Sessions

Understanding and Managing Five High Conflict Personality Disorders

Explore the social science research on the interpersonal dynamics of personality disorders, and the impact on young children of parents who have traits of such disorders. Learn more about what to do and what NOT to do when working with clients with personality disorders or traits of such disorders. Management, treatment, and parenting issues for each disorder will be presented.

Death, Sex, and… Mostly Money: How Money Shapes and Distorts Family, Love, and Perception

Join this award-winning journalist and Death, Sex & Money podcast host Anna Sale as she brings her signature curiosity and warmth to a real conversation about money’s role in family law. Through storytelling, direct questioning, and real-world examples, this conversation will discuss the deeper impact of money, how it shapes decisions, fuels conflict, and influences how parents think about love, stability, and even how the sound of piano lessons makes them feel. Anna will sit down with AAML Fellow Dawn Smith to ask the big (and small) questions: How does money shape custody disputes? What’s really being argued over when parents fight about expenses? How do professionals navigate the emotional and ethical complexities of financial conflict? Then, the conversation turns to you. How does money show up in your work? What’s the hardest conversation you’ve had about finances? Anna will open the floor for a practical audience discussion about the real impact of money on you, your clients, and your families.

6. Family Law in the Post-Truth Age

In family law disputes, the parties and the court often have access to the same information yet interpret it in fundamentally different ways. Cognitive biases, false binaries, firmly held but arguably false beliefs, and emotional perspectives within a specific context can shape how each parent perceives communication, conflict, and co-parenting dynamics. For example, one parent may view vaccines or prescription medications as essential medical care, while the other sees them as harmful or unnecessary, each citing their own data to support opposing conclusions. This session explores how subjective interpretation influences legal narratives, the role of credibility in court proceedings, the application of the rules of evidence, and how professionals can assess competing claims. Presenters will examine the tension between fact and perception, offering strategies to navigate conflicting narratives in the pursuit of fair and informed decisions in family law cases.

7. 2025 Social Science Update: Key Research to Strengthen Your Family Law Practice

This workshop will summarize new directions and findings from social science research on child custody, parenting, and related issues. Key research will be introduced on the most relevant topics, and the implications for legal practice will be discussed. The presenter will focus on how research can be utilized in participants’ own cases, whether as an expert or as a legal professional working toward settlement or navigating the presentation of expert testimony at trial.

8. Client Management: Strategies for Guiding Difficult and Litigious Clients

Family court professionals must navigate the process and the law, the evaluations, and the roles of the various other professionals who may become involved in the case—all of which are made far more complicated by “difficult” clients. Such clients may be one or both litigants with a preoccupation with blaming others, all-or-nothing thinking, unmanaged emotions and extreme behaviors that most people would never engage in. These behaviors become even more extreme when the parties are placed into the adversarial process employed by courts. This workshop will provide an understanding of five high conflict personalities, four strategies to avoid, and four key skills to use for calming and managing them while assisting in resolving their cases. It will also provide strategies for managing high conflict cases including realistic assessments and interventions for guiding such clients toward a conclusion without becoming part of the problem.

9. Private Judging in the Post-Pitt-Jolie Age

As family court systems grow increasingly congested and family law cases become more complex, more litigants are seeking solutions outside the traditional courtroom. Enter private neutrals—seasoned family law attorneys and retired judges—who are brought in to mediate, manage, and sometimes even preside over family law disputes. But in a landscape where privacy and neutrality are paramount, how can these principles truly be safeguarded? This dynamic program dives deep into the evolving role of private neutrals, uncovering the challenges and complexities of maintaining privacy and impartiality in family law proceedings. You’ll gain valuable insights as we explore how private is “private” in the age of high-stakes family litigation and the importance of protecting the process. We will examine the delicate balance of impartiality amidst complex family dynamics and professional relationships, and the ethical issues around conflict disclosures when dealing with repeat attorneys and intertwined cases. Finally, join us to consider real-world examples, strategic solutions, and candid discussions on what works—and what doesn’t—when navigating the increasingly popular path of private dispute resolution in family law.

10. The Money Brain Meets the Coparenting Train: Avoiding the Wreck

We’ve all seen this scenario: A difficult marital separation teamed with significant disagreements about the parenting plan and looming custody litigation. Two trains speeding ahead toward collision. Through the collaborative efforts of attorneys, mediators, and mental health professionals, disaster is often averted. The parents agree on a parenting plan for their kids and begin to implement it. A collective sigh of relief can be heard from the entire professional team. But have we reached the final destination? The next whistle stop is addressing the parents’ property and support issues. Follow how the twists and turns of asset division destabilize the coparenting relationship. Presenters will map out the journey from conflict to compromise, with stops along the route to examine views through the lens of cognitive science, dispute resolution, and family law. Learn about the brain and how it responds to the fear of financial loss, as well as strategies family law professionals can use to keep agitated parents on track for a safe journey. Join this panel for a bumpy ride as we discuss money, kids, and conflict.

Consultation Groups

Join your colleagues for an informal discussion and consultation on some of the most challenging topics for family law professionals. Bring your questions and difficult cases for expert feedback.

Taste of San Francisco

Friday evening is your opportunity to enjoy the area with friends and colleagues. Sign up before 1:00PM on Friday and join a group of 8-12 for dinner at a local restaurant. Restaurant menus and sign-up sheets will be available onsite near registration. Dining and transportation costs are the responsibility of each participant.

11. Social Media: Evidence, Deepfakes, and Authentication

Previously offered as session #1

Social media infiltrators have become masterful at phishing scams and “deepfakes,” leaving consumers often unaware and unable to discern what is real. In the context of family court, this basis for new forms of “evidence” regarding who said or did what to whom, or even alleged transactions that one party emphatically denies is constantly evolving. This workshop discusses strategies for evaluating the validity of proposed evidence and ways to identify fraud and “deepfakes.” An interdisciplinary panel will discuss the value of social media, emails, and other internet-based communications in family court cases, what to do after fraudulent “evidence” is introduced, and how to rehabilitate a case when it is included in initial or emergency hearings with simply no time for authentication.

12. Research: Friend or Foe?

Previously offered as session #3

Research, when used properly, can be a friend and even your superpower in family law cases—and when not used properly, research can be a foe. Research is the foundation of evidence-informed treatment and may assist in explaining the roots of the conceptualization of a case. Research may make or break a case contingent upon accurate application and how it is utilized. This workshop focuses on putting research into practice. Psychologists will discuss how to use and not misuse research in their work and presentation in court. An attorney will explain why family lawyers need to understand research to educate their clients, mediators, and the court, to support their expert witnesses, and to challenge opposing experts. A judge will offer insights into what judges should know when evaluating expert opinion

13. Effective Use of Parenting Coordination

Previously offered as session #5

Parenting coordinators (PCs) are neutral professionals whose role it is to manage conflict between parents and assist with resolving issues that might arise outside of court in the best interest of the parties’ children. There are many variations associated with parenting coordination across jurisdictions, ranging from whether the intervention is confidential, whether a PC is able to make recommendations or holds quasi-judicial authority, and even regarding who can be a PC. Some jurisdictions are without laws, rules or regulations regarding PC work entirely. Regardless of the nuances of local practice, effective use of a parenting coordinator can support the attorneys with case management and support the family with conflict resolution skills to limit post-judgement litigation. Join the presenters for a lively discussion on ways to maximize the benefits of a parenting coordinator in your cases.

14. 2025 Social Science Update: Key Research to Strengthen Your Family Law Practice

Previously offered as session #7

This workshop will summarize new directions and findings from social science research on child custody, parenting, and related issues. Key research will be introduced on the most relevant topics, and the implications for legal practice will be discussed. The presenter will focus on how research can be utilized in participants’ own cases, whether as an expert or as a legal professional working toward settlement or navigating the presentation of expert testimony at trial.

15. Private Judging in the Post-Pitt-Jolie Age

Previously offered as session #9

As family court systems grow increasingly congested and family law cases become more complex, more litigants are seeking solutions outside the traditional courtroom. Enter private neutrals—seasoned family law attorneys and retired judges—who are brought in to mediate, manage, and sometimes even preside over family law disputes. But in a landscape where privacy and neutrality are paramount, how can these principles truly be safeguarded? This dynamic program dives deep into the evolving role of private neutrals, uncovering the challenges and complexities of maintaining privacy and impartiality in family law proceedings. You’ll gain valuable insights as we explore how private is “private” in the age of high-stakes family litigation and the importance of protecting the process. We will examine the delicate balance of impartiality amidst complex family dynamics and professional relationships, and the ethical issues around conflict disclosures when dealing with repeat attorneys and intertwined cases. Finally, join us to consider real-world examples, strategic solutions, and candid discussions on what works—and what doesn’t—when navigating the increasingly popular path of private dispute resolution in family law.

16. Unmasking Transgender Experience: A Family-Based, Research-Informed Model

Previously offered as session #2

Even though the number of transgender persons within the population is very small, efforts have been in place to encourage people to perceive trans individuals and those who support them as a threat or as non-existent. These perceptions are neither connected to reality nor supported by peer-reviewed research. This program is intended to educate the participants by focusing on children and families, providing an understanding of the development and experience of transgender and gender diverse children in the context of their individuality and well-being, their families, and society. Working from a family-based and research-informed model, we will address the impact of child custody decisions on children who do not fit a binary definition of gender. These decisions encompass access to supportive healthcare and services in several of the states, creating new challenges to the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA)

17. Substance Misuse and Process Addictions

Previously offered as session #4

Among the complicating factors that arise in parenting plan evaluations and family court matters, the misuse or abuse of substances by parents/caregivers stand out as some of the most complex. The use of prescription drugs, illegal drugs, or alcohol in excess can be personality altering, causing a significant impact to family members. Assessment and ongoing monitoring often involve biologically based testing, and treatment encompasses many layers of consideration. Similarly, process addictions, which can include the obsession with non-substance behavior such as gambling, pornography, shopping, or the internet, are equally disruptive. Screen addictions have also become more common among adolescents. When the person with addiction or substance misuse concern is a parent or a minor, how the issue is addressed, and treatment undertaken is critical for the next phase of parenting time or familial relationships. The panel will examine addictive behaviors and discuss options for addressing them successfully before, during, and after separation and divorce.

18. Family Law in the Post-Truth Age

Previously offered as session #6

In family law disputes, the parties and the court often have access to the same information yet interpret it in fundamentally different ways. Cognitive biases, false binaries, firmly held but arguably false beliefs, and emotional perspectives within a specific context can shape how each parent perceives communication, conflict, and coparenting dynamics. For example, one parent may view vaccines or prescription medications as essential medical care, while the other sees them as harmful or unnecessary, each citing their own data to support opposing conclusions. This session explores how subjective interpretation influences legal narratives, the role of credibility in court proceedings, the application of the rules of evidence, and how professionals can assess competing claims. Presenters will examine the tension between fact and perception, offering strategies to navigate conflicting narratives in the pursuit of fair and informed decisions in family law cases

19. Client Management: Strategies for Guiding Difficult and Litigious Clients

Previously offered as session #8

Family court professionals must navigate the process and the law, the evaluations, and the roles of the various other professionals who may become involved in the case—all of which are made far more complicated by “difficult” clients. Such clients may be one or both litigants with a preoccupation with blaming others, all-or-nothing thinking, unmanaged emotions and extreme behaviors that most people would never engage in. These behaviors become even more extreme when the parties are placed into the adversarial process employed by courts. This workshop will provide an understanding of five high conflict personalities, four strategies to avoid, and four key skills to use for calming and managing them while assisting in resolving their cases. It will also provide strategies for managing high conflict cases including realistic assessments and interventions for guiding such clients toward a conclusion without becoming part
of the problem.

20. The Money Brain Meets the Coparenting Train: Avoiding the Wreck

Previously offered as session #10

We’ve all seen this scenario: A difficult marital separation teamed with significant disagreements about the parenting plan and looming custody litigation. Two trains speeding ahead toward collision. Through the collaborative efforts of attorneys, mediators, and mental health professionals, disaster is often averted. The parents agree on a parenting plan for their kids and begin to implement it. A collective sigh of relief can be heard from the entire professional team. But have we reached the final destination? The next whistle stop is addressing the parents’ property and support issues. Follow how the twists and turns of asset division destabilize the coparenting relationship. Presenters will map out the journey from conflict to compromise, with stops along the route to examine views through the lens of cognitive science, dispute resolution, and family law. Learn about the brain and how it responds to the fear of financial loss, as well as strategies family law professionals can use to keep agitated parents on track for a safe journey. Join this panel for a bumpy ride as we discuss money, kids, and conflict