ABOUT TURN
Need a few bob? Frequent and widespread difficulties are being encountered in finding advocates to act as qualified legal representatives (QLRs) to cross-examine vulnerable witnesses under ss 65–66 of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 (see ‘Civil way’, 172 NLJ 7985, p15). We know because the president of the family division has reported on this serious state of affairs. In this month’s View from the President’s Chambers, he suggests that if there are no takers within 28 days, the court should list the case for directions and direct that some summary information is provided by HMCTS about the difficulties that have been encountered. FPR PD 3AB, para 8.1(b) permits termination of a QLR appointment. Giving consideration to termination, he says, will provide a further opportunity to canvas any other options such as directly instructing an advocate. Notwithstanding the guidance that the court should not itself conduct the cross-examination, this did not trump the overriding objective
