The University of Baltimore Family Law Center and the ABA Family Law Section recently conducted a two-day “Family Matters Symposium.” One of the objectives was to bring together all of the different professionals who handle family matters. Ten years ago, as Chair of the Mississippi Bar Family Law Section, I conducted at least a half a dozen of such meetings. We had representatives from counseling, abuse centers, child support collection, religion, family promotion organizations, women’s organizations, lawyers, and the Courts. These types of efforts must continue and grow. All of the professionals who handle these matters must be constantly working together to gain perspective on the role each plays and the impact of their work on the other disciplines. For example, counselors who may be attempting to reconcile a marriage, should be aware of the possible impact of their efforts on the legal rights of the parties. I hope the idea of multi-disciplinary symposiums catches on and grows.
