Interdisciplinary practice in family law: insights from Forsters’ panel event

• 24 March 2026
• News

On 17 March, Forsters’ Family team hosted a thought‑provoking panel event exploring the current state of interdisciplinary practice in family law. The discussion considered how far collaborative working has come, the challenges that remain, and what the future holds for professionals supporting families through separation.

Bringing together expertise from across law, social work, therapy, mediation and coaching, the evening highlighted the growing importance of holistic, multi‑professional approaches in achieving better outcomes for families.

We were delighted to be joined by an exceptional group of panellists: Diana Goldin, Annie Pleshette Murphy, Tom Nash, Sally Mortimore, and members of Forsters’ NCDR group Jo Edwards (Head of Family), Sarah Williams (Head of Children) and Christine Abbotts (Senior Associate). Their combined experience created a rich and nuanced discussion about how interdisciplinary working can support families more effectively during and after separation.

Key themes:

Supporting parents before proceedings

A key theme was the critical work that takes place before court proceedings are issued. The panel explored how interdisciplinary practice allows families to access earlier, more tailored support, whether through therapy, coaching, mediation or other structured interventions.

Panellists reflected on the importance of understanding the emotional drivers behind conflict and helping parents move out of crisis‑led thinking. Legal advice remains essential, but collaboration with other professionals can significantly improve how parents engage with decision‑making and long‑term arrangements for their children.

Hearing the child’s voice safely and meaningfully

The discussion also considered the evolving role of the child’s voice in family law, following the recent Family Solutions Group report.

While there is broad agreement on the importance of listening to children, the panel emphasised the need for sensitivity, specialist training and clear boundaries.

Barriers to wider interdisciplinary working

Despite clear progress, the panel acknowledged ongoing structural and practical challenges to embedding interdisciplinary practice more widely.

Insights from an audience poll highlighted:

• 55% cited cost concerns as the biggest barrier to involving other professionals in NCDR processes.
• 69% identified availability as the main challenge when appointing Independent Social Workers.
• 64% agreed that multidisciplinary NCDR approaches have grown significantly over the past five years — signalling positive momentum, but also room for further development.

The role of AI in future practice

An emerging and unexpected theme was the growing role of AI in family law. The panel noted that clients are already turning to technology for information and reassurance.

Rather than viewing AI as a replacement for professional advice, the discussion focused on how practitioners can help clients use these tools safely and responsibly as part of a supported, informed process.

The event reinforced the value of lawyers working alongside therapists, mediators, coaches and social workers to support families more holistically. Interdisciplinary practice is not a passing trend, but an increasingly essential part of modern family justice.

At Forsters, working closely with therapists, coaches and other professionals allows us to tailor solutions that meet families where they are, often helping to de‑escalate conflict before formal proceedings are needed. This not only supports better outcomes for children and parents, but can also reduce the financial, emotional and time costs associated with litigation. The panel discussion reinforced that interdisciplinary working is no longer a fringe concept, but an essential part of modern family practice.

We are grateful to our panellists and attendees for contributing to a thoughtful and forward‑looking conversation, and we look forward to continuing this dialogue.