header-logo header-logo

06 September 2024
Issue: 8084 / Categories: Legal News , Procedure & practice , Family , Child law
printer mail-detail

NLJ this week: Three wishes for the new Lord Chancellor

188164

If the new Labour Lord Chancellor could make three changes to family law procedure, what should they be?

In this first part of a two-part NLJ series, family law solicitor-advocate David Burrows sets out his wishlist for change.

Burrows, a fierce critic of procedural inefficiency, regularly highlights in his NLJ columns the dire consequences of court delays on children caught up in the family justice system. Here, he pinpoints three areas for improvement and skilfully presents argument for each.

On children’s rights to make applications, Burrows recalls a 2016 case in which Lady Justice Black described the law of child representation as ‘of complexity’. Burrows writes: ‘In the company of so experienced a children lawyer, what hope has a child of knowing how to get anywhere?’

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Bell Yard Kysen—Liz Giles

Bell Yard Kysen—Liz Giles

Bell Yard Kysen appoints senior legal PR and ex-government communications adviser, Liz Giles

Clarke Willmott—Lee Edwards

Clarke Willmott—Lee Edwards

Clarke Willmott boosts Southampton commercial property team with addition of partner Lee Edwards

Lime Solicitors—four promotions

Lime Solicitors—four promotions

Lime Solicitors announces four promotions

NEWS
The Attorney General, Ellie Reeves KC MP, and Solicitor General, Andy Slaughter KC MP, marked the 25th anniversary of Pro Bono Week by joining lawyers, charities, students and parliamentarians at events celebrating voluntary legal work
A polished legal defence may owe more to artificial intelligence than legal merit—and creditors risk paying the price in delay and expense
Witness evidence can be compromised by AI before a solicitor sees the draft, leaving safeguards focused on authorship incomplete
Possession claims are entering a new digital era, with procedural traps awaiting practitioners who assume familiar rules still govern every step
The Environment Agency can prosecute offences beyond environmental legislation where proceedings support its statutory functions, the Divisional Court has confirmed
back-to-top-scroll