Lawyer for Child

Roddie Sim is appointed by the Family Court to act for children who are involved in Family Court proceedings. 

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The lawyer for the child is defined in Section 9B of the Family Court Act 1980:

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• Act for the child or young person in the proceedings in a way that the lawyer considers promotes the welfare and best interests of the child or young person:

• Ensure that any views expressed by the child or young person to the lawyer on matters affecting the child or young person and relevant to the proceedings are communicated to the court:

• Assist the parties to reach agreement on the matters in dispute in the proceedings to the extent to which doing so is in the best interests of the child or young person:

• Provide advice to the child or young person, at a level commensurate with that child’s or young person’s level of understanding, about—

  • (i) any right of appeal against a decision of the court; and

  • (ii) the merits of pursuing any such appeal:

  • (e) undertake any other task required by or under any other Act.

• To facilitate the role set out in subsection (1)(b), the lawyer must meet with the child or young person and, if it is appropriate to do so, ascertain the child’s or young person’s views on matters affecting the child or young person relevant to the proceedings.

• (3) However, subsection (2) does not apply if, because of exceptional circumstances, a Judge directs that it is inappropriate for the lawyer to meet with the child or young person.

• (4)

• A lawyer appointed to represent a child or young person in proceedings may—

• (a)

• call any person as a witness in the proceedings:

• (b)

• cross-examine witnesses called by any party to the proceedings or by the court.