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Senior barristers have called for a review of family court advocacy over concerns that solicitor advocates have caused a drop in standards and “unjust outcomes”.
In a letter to Justice Minister Shailesh Vara, the chairs of the Family Law Bar Association and Bar Council warned that legal aid cuts have prompted insufficiently skilled solicitors to represent clients in court, rather than instructing better trained barristers.
Solicitors, they pointed out, require no advocacy training to appear in the county court, where the majority of children cases are conducted, or in the High Court.
Seeking an urgent review of standards, they warned: ‘The standard of representation being provided in many cases is so poor that unjust outcomes have occurred.”
They added: “Serious damage to the public interest has been caused by this situation”.
Responding, the Law Society and family lawyers group Resolution said the move was regrettable. They accused the Bar of acting out of self-interest and suggested its concerns were based on its own falling market share rather than quality.
Senior barristers have called for a review of family court advocacy over concerns that solicitor advocates have caused a drop in standards and “unjust outcomes”.
In a letter to Justice Minister Shailesh Vara, the chairs of the Family Law Bar Association and Bar Council warned that legal aid cuts have prompted insufficiently skilled solicitors to represent clients in court, rather than instructing better trained barristers.
Solicitors, they pointed out, require no advocacy training to appear in the county court, where the majority of children cases are conducted, or in the High Court.
Seeking an urgent review of standards, they warned: ‘The standard of representation being provided in many cases is so poor that unjust outcomes have occurred.”
They added: “Serious damage to the public interest has been caused by this situation”.
Responding, the Law Society and family lawyers group Resolution said the move was regrettable. They accused the Bar of acting out of self-interest and suggested its concerns were based on its own falling market share rather than quality.
Far-ranging month for the Chair of the Bar
Endometriosis Awareness North, a charity raising awareness of endometriosis and supporting those affected across the North of England, has received a £500 boost from AlphaBiolabs via the company’s Giving Back initiative
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs, examines the most recent data on alcohol misuse in the UK, and the implications for alcohol testing in family proceedings
Clement Cowley, Partner at The Penny Group, explains how tailored financial planning can help barristers take control of their finances and plan with confidence
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs
A £500 donation from AlphaBiolabs has been made to the leading UK charity tackling international parental child abduction and the movement of children across international borders
Seeing the full picture – Baljit Ubhey OBE outlines the CPS action plan to tackle violence against women and girls, offering insights directly relevant to courtroom practice
Heritage as an anchor and a compass, finding our common humanity and embracing the power of the outsider – Melina Antoniadis’s lessons learnt
Is the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office process fit for purpose? Women barristers’ experiences of bullying are not being reported or, if they are, they are not making it through the system, says Tana Adkin KC
Review by Daniel Barnett
Chair of the Bar reports back
