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31 October 2019 / Vijay Ganapathy , Claire Spearpoint
Issue: 7862 / Categories: Features , Personal injury , Damages , Family
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Keeping it in the family

Vijay Ganapathy & Claire Spearpoint discuss the role family members can play in legal proceedings involving their relatives
  • Legal proceedings, funding and proportionality in the family courts.

Recent judgments have highlighted some of the challenges faced by families who advance or take part in legal proceedings arising from the loss of a family member. This is particularly so in inquests where the procedural complexity and having to hear upsetting details about their relative’s death in court, makes the whole process incredibly strenuous for families.

In cases where there is some suspicion of negligence or other breach, many families seek legal representation to guide them through this process, help them find answers about the cause of death and, where possible, prevent the same thing happening again. However, obtaining funding can be difficult. Some may be eligible for legal aid, but this can only be obtained in a small proportion of cases and even where funding is granted, its scope is limited. Crowdfunding is another option, but not everyone

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Thomson Hayton Winkley—Jordan Wallace

Thomson Hayton Winkley—Jordan Wallace

Thomson Hayton Winkley strengthens family law team

Ward Hadaway—Barnaby Rosenthall

Ward Hadaway—Barnaby Rosenthall

Construction lawyer returns to Ward Hadaway in Teesside role

Bird & Bird—Shahin Baghaei

Bird & Bird—Shahin Baghaei

Bird Bird hires leading legal transformation expert

NEWS
Legal aid deserts leave almost one in four without adequate access to justice
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has warned solicitors and law firms that using artificial intelligence does not alter their professional obligations, amid concerns over inaccurate legal material and client confidentiality
From forgotten interest claims to case-management appeals, a string of procedural developments offers useful—and occasionally cautionary—lessons for practitioners

Jonathan Fisher KC highlights that it now accounts for around 40% of criminal offences, with roughly 70% involving technology, and argues that the UK cannot simply prosecute its way out of the problem. Detection, investigation and prosecution all require improvement, while different fraud types demand tailored responses.

How forcefully can a litigant criticise a public authority before robust advocacy crosses the line into unreasonable conduct? 
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