In February 2007 the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges and the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts brought together a working group of thirty-seven experienced practitioners and researchers to identify and explore conceptual and practical tensions that have hampered effective work with families in which domestic violence has been identified or alleged. Five central sets of issues were raised at the conference and are discussed in this report. These include the following: differentiation among families experiencing domestic violence, screening and triage, participation by families in various processes and services, appropriate outcomes for children, and family court roles and resources. The report emphasizes the need for continued multidisciplinary collaboration in order to better serve families affected by domestic violence and it includes an appendix of consensus points as well as suggestions for formation of ongoing work groups.

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This article examines the legal operation and impact of legal custody presumptions. We compare the nature of joint legal and joint physical custody and explore common misunderstandings about how presumptions work and their practical repercussions for children and parents. We conclude that legal custody presumptions are not suited to the task of promoting quality decision making and healthy parent–child relationships and they recommend alternative approaches. The operation and impact of legal custody presumptions are often misunderstood by practitioners. The goal of quality decision making on behalf of children is more realistically achieved through other approaches.

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Law schools are seeking ways to familiarize family law students with exciting new professional roles arising in connection with family court reform. This article describes the family law externship program at William Mitchell College of Law which includes a classroom component allowing students placed in different practice settings to compare and contrast their experiences. The program assists students in making career choices and enhances their ability to counsel future clients.