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

CIAJ In All Fairness - ICAJ En toute justice

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.

RELATED DOCUMENTATION

Article: Ending the Harm to Parents and Children from Ontario’s Family Justice System by Transforming Family Law Culture: Reflections of a Family Law Lawyer - Vincent Ramsay (2024 CanLIIDocs 2300, 2024-07-01)

Article: Ethical Duties of Lawyers for Parents Regarding Children of Clients: Being a Child-Focused Family Lawyer - Nicholas Bala, Patricia Hebert & Rachel Birnbaum (The Canadian Bar Review, 2027)