2026 deadline.

From July 2026, Australian law firms will need to comply with sweeping reforms to the nation's anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CTF) regime while continuing to run their practice. We spoke to Jessica Smith, Director of Risk Consulting at Grant Thornton, on how to best navigate this transition.

True confidence isn't about having all the answers — it's about trusting yourself to find them. Lara Wentworth, a performance coach who works with legal professionals, understands this deeply. She shares practical mindset shifts that build confidence, daily practices that strengthen self-belief, and the story of a sole practitioner who transformed her entire practice by learning to trust her own capability.

New South Wales underwent three waves of significant reform to its strata laws throughout 2025. Unpacking these sweeping changes is strata lawyer and principal Anna Minassian. Anna explains the key details around the three waves of reforms, how they aim to enhance accountability and consumer confidence across the strata sector, and offers practical guidance for legal practitioners navigating these significant updates.

During National Children's Week, the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia launched two groundbreaking initiatives aimed at placing children at the heart of family law processes. We spoke to family lawyer and College of Law adjunct lecturer Kathryn Kearley, to guide us through these important changes.