Splitting Headache

To split or not to split? That is the eternal question, answered here by new Prez in new guidance. In short: split only when it serves a purpose. And don’t forget split listing (or not) is a judicial decision. Lord Justice Wall (little known founder of Wall’s Ice Cream) also adds a reminder that splits [...]

Official Slow-icitor

Yet another facet of the system is creaking under the caseload: I am reliably informed that the Official Solicitor has written to family law practitioners to inform them that his staff is unable to accept new instructions to act as a guardian ad litem or litigation friend without some delay. In recent months there has [...]

Lightning Fast Lawyers

40 minutes apparently. That’s the time it takes to get to and from Bath County Court from chambers in Bristol. Or at least my clerks tell me (to snorts of derision from me) that this is all the LSC say I can claim. There is a list that tells them so. Lets assume that we [...]

ISWs throw in the towel

Community Care reports on the prospect of Independent Social Workers quitting over the fees cap to be introduced by the LSC in October. What the article fails to disentangle (in fact it rather adds to the confusion) is the distinction between ISWs contracted by CAFCASS on a self employed basis to carry out Guardian or [...]

Sterilising Addicts

The idea of paying drug addicted mothers to undergo sterilisation is really quite repulsive. There really are better ways to approach this. Northern Doctor sums it up. (HT cubik’s rube)

Shut Your Face(book)

Dear (Imaginary*) Client, Please read, digest and act promptly upon this article in The Guardian which tells you how to appropriately protect your privacy on Facebook. I reserve the right to sack you forthwith** should it appear that evidence of any of the following information has made its way to court as a result of [...]

Abortion Ads

Much outrage at the idea of abortion ads on telly apparently. Would it be churlish to point out that 1. Abortion is legal in this country, and 2. 76% of people believe such adverts should be permitted? . I would have thought such ads will help to maximise awareness, giving women (and their partners) a [...]

The Second Wife Impact

Andrew Commins, a colleague in chambers, has written an interesting article for Family Law Week on the impact of remarriage on variation applications by the ex spouse. I particularly like the mental image described in the extract from Delaney v Delaney [1991] 2 FLR 457, CA, that the court will deprecate “any notion that a former husband and extant [...]

Right to education for children of migrant workers

Nearly Legal flags up new guidance following two judgments in the European Court concerning the rights of the children of migrant workers to education. This is important because where the right exists the parent and primary carer of the child will be entitled to benefits and homelessness assistance that they might otherwise not have been [...]

Manners Maketh a Lawyer

I had a particularly taxing day at court recently. My opponent solicitor and I did not – ahem – gel. My attempts to engage in negotiation met with much dramatic huffing and flinging about of the word ‘nonsense’, escalating to swearing and door slamming of a most juvenile kind. You know constructive dialogue is at [...]