Accredited family law specialist and Foye Legal senior associate lawyer Roberta Allen has been appointed as a judicial registrar to the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia.
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Newly appointed registrars will play a key role in managing family law cases from September 1 when the amalgamated Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia commences. The new registrars are all family law specialists with significant skills and experience.
They will triage and assess matters in the early stage of proceedings and refer them to the most appropriate pathways. The roles aim to reduce delays nationally, identify risks early, and improve access to justice to people living in regional locations.
Ms Allen said the changes in the court system and the new focus on mediation and in-court dispute resolution was very positive.
"My resolution-focused approach to practice and mediation skills are well suited to this structure," she said.
"I hope to help people who come into the court system feel heard and empowered to control the outcome of their disputes, even while in court, instead of leaving it to the judge.
"The role is both localised in the Illawarra and national and has scope to play a part in making the Family Court process much quicker, smoother and less demoralising for those who are involved."
With Ms Allen's departure Cassandra Garforth has joined Foye Legal to ensure a seamless transition for the firm's clients.
Ms Garforth has been practicing family law in the Illawarra for more than a decade.
She was admitted as a solicitor to the Supreme Court of NSW in 2008 and admitted as a solicitor in the Federal Circuit Court of Australia in 2011.
Foye Legal chief executive Diana Foye said Ms Allen's appointment and the addition of Cassandra Garforth demonstrate the high calibre talent the firm is attracting.
"Roberta has worked incredibly hard over the past two years undertaking further study to attain her specialist accreditation, training in collaborative practice, becoming an accredited mediator and family dispute resolution practitioner and being successful in her appointment to the expert panel of Independent Children's Lawyers so as to represent children in complex and difficult parenting proceedings," she said.
"I am incredibly proud of Roberta's achievements and wish her a great deal of success in her new role.
"I am also extremely pleased for our clients that we have Cassandra Garforth join the firm."
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