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NLJ this week: Litigation capacity & the role of the family lawyer

18 October 2024
Issue: 8090 / Categories: Legal News , Family , Divorce , Mental health , Health & safety
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How should family lawyers work with clients who lose or lack capacity?

In this week’s NLJ, Nicola Beasley, senior associate, Stowe Family Law, explains the concept of litigation capacity, differentiates between this and decision-making, and offers practice points for cases in which clients lose, or lack, litigation capacity.

Beasley covers case law on the topic and sets out clear, practical advice for lawyers involved in cases in which issues about a client’s litigation capacity arise.

The author writes: ‘As with mental health, litigation capacity can fluctuate.’ She also advises lawyers to remember that litigation capacity ‘is not based on whether the person’s decisions are unwise or unusual, or on whether you agree with them or not’.

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Quinn Emanuel—James McSweeney

Quinn Emanuel—James McSweeney

London promotion underscores firm’s investment in white collar and investigations

Ward Hadaway—Louise Miller

Ward Hadaway—Louise Miller

Private client team strengthened by partner appointment

NLJ Career Profile: Kate Gaskell, Flex Legal

NLJ Career Profile: Kate Gaskell, Flex Legal

Kate Gaskell, CEO of Flex Legal, reflects on chasing her childhood dreams underscores the importance of welcoming those from all backgrounds into the profession

NEWS
Overcrowded prisons, mental health hospitals and immigration centres are failing to meet international and domestic human rights standards, the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) has warned
Two speedier and more streamlined qualification routes have been launched for probate and conveyancing professionals
Workplace stress was a contributing factor in almost one in eight cases before the employment tribunal last year, indicating its endemic grip on the UK workplace
Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School highlights a turbulent end to 2025 in the civil courts, from the looming appeal in Mazur to judicial frustration with ever-expanding bundles, in his final NLJ 'The insider' column of the year
Antonia Glover of Quinn Emanuel outlines sweeping transparency reforms following the work of the Transparency and Open Justice Board in this week's NLJ
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