CLE - Family Violence Cross-examination and Sexual Assault Communication Privilege (2 CLE Points)

Topics:

Family Violence Cross-Examination Amendments - Are we creating a safer family law system?

Presented by Ms Shanna Mahony, Barrister.

Shanna is a member of the NSW Bar practicing at Lachlan Macquarie Chambers specialising in family law and care and protection matters.

Prior to coming to the Bar Shanna was the Director of Mahony Family Lawyers, a local Parramatta firm specialising in Family Law, Care and Protection and Wills and Estates.

Shanna was an Accredited Specialist Solicitor in Family Law and has extensive experience in both litigation practice and non litigious matters. She was also an Independent Children's Lawyer approved on the panel of the Legal Aid Commission of New South Wales, as well as the specialist panel in the Children's Court jurisdiction for both adult and child representation.

Shanna is a passionate advocate for the protection of women and children from violence and is a regular presenter at CLE seminars and conferences on Family Law practice and in particular issues involving family violence and child abuse.

Shanna appears in matters across jurisdictions including the following:

a. Family Court parenting and property proceedings;

b. Federal Circuit Court property and parenting proceedings;

c. Children’s Court hearings;

d. Supreme Court Care Appeal proceedings;

e. District Court Care Appeal proceedings.

Sexual assault communication privilege: Issuing subpoenas in sexual assault trials.

Presented by Vanya Hampel, Solicitor.

Vanya is the Principal solicitor at Sydney Criminal & Traffic Lawyers (SCT Lawyers).

Vanya has practised exclusively in the criminal law for over 15 years. She initially gained her experience working at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) both in Parramatta and in Sydney. Her time there enabled her to obtain an invaluable insight into the workings of the Criminal Justice system from the prosecutorial side. Over a year in prosecutions, she switched sides, and now defends the rights and freedoms of those charged with criminal offences in NSW. She also represents victims of sexual assault with regard to sexual assault communication privilege, which is a complex area of law that aims to provide victims of sexual assault with protections regarding their own personal counselling and psychiatric records.

She appears regularly in all types of criminal matters and represents people in all jurisdictions: Local Court, District Court, and Supreme Court. Recently she sought special leave and won the Appeal in the High Court of Australia; Sio v The Queen [2016] HCA 32 (24 August 2016).