Michael Green QC

Michael was admitted to the New South Wales Bar in December 1975. He practised at the private Bar for four years mainly in criminal and common law and also in the newly created Family Court of Australia. He joined the NSW Public Defenders Office in February 1980 and for sixteen years specialised in criminal law. He appeared in all criminal jurisdictions from Local Courts, District and Supreme Courts, to the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal and High Court of Australia. He became a Queens Counsel in 1988.

In 1996 Michael returned to the private Bar and for the next four years conducted an appellate practice in the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal and High Court of Australia. Interspersed with those cases were appearances in the Wood Royal Commission into the NSW Police Force.

From July 1998 to June 2000 he worked with the Legal Representation Office in appearing for the families of the victims of the Thredbo landslide disaster of 1997. After the Coroner's judgement was handed down at the end of June 2000, Michael retired from the Bar to further his passion in mediation and family relationships.

He is the principal of Michael Green Mediation, a private mediation practice specialising in family conferencing, mediation, life skills programs and local government, workplace and commercial disputes.

Mediation Training & Experience

Present Practice

Publications

Fathers After Divorce - 1998

fathers after divorce book cover Michael's first book, "fathers after divorce - building a new life and becoming a successful separated parent" sold widely in Australian and New Zealand.

Michael has long been interested in parenting issues, especially as they relate to fathers in both intact and separated families. He is a strong promoter of shared parenting and in the well-being of children and parents after parental separation.

Now out of print, it can be found in good libraries.

Shared Parenting - 2006 with Jill Burrett

Cover of Shared Parenting book by Michael Green

This important and timely book shows how shared parenting can work after separation and how both parents can maintain meaningful relationships with their children.

The authors, Jill Burrett and Michael Green, bring to this work their expertise in counselling and mediation, respectively. They provide sample parenting plans - both complex and simple - for various types of separated families. The practical tools they offer work in every party's best interests - especially the children's.

With legislation in many jurisdictions now enshrining shared parental responsibility and parenting time, the authors show separated parents how to make this work. They cite supporting research which indicates how important it is for children to continue meaningful relationships after family breakdown.

Myths and misconceptions are dealt with, together with practical advice on how parents can get past their hurt and anger and focus on approaches that will benefit their children. The authors also tackle the nuts and bolts of weekly routines and include useful suggestions on timetabling and communication between households.

More information about the book: Shared Parenting by Jill Burrett and Michael Green at Finch Publishing.

Public Speaking

Michael is a regular speaker in the media and at public forums, including separated parents' and grandparents' groups, mediators, counsellors and lawyers.

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