Summer Series CPD program

What does each day cover?

Each day relates to a different area of law and offers the opportunity to earn Continuing Professional Development points in all four competency areas:

CA1: Practice Management and Business Skills
CA2: Professional/Barristers’ Skills
CA3: Ethics and Professional Responsibility, and
CA4: Substantive Law (including practice and procedure, and evidence for Barristers).

The presenters and topics for each day of the Summer Series are outlined below. The daily programs showing the start times and CPD points available for each session are available for download at the end of this page.

Family Law Day on Wednesday 11 February 2026

• 'Latest and Greatest' Case Law Wrap-up - The Honourable Justice O'Brien (Family Court of WA)

• Trial preparation in the Family and Children’s Courts of WA - Rachel Milton (John Toohey Chambers)

• Unpacking Family Violence - Michael Hovane (Legal Aid WA)

• Burnout - Maria-Luisa Coulson (Chill Wellness)

• Ethics Panel - Nic D’Adamo (John Toohey Chambers), Elizabeth Hynes (DCH Legal Group), Adam Spashett (John Toohey Chambers), Paula Wilkinson (Kim Wilson & Co)

• 2024-25 Family Law Act Amendments - Rodney Worth (John Toohey Chambers)

Criminal Law Day on Thursday 12 February 2026

• Admissibility and Exclusion of Evidence Under the Evidence Act 2025 - Bayan Meshgin (Chair, Legal Aid WA) Beau Sertorio SC (Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions), Julia Symons (State Solicitor's Office).

• Balancing Ethics, Autonomy, and Best Interests in Representing Mentally Impaired Accused - Kerry Gorski (Chair, Legal Aid WA), Karen Farley SC (Legal Aid WA), Dennis Fernandez (Legal Aid WA), Alison Finn (Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions), Luke Cassidy (RUAH Legal Services).

• Applications to Exclude Evidence and Applying for a Permanent Stay - George Christou (Chair, Legal Aid WA), Nick Scerri (Scerri Legal).

• Working Smarter: Practical Strategies and Tech Tips for Criminal Lawyers - Greg Chin (Chair, Legal Aid WA), Nicholas van Hattem (Francis Burt Chambers), Kate Turtley-Chappel (Geoffrey Miller Chambers).

• Fearless Advocacy: Persuasion, Precision, and Thinking Outside the Box - Chelsea Fruhwirth (Chair, Legal Aid WA), Helen Prince (Equus Chambers), Edward Greaves (Francis Burt Chambers).

• Criminal Law Update - Caitlin Searle (Chair, Legal Aid WA), Fiona Calley (Legal Aid WA), Jon Tiller (Legal Aid WA).

Civil Law Day on Friday 13 February 2026

• What to do When Your Client is a Sovereign Citizen - Chief Magistrate Steven Heath (Magistrates Court of WA), Detective Sergeant Roger Haynes (WA Police), Dr Mark Hall (WA Fixated Threat Assessment Centre, Department of Health).

• Human Rights for All - The Honourable Michael Kirby AC CMG.

• The Inclusivity of Legal Ethics - Linden Barnes (The Law Society of New South Wales).

• The Review of the Guardianship and Administration Act 1990 (WA) - Emma Salsano (Chair), Commissioner Professor Meredith Blake (Law Reform Commission of WA).

• Consumer Law Issues: Tow Trucks, Scams and More! -  Commissioner Trish Blake (Commissioner for Consumer Protection WA),  Chief Ombudsman David Locke (Australian Financial Complaints Authority).

• Compassion Fatigue, Burnout & Trauma: Building Strength Brick by Brick - Tanya Hallett (Trauma Informed Practice Training).

How to register

Registration is through Train-N-Track and closes on Friday 6 February 2026 at 5.00 pm.

Please note that your username is your work email address. Legal Aid WA staff can login using the Single Sign On option. If you have forgotten your password please click the Forgot My Password link and enter your email address. You will receive an email with a link to rest your password.

If you are having issues getting into the system please contact tnt.admin@legalaid.wa.gov.au

Information about the cost of the days and sessions is available under CPD memberships and course prices.

If you have any queries, please email tnt.admin@legalaid.wa.gov.au or contact Rhys McVicker on 08 9261 6384.

Useful documents

• Family Law Day program
• Criminal Law Day program
• Civil Law Day program