Advocate Corbett Shortlisted for DIFERA Award

16th January 2024

Image: Barbara Corbett nominated for DIFERA Award

Congratulations to Barbara on being shortlisted for the DIFERA Awards  in the category Ally of the Year! This is given to an individual who has championed a minority group or issue, or advanced DIFERA values in Jersey, whilst not being part of that minority group or being affected by the issue personally.

Advocate Barbara Corbett is particularly passionate about equal rights reform.  In 2019, in her capacity as a Law Commissioner, Barbara assisted policy makers draft instructions in respect of amendments to the Children Law and Marriage and Civil Status Laws in Jersey in relation to parentage, particularly for same-sex couples. Barbara’s campaigning led to the Jersey Law Commission instructing Marisa Allman (a barrister at 36 Family) to write the topic paper on parentage and surrogacy. That paper formed the basis of the proposed amendments to the law which have finally been drafted. The changes should be coming into effect this year. You can read more about it in this BBC news article:

Proposed Jersey law lodged to give same-sex parents equal rights - BBC News

Barbara also does a huge amount of pro-bono work and is a very active member of the legal and wider community. She is Deputy Chair of the Income Support and Medical Appeal Tribunals, a Jersey Law Commissioner and a Member of the Jersey Children Panel. Barbara is also a fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers. and a founding member of Women in Family Law.

The DIFERA Awards are being held on 2 February 2024 at the Jersey Arts Centre.

Good luck Barbara!