Independent Children’s Lawyers (ICL) Workshop Series

Register your interest

NLS Law is excited to introduce a new workshop series for Independent Children’s Lawyers (ICL).

The ICL Workshop by Neisha Shepherd is a series of small F2F workshops designed to mentor and equip ICLs and family lawyers who wish to refine their advocacy skills and develop confidence in interviewing children and representing their voices effectively before the court. 

Read more information below.

ICL Workshop Interest
Name
Name

ICL Workshop Series: Working with Children: Interviewing, Advocacy, and Best Practice

Presented by Neisha Shepard, Accredited Specialist in Children’s Law & Independent Children’s Lawyer, NLS Law 

With over 37 years of experience working with children, Neisha Shepard is one of Australia’s most respected voices in child advocacy. Neisha has qualifications in law and Social Science and has been trained in Gestalt Therapy, narrative therapy, solution focused therapy,  strength based therapy and interviewing children. Neisha also undertook research and completed a thesis on the lawyers communication with children.  Neisha has represented children for over 22 years as a lawyer and is an Accredited Specialist in Children’s Law. Neisha she has served as a Children’s Lawyer both in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia and the Children’s Court as well as NSW Administrative Civil Tribunal and also Supreme Court of NSW in Adoption matters . Neisha is also a trained child-inclusive mediator. Neisha brings extensive expertise in child-focused communication, trauma-informed advocacy, and mentoring children’s lawyers.

This series of small, in-person workshops has been designed to mentor and equip ICLs and children’s lawyers who wish to refine their advocacy skills and develop confidence in interviewing children and representing their voices effectively before the court.  Neisha would like to provide other ICL’s an opportunity to learn effective advocacy from an ICL’s perspective.

About the Workshops

Each workshop is practically based and interactive, providing hands-on learning, real-world examples, and structured frameworks for fulfilling the duties of an Independent Children’s Lawyer under section 68LA of the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) and the National ICL Guidelines.  

Numbers are strictly limited to ensure a high-quality learning environment, with opportunities for individual feedback, peer discussion, and direct engagement with Nisha Shepard.

Participants will gain practical experience in interviewing techniques, communication strategies, and advocacy approaches designed for real-life ICL work. You will also have the chance to ask Neisha questions, discuss challenges faced in practice, and explore solutions to common difficulties in working as an ICL and children’s lawyer.

Workshop Series Overview

  • Workshop 1: Strategies to work as an ICL and  Interviewing Children
  • Workshop 2: Advanced interviewing techniques of interviewing children from an ICL perspective.
  • Workshop 2: Communicating Children’s Views to the Court
  • Workshop 3: Advocacy as an ICL at Interim Hearings
  • Workshop 4: The ICL at a Final hearing and meeting the child
  • Workshop 5: Dealing with Parties and. Explaining Orders to Children
  • Workshop 6: Building professional resilience and maintaining wellbeing in challenging cases and assisting the child in developing protective networks

Each session can be attended individually or as part of the full series. Workshops are conducted in person to ensure practical, immersive, and interactive learning. Places are strictly limited to support active participation and tailored feedback. Register your interest to be notified of the 2026 schedule.

Professional Development & Accreditation

Participants will be eligible to claim Continuing Legal Education (CLE) or Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points.

Who Should
Attend

  • Current or aspiring Independent Children’s Lawyers
  • Family and Children’s Law practitioners wanting to strengthen child-centred practice

Cost

The cost of the each workshop is $100.00 plus GST and includes refreshments.

Key Learning Areas

Interviewing Children with Confidence and Care

Building rapport, establishing trust, and creating a safe, empowering space for children of different ages.

Children with Complex Needs 

Engaging children with disabilities, trauma backgrounds, and communication barriers and different cultural backgrounds.

Children Affected by Family Violence or Abuse

Understanding trauma, managing disclosures, and navigating protective responses and managing various behaviours during meeting with children.

Dealing with Disclosures 

How to respond ethically and lawfully when children make disclosures of harm and your role as a children’s lawyer.

Interpreting and Presenting Children’s Views

Balancing the child’s expressed wishes with their best interests when reporting to the court and when not to express a child’s view.

The ICL in Litigation and Mediation 

Enhancing your advocacy role in interim and final hearings, family dispute resolution, and case conferences.  

Working with Parents, Carers, and Self-Represented Litigants

Managing conflict, boundaries, and communication under pressure.

Reflective and Trauma-Informed Practice

Building professional resilience and maintaining wellbeing in challenging cases.

Explaining Orders to a child including those most difficult circumstances

Change of residence or no contact and orders that are against a child’s wishes.

Managing as
an ICL

Practical self care strategies and learning to debrief. 

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