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Training Event – Working With Trans Adults And Children In The Family Justice System

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15/10/2024

Working With Trans Adults And Children In The Family Justice System

Spire Barristers join Coram Chambers and Rosie Bracher Solicitors to bring a training event for lawyers, children’s services/social worker professionals, and other professionals working with people who may be trans or gender incongruent.

 

Aims of the course:

  • To examine the history of LGBT+ families in the family court and the law, and to look at the extent to which the law offers those families protection, examining the legal framework protecting LGBT+ people.
  • Pathways to transitioning for transgender and non-binary adults, focussing on medical, social and legal implications.
  • An overview of matters which local authorities working with children who may need transgender health care should be aware of and what the law says about how to consider such cases.
  • The issue of puberty blockers and hormone therapy for children and adults, and the law as it currently stands.
  • How it feels to be a parent or child in a time of constant ‘debate’ about trans rights, trans people, where they should exist and the spaces they could be excluded from.

The structure of the training event

This event will be delivered over three video seminars, one per week, on 5th, 12th and 19th November at 5pm. Each session will last around 45 minutes to 1 hour.

The topics will cover as follows:


5th November 2024

A history of LGBT+ rights

A history of LGBT+ rights and an update on relevant case law relating to LGBT issues in the family justice system.

Delivered by Reagan Persaud.


12th November 2024

The practicalities of working with trans children and adults 

The practicalities of working with trans children and adults including using appropriate terminology, supporting people to transition and access support services, and other relevant factors to be aware of during your work with trans people.

Delivered by Rosie Bracher.


19th November 2024

An overview of treatment for trans people 

An overview of treatment for trans people – understanding prominent issues such as hormone therapy and puberty blockers, the implications of the CASS Review and what medical services are available for trans people.

Delivered by Dr Bianca Jackson.


The audience

This event is open to all professionals who work with trans people, especially lawyers and professionals who will work with trans children and vulnerable adults, and who will work in the family justice system, supporting families where members of their family may be trans.

 

The course provides an overview of good practice guidance for social care, the police force and lawyers who work in the family courts.

Speakers

Dr Bianca Jackson, Coram Chambers.

Bianca is a children law barrister who has developed an impressive and diverse children law practice. She is frequently instructed in complex public law proceedings involving allegations of serious harm to a child, including non-accidental injury, fabricated or induced illness, female genital mutilation, and physical and sexual abuse.  She is the co-author of Laing and Jackson: Public Children Law: Contemporary Issues (1st edn., 2018) and has particular expertise in “alternative families.”Bianca sits on the Ethics Board of Surrogacy UK, and is a member of the LGBT Family Law Institute and the Modern Parenting Network.

Reagan Persaud, Spire Barristers.

Reagan is a Family Law barrister and Deputy District Judge. She has been described as “a force to be reckoned with” in the Legal 500, she is regularly instructed in complex and nuanced cases that look at the difficulties young people and adults can face in the family justice system due to issues relating to their gender, sexual orientation and/or other vulnerabilities such as having learning difficulties and disabilities.

Rosie Bracher, Solicitor.

Rosie has over 30 years of experience as a solicitor and specialises in children law. She handles complex child law cases and situations where children are taken into care. Rosie is an influential figure when it comes to children law and has been a member of the Law Society Children Panel since 1996. She chaired her local Domestic Violence forum, has organised and delivered legal training events for lawyers and other professionals and has contributed to booklets on domestic violence.

View training and book

Book here

Spire Barristers Training

Our barristers host regular online seminars aimed at Children and Adult Social Care professionals throughout the calendar year, covering a range of topics covering the latest legislation and practical guidance. We also host training seminars and webinars in Education Law.

To register your interest in any of the Seminars in our Spire Barristers Training 2024 program, please book via the event page or contact events@spirebarristers.co.uk for more details.

All seminars are held live via a webinar platform (BlueJeans). Delegates will be sent a secure ‘Join meeting’ link with instructions on how to join.

If you would like to know more about our current seminar and event program please contact events@spirebarristers.co.uk

Other training events

In addition to our Children & Adult Social Care Training, Family and Public Law expert Jacqueline Thomas KC and Reagan Persaud also present and contribute to a number of accredited Seminars through MBL Training; including preparation for complex findings of fact hearings and also safeguarding care leavers.