*/
The Ministry of Justice is to carry out a wide-ranging review of the family justice system in England and Wales.
The review—part of the cross-government “Families and Relationship Green Paper” launched in January—will look at ways to avoid confrontational court hearings and encourage the use of mediation.
Between five and ten per cent of separating parents resolve child access disputes through the courts. They are often unaware that mediation is available or wrongly assume it is only for couples wishing to reconcile.
The paper proposes making it compulsory for privately-funded clients to consider mediation before having residence and contact disputes heard in court. This is currently a requirement for legal aid clients. Extra support may be given to the Family Mediation Council to build on existing accreditation schemes for family mediators.
A review panel is to be appointed to hear from people with experience of the family justice system, and may issue calls for evidence, focus groups and formal consultation.
Between five and ten per cent of separating parents resolve child access disputes through the courts. They are often unaware that mediation is available or wrongly assume it is only for couples wishing to reconcile.
The paper proposes making it compulsory for privately-funded clients to consider mediation before having residence and contact disputes heard in court. This is currently a requirement for legal aid clients. Extra support may be given to the Family Mediation Council to build on existing accreditation schemes for family mediators.
A review panel is to be appointed to hear from people with experience of the family justice system, and may issue calls for evidence, focus groups and formal consultation.
The Ministry of Justice is to carry out a wide-ranging review of the family justice system in England and Wales.
The review—part of the cross-government “Families and Relationship Green Paper” launched in January—will look at ways to avoid confrontational court hearings and encourage the use of mediation.
The Chair of the Bar reports back
By Kem Kemal, CEO, Henry Dannell
By BSK Financial Planning
Mário Barroso, Head of R&D and Method Development at AlphaBiolabs
Susie Griffin on the admin that keeps barristers from billable work
Clement Cowley, Partner at The Penny Group, explains how global events can influence the performance of pensions and ISAs, and why taking a long-term approach to investing is often the most effective strategy
Kick off your career at the Bar Council’s Pupillage Fair this October – it’s one of the most valuable opportunities for aspiring barristers, says Amelia Clegg
Join us on Saturday 21 November 2026 at Leeds Beckett University and see for yourself why the North continues to be an exceptional place to build a career at the Bar
The golden age of advocacy? David Langwallner pays homage to the filmic if contentious barrister Sir Edward Carson and some of his contemporaries
Henry Fingerhut outlines what the Bar Standards Board AI guidance means for early career barristers
Not yet, says Jacob Turner. Regulation, unlike the technology itself, is a domain the legal profession can still control
