There is no legal representative for either party in one third (34%) of private law cases in the family court, Ministry of Justice statistics for the period April to June 2016 have revealed. By comparison, this was true for 17% of cases in April to June 2013. Private law cases generally took longer where either the respondent or both parties had legal representation—16 weeks (both applicant and respondent legally represented) and 19.6 weeks (respondent legally represented) compared to 10.7 weeks (applicant legally represented) and 13.5 weeks where neither party had legal representation.
06 October 2016
Legal representation drops in family courts
MOVERS & SHAKERS
Burgess Mee—Victoria Sterritt
Family law boutique expands London team with legal director hire
Ward Hadaway—Mike Gore
Firm enhances advisory capability with strategic risk specialist hire
Stewarts—Alexandra Lyons
Insurance and reinsurance specialist joins policyholder disputes practice as partner
NEWS
Some employment law controversies never disappear—they merely lie dormant
Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming legal practice, but its successful adoption depends as much on culture as technology
The fallout from Lord Mandelson’s appointment and dismissal as UK ambassador to Washington raises profound questions about constitutional governance, accountability and political appointments
Pastries may be in the firing line while kebabs escape scrutiny, but the reality is far more nuanced
The Supreme Court’s decision in Dillon highlights a central tension in modern public law: rights may be recognised without being fully realised
Copyright © 2026 LexisNexis
