Our conference will be opened by the fantastic Rachel Horman-Brown KC (Hon), solicitor and director at Watson Ramsbottom Ltd and chair of Paladin - the National Stalking Advocacy Service.

Rachel regularly attends All Party Parliamentary Groups and advises government with regard to issues around coercive control and stalking. 

She has won a number of different awards for her work in these areas including Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year and the Jordans Family Law Partner of the Year 

Rapid-fire legal updates and case law insights from the Unit team and guest KC. Stay ahead of the curve with the latest on Section 37 directions, risk assessments and family law developments.

In partnership with our lead sponsor, DNA Legal, this session lifts the lid on how drug and alcohol testing is transforming, and sometimes distorting, decision-making in children cases. From the risks of miscarriage of justice through misunderstood cut-off levels, to emerging tech that distinguishes use from exposure, this is a must-attend for future-focused advocates. Includes practical tools, real-life case insight and an interactive quiz to sharpen your courtroom approach.

A powerful fireside chat unpacking the ethics, evidence and emotional impact of pre-birth intervention and repeat care proceedings. What does humane child protection at birth look like and how can legal professionals help break harmful cycles?

With Our Family Wizard and the Unit team, this session explores how communication technology is being used to manage risk and support parenting plans in private and public law proceedings.

Lemn is an internationally acclaimed poet, playwright, memoirist and broadcaster. His bestselling memoir My Name is Why and his powerful public work have made him one of the UK’s most important and inspiring voices. In 2024 he was awarded the Hay Festival Medal for Poetry, and he has read and performed across the globe, from the Library of Congress in Washington, to the National Theatre of Ethiopia in Addis Ababa, to London’s Palladium.

Drawing on his lived experience of growing up in care, Lemn will be in conversation with our Head of Chambers, Lisa Edmunds, followed by an audience Q&A, offering a unique and deeply personal perspective on:

• The lifelong impact of the care system

• What meaningful support for children in care should look like

• How the family justice system can evolve to ensure children are genuinely heard and prioritised

Lemn’s contribution will be a powerful reminder of the human stories behind policies and practice and why reimagining family justice is more urgent than ever.

• Arrival lunch on us

• Coffee, cake, and wellbeing check-in breaks

• Live polls, interactive demos and charity raffles throughout the day

• Post-event drinks and networking with speakers and peers at On the Vine