You Can’t Say That in Court!

S2 Episode 10: Decolonizing Family Law - Part 2

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: In the second episode of this two‑part series, we turn our focus to trauma‑informed legal practice and what it looks like in action. The conversation explores how legal spaces can offer safety rather than reproduce harm, emphasizing the importance of meaningful supports, cultural responsiveness, and a commitment to “do no further harm.” We also reflect on the realities of vicarious trauma for those working within these systems, alongside the possibility of vicarious resilience. Together, these themes point toward legal practices that are not only more humane, but more effective for survivors and those who support them.   ADDITIONAL READING MATERIALS: * Decolonizing Family Law through trauma-informed practices report: https://www.womenslegalcentre.ca/publications/decolonizing-family-law-through-trauma-informed-practices [https://www.womenslegalcentre.ca/publications/decolonizing-family-law-through-trauma-informed-practices] * Myrna McCallum’s podcast, The Trauma-Informed Lawyer: https://thetraumainformedlawyer.simplecast.com/ [https://thetraumainformedlawyer.simplecast.com/] * Harvard “Implicit Association Test,” https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/ [https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/]   LEGAL DISCLAIMER: Everything that we have said today is not legal advice. If you or someone you know needs legal advice, please consult with a lawyer. TRIGGER WARNING: Our podcast series will discuss difficult topics such as gender-based violence and intimate partner violence, including physical, sexual, emotional, psychological and financial abuse. Please be aware that this is a thread that is woven throughout all the episodes, and we hope you will take care of yourselves however you need. MUSIC: Song "Crushing", performed by Reveille (license purchased for use) GRAPHICS: Melanie Ligale PRODUCTION: Nithasha PremKumar   If you enjoy listening to our podcasts, please consider making a donation to support our work. We are a registered charity that is dedicated to improving access to justice in BC for women and gender‑diverse people. Donate via womenslegalcentre.ca/donate [https://www.womenslegalcentre.ca/donate] If you like our podcast, please share it with your network. Keep up to date with the latest episodes by following Rise on social media. We are@R [https://www.instagram.com/risewomenslegal/]iseWomensLegal [https://www.instagram.com/risewomenslegal/] on all platforms.   ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION: Rise is a community legal centre providing accessible legal services to self-identified women and gender diverse people in British Columbia since 2016. Our programs and services are aimed at providing limited legal services to economically disadvantaged clients, who are self-representing in their family law matters in BC. For more information on our organization, visit Rise Women's Legal Centre.

S2 Episode 9: Decolonizing Family Law - Part 1

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: This episode is the first of a two‑part conversation on decolonizing family law. We begin by grounding ourselves in key concepts that shape what it means to decolonize family law and legal practice. We unpack decolonization as an ongoing process, rooted in cultural humility and a willingness to move forward even when we don’t have perfect answers. The conversation explores the differences between colonial legal systems and Indigenous legal traditions, leading to fundamentally different understandings of justice and why acknowledging the limits and harms of the colonial system is a necessary step towards a more equitable, trauma‑informed approaches.   ADDITIONAL READING MATERIALS: Decolonizing Family Law through trauma-informed practices report [https://www.womenslegalcentre.ca/publications/decolonizing-family-law-through-trauma-informed-practices%20-] Myrna McCallum’s podcast, The Trauma-Informed Lawyer: https://thetraumainformedlawyer.simplecast.com/   [https://thetraumainformedlawyer.simplecast.com/]   LEGAL DISCLAIMER: Everything that we have said today is not legal advice. If you or someone you know needs legal advice, please consult with a lawyer. TRIGGER WARNING: Our podcast series will discuss difficult topics such as gender-based violence and intimate partner violence, including physical, sexual, emotional, psychological and financial abuse. Please be aware that this is a thread that is woven throughout all the episodes, and we hope you will take care of yourselves however you need. MUSIC: Song "Crushing", performed by Reveille (license purchased for use) GRAPHICS: Melanie Ligale PRODUCTION: Nithasha PremKumar   If you enjoy listening to our podcasts, please consider making a donation to support our work. We are a registered charity that is dedicated to improving access to justice in BC for women and gender‑diverse people. Donate via womenslegalcentre.ca/donate [https://www.womenslegalcentre.ca/donate] If you like our podcast, please share it with your network. Keep up to date with the latest episodes by following Rise on social media. We are @RiseWomensLegal [https://www.instagram.com/risewomenslegal/] on all platforms.   ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION: Rise is a community legal centre providing accessible legal services to self-identified women and gender diverse people in British Columbia since 2016. Our programs and services are aimed at providing limited legal services to economically disadvantaged clients, who are self-representing in their family law matters in BC. For more information on our organization, visit Rise Women's Legal Centre.

S2 Episode 8: Impact of Ahluwalia on Survivors

ABOUT THIS EPISODE:  In this episode, we unpack Ahluwalia, a landmark case that reshaped the legal landscape of Family law, starting with the background of the case and how it made its way through the courts. We examine how myths and stereotypes in family law influenced the legal analysis. We then break down why the Supreme Court of Canada recognized a new tort, what that means in practice, and why it matters. Finally, we zoom out to discuss the access to justice issues this decision raises and what it could mean for future claims.   Additional Reading Materials: * Supreme Court of Canada decision - Ahluwalia v. Ahluwalia, 2026 SCC 16 [https://decisions.scc-csc.ca/scc-csc/scc-csc/en/item/21505/index.do] * Rise Intervention-Ahluwalia v Ahluwalia [https://www.womenslegalcentre.ca/publications/riseintervention-ahluwalia-v-ahluwalia] * Rise’s letter to clients: https://www.womenslegalcentre.ca/s/2026-05-15-Ahluwalia-decision-letter-to-our-clients.pdf [https://www.womenslegalcentre.ca/s/2026-05-15-Ahluwalia-decision-letter-to-our-clients.pdf]   LEGAL DISCLAIMER: Everything that we have said today is not legal advice. If you or someone you know needs legal advice, please consult with a lawyer. TRIGGER WARNING: Our podcast series will discuss difficult topics such as gender-based violence and intimate partner violence, including physical, sexual, emotional, psychological and financial abuse. Please be aware that this is a thread that is woven throughout all the episodes, and we hope you will take care of yourselves however you need. MUSIC: Song "Crushing", performed by Reveille (license purchased for use) GRAPHICS: Melanie Ligale PRODUCTION: Nithasha PremKumar   If you enjoy listening to our podcasts, please consider making a donation to support our work. We are a registered charity that is dedicated to improving access to justice in BC for women and gender‑diverse people. Donate via womenslegalcentre.ca/donate [https://www.womenslegalcentre.ca/donate] If you like our podcast, please share it with your network. Keep up to date with the latest episodes by following Rise on social media. We are @RiseWomensLegal [https://www.instagram.com/risewomenslegal/] on all platforms.   ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION: Rise is a community legal centre providing accessible legal services to self-identified women and gender diverse people in British Columbia since 2016. Our programs and services are aimed at providing limited legal services to economically disadvantaged clients, who are self-representing in their family law matters in BC. For more information on our organization, visit Rise Women's Legal Centre.

S2 Episode 7: Courtroom Innovation

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: From courtroom hallways to virtual hearings, the justice system has changed, but should access to court be one-size-fits-all? In this episode, we explore the evolving methods of court appearance, tracing how virtual court became a necessity during COVID-19 and why flexibility remains critical today. We discuss the benefits, challenges, and real-world impacts of in-person, virtual, and hybrid hearings. Additional Reading Materials: * Building Inclusive and Accessible Family Justice: Practical Approaches to Innovate Family Law Systems in BC’s Rural and Remote Communities [https://www.womenslegalcentre.ca/publications/building-inclusive-and-accessible-family-justice-report] LEGAL DISCLAIMER: Everything that we have said today is not legal advice. If you or someone you know needs legal advice, please consult with a lawyer. TRIGGER WARNING: Our podcast series will discuss difficult topics such as gender-based violence and intimate partner violence, including physical, sexual, emotional, psychological and financial abuse. Please be aware that this is a thread that is woven throughout all the episodes, and we hope you will take care of yourselves however you need. MUSIC: Song "Crushing", performed by Reveille (license purchased for use) GRAPHICS: Melanie Ligale PRODUCTION: Nithasha PremKumar ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION: Rise is a community legal centre providing accessible legal services to self-identified women and gender diverse people in British Columbia since 2016. Our programs and services are aimed at providing limited legal services to economically disadvantaged clients, who are self-representing in their family law matters in BC. For more information on our organization, visit Rise Women's Legal Centre [http://www.womenslegalcentre.ca/]

S2 Episode 6: How Safe are Courthouses?

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: Past research from Rise highlighted how attending court in person can be unsafe for survivors of violence. In this episode, we move into the next phase of that work, sharing both general trends and specific findings from Rise’s latest research. We discuss what has changed, what risks remain, and what these findings reveal about survivor safety, access, and accountability within the family law system. Additional Reading Materials: * Court House Safety Report: Access, Safety, and Regional Context: A Comprehensive Assessment of BC Court Locations [https://www.womenslegalcentre.ca/publications/access-safety-regional-context]  LEGAL DISCLAIMER: Everything that we have said today is not legal advice. If you or someone you know needs legal advice, please consult with a lawyer. TRIGGER WARNING: Our podcast series will discuss difficult topics such as gender-based violence and intimate partner violence, including physical, sexual, emotional, psychological and financial abuse. Please be aware that this is a thread that is woven throughout all the episodes, and we hope you will take care of yourselves however you need. MUSIC: Song "Crushing", performed by Reveille (license purchased for use) GRAPHICS: By Melanie Ligale PRODUCTION: By Nithasha PremKumar ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION: Rise is a community legal centre providing accessible legal services to self-identified women and gender diverse people in British Columbia since 2016. Our programs and services are aimed at providing limited legal services to economically disadvantaged clients, who are self-representing in their family law matters in BC. For more information on our organization, visit Rise Women's Legal Centre [http://www.womenslegalcentre.ca/]