header-logo header-logo

06 August 2009 / Lucy Theis KC
Issue: 7381 / Categories: Opinion , Family
printer mail-detail

Lamentable bad practice

At a time of heightened public concern about issues concerning child protection, it is more important than ever, and clearly in the public interest, that those solicitors and barristers with expertise in representing the interests of vulnerable families and children are not driven away from undertaking this work.

At a time of heightened public concern about issues concerning child protection, it is more important than ever, and clearly in the public interest, that those solicitors and barristers with expertise in representing the interests of vulnerable families and children are not driven away from undertaking this work.

That is the risk being taken by the Legal Services Commission (LSC) and this government in driving through ill thought out family fee reforms.

On behalf of the many specialist family barristers I represent, I have made it clear that we do not seek more money; what we seek are two things:

(i) a properly graduated advocacy scheme that does not over-reward the less complex cases at the expense of the more complex cases—this will hopefully stem the

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Boodle Hatfield—Tom McLaughlin

Boodle Hatfield—Tom McLaughlin

Boodle Hatfield welcomes new employment partner, Tom McLaughlin

Arc Pensions Law—Victoria Thompson-Hill, Jonathan Mason & Georgi Ivanov

Arc Pensions Law—Victoria Thompson-Hill, Jonathan Mason & Georgi Ivanov

National specialist pensions law firm strengthens team with three new appointments

Jurit—Christian Abletshauser

Jurit—Christian Abletshauser

Jurit appoints Christian Abletshauser to lead family law practice

NEWS
Burges Salmon appoints Benn Richards to strengthen Contentious Insolvency offering
A High Court decision has clarified that a home may be unfit for human habitation not only where conditions endanger health or safety, but also where they seriously undermine comfort and convenience

A longer time limit for employment tribunal claims, new charity law thresholds, property tribunal recruitment and appellate guidance on small-claims costs feature in the latest Civil Way round-up

A recent High Court ruling could make issue estoppel considerably more complex in cross-border litigation, requiring parties to consider the foreign law governing the underlying claim
The Supreme Court has overturned Cheshire West’s bright-line test for deprivation of liberty, replacing it with a broader, more contextual assessment that gives greater weight to an individual’s wishes, feelings and apparent consent
back-to-top-scroll