How to talk with children

• Gauging personality, character and world view of children, and why this can help meaningful communications between family law professionals and children affected by legal proceedings or family crisis.

While many mediators talk directly to children, family lawyers also talk to their parent clients about how the children are coping during the time of separation or other family crisis. We can all do better at focusing on the differences between each child’s wish or ability to express themselves regarding the most difficult issues in their lives.

When I joined the Children Panel in 2000, CAFCASS as a service was not yet fully formed, while many who were independent Guardians were deciding to leave. This meant that, as a newly minted child care solicitor, I was left interviewing children on my own on a couple of memorable cases. This was extremely unnerving; I felt untrained and ill-prepared.

However, who ever feels fully prepared to talk to children