You Can’t Say That in Court!

About You Can’t Say That in Court!

A bi-weekly podcast that raises awareness about family violence and the challenges survivors face as they navigate the BC family legal system. The podcast collectively identifies barriers and calls for positive changes to be made for survivors across the province!

Publisher

Rise Women’s Legal Centre

Category

education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

7 Mar 2025

Latest episode

25 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

31 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   25 Sept 2026

   S3 E1: Diagnosing the Family Law System - Part I

   ABOUT THIS EPISODE: What if we approached family law the way we approach healthcare? In this first episode of a new season, hosts Vicky Law and Stephanie Melnyk introduce a thought-provoking comparison between the healthcare and family law systems. When a health concern arises, no one expects people to diagnose themselves, understand complex medical information on their own, or navigate treatment options without support. Yet in family law, many individuals are expected to do exactly that. The hosts explore the challenges people face when trying to access legal information, obtain timely legal advice, and navigate a system that can feel overwhelming and fragmented. They discuss the gaps in support, the consequences of self-navigation, and what family law might learn from a more coordinated, client-centred model of care. This episode lays the foundation for a multi-part conversation examining how healthcare concepts such as diagnosis, triage, early intervention, and coordinated care can help us better understand what is working, and what is missing, in the family law system today. Join us as we begin diagnosing the family law system. 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 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 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.

2. 

   10 Jul 2026

   S2 E11: Why is Family Violence Training Important?

   ABOUT THIS EPISODE: In the final episode of season 2, we explore the contradiction at the heart of family violence work: despite the complexity and high stakes of these cases, there is often no requirement for specialized education or training. We examine why the anti‑violence sector continues to emphasize training, including the need to challenge persistent myths, stereotypes, and widely held misconceptions about gender‑based violence. Through personal reflections and professional experience of the hosts, the conversation highlights the ongoing process of unlearning harmful societal narratives and building a more informed understanding of family violence. ADDITIONAL READING MATERIALS: - Rise Professional Legal Education: https://riselegaleducation.ca/ 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 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 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.

3. 

   26 Jun 2026

   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 Myrna McCallum’s podcast, The Trauma-Informed Lawyer: https://thetraumainformedlawyer.simplecast.com/ Harvard “Implicit Association Test,” 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 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 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.