Super Supreme

Last week I had a couple of hours to kill. So I went and took a gander at the Supreme Court – and I thought it was fantastic. Entering the court was like entering the lobby of a posh hotel – I was greeted by welcoming security staff with a “Good Morning Madam”, and was [...]

Manifesto for Family Justice

This morning (24th October) the FLBA together with the Bar Council and an alliance of other organisations publishes a Manifesto for Family Justice.   The alliance, which comprises the Association of Lawyers for Children, the Bar Council, CAADA, the Children’s Commissioner, the Family Law Bar Association, Gingerbread, Liberty, the National Federation of Women’s Institutes, Resolution and Women’s Aid, has called upon the Government to: ·         Protect vulnerable women and [...]

FLBA Resolutions

The following resolutions were unanimously approved at the national meeting of the Family Law Bar Association on 17th September 2011. They have been sent to the Government : The FLBA calls on the Government to include in the Legal Aid Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill (“the Bill”) a specific provision requiring the Lord Chancellor, in the [...]

Legal Aid Reform – Comment

A link to some more stuff I said elsewhere on the topic of legal aid reform, and more importantly to what some other people (including a not-so-anonymous blogger) said about legal aid reform: Falling on deaf ears, By Jean-Yves Gilg, Giles Peaker, Lucy Reed & Juliette Frangos

Trying To End Things

I’ve had two very different articles published today, both about attempts to end things: an article on the bringing to a close of children proceedings through the making of orders under s91(14) Children Act 1989: Section 91(14) Orders – A Never Ending Story? (Family Law Week), and an article on the attempt to bring an end [...]

Summary of Legal Aid Reforms to Family Law

Nearly Legal has provided an excellent summary of the legal aid reforms in respect of housing and other areas of law: Ask not for whom the bill tolls. Due to other commitments I have not been able to put together a full analysis of the Bill insofar as is relates to family law. That will [...]

Ministerial Statement on Legal Aid

WRITTEN MINISTERIAL STATEMENT MINISTRY OF JUSTICE Proposals for the reform of punishment, rehabilitation, sentencing and legal aid The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice (Kenneth Clarke QC): Today I will lay before Parliament the Government’s responses to two important consultations on the future of the justice system – Breaking the cycle: effective punishment, [...]

Legal Aid, Sentencing & Punishment of Offenders Bill Published

The Legal Aid, Sentencing & Punishment of Offenders Bill (LASPOB for not-so-short?) was published earlier today. And then rapidly un-published. However, the ever excellent ilegal was quick off the mark and had saved it before it was magicked away again. You can read the bill here. From a quick whizz through insofar as it is relevant to [...]

Sound Off For Justice

A further excellent video from the Sound Off For Justice campaign. It’s not just access to justice in family cases that will be decimated, as this clip of a sexual harassment related unfair dismissal demonstrates.  

Mediation Assessment

Mr Ministrio O Justice and Ms Accessa D Justice have been referred to this service following a breakdown of their relationship, for the purposes of a mediation assessment appointment. I have met with both parties and can report as follows: There is a significant power imbalance as Ministrio is the sole breadwinner and Accessa is [...]