Master advanced courtroom strategies to successfully navigate high-stakes family law litigation involving intricate asset division and contentious custody disputes.
Complex family law trials require strategic thinking, disciplined preparation and effective advocacy. This practical webinar will explore how to prepare and run defended hearings involving parenting and property disputes, with a focus on simplifying complex issues, identifying the real matters in dispute, managing evidence, dealing with difficult witnesses and presenting persuasive cases at trial. The session will also examine common pitfalls that frequently make or break these cases, together with the use of periodic neutral evaluation strategies to reassess prospects, refine strategy, and effectively manage client demands and expectations throughout the litigation process.
Key Topics Discussed:
Barrister at Victorian Bar
Ashleigh Morris is a Melbourne-based barrister with more than a decade of experience in the law, specialising in family law with a particular emphasis on trial advocacy. She practises primarily in the FCFCOA, where she is regularly briefed in complex property and parenting disputes requiring rigorous cross-examination, detailed evidence management, and decisive courtroom advocacy. Ashleigh is frequently recommended in matters involving complex client dynamics, where her ability to manage expectations and communicate persuasively helps keep cases on track and focused on achieving the best possible outcomes. Alongside her trial practice, she accepts briefs for counsel's opinion in matters requiring clear strategic and pragmatic advice, and works closely with instructing solicitors to refine strategy and manage urgent deadlines. She also maintains a Children's Court practice, appearing in child protection matters and complex family law disputes as Independent Children's Lawyer. Before joining the Bar, Ashleigh practised as a solicitor in family law, served as a Judge's Associate in the Criminal Division of the County Court of Victoria, and lectured in Criminal Law at Swinburne University of Technology. She holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Melbourne and a Bachelor of Arts (Criminal Justice) from Monash University, where she was named Dux Litterarum. Ashleigh is also the founder of The Profession — a membership and editorial platform for the Australian Legal Profession, built by practising lawyers to provide the legal community with a centralised hub for referrals and networking, professional development, events, and genuine peer connection. Outside practice, she is a long-term foster carer with The Lost Dogs Home and an active advocate for children with dyslexia.
