header-logo header-logo

Lamentable bad practice

06 August 2009 / Lucy Theis KC
Issue: 7381 / Categories: Opinion , Family
printer mail-detail

At a time of heightened public concern about issues concerning child protection, it is more important than ever, and clearly in the public interest, that those solicitors and barristers with expertise in representing the interests of vulnerable families and children are not driven away from undertaking this work.

At a time of heightened public concern about issues concerning child protection, it is more important than ever, and clearly in the public interest, that those solicitors and barristers with expertise in representing the interests of vulnerable families and children are not driven away from undertaking this work.

That is the risk being taken by the Legal Services Commission (LSC) and this government in driving through ill thought out family fee reforms.

On behalf of the many specialist family barristers I represent, I have made it clear that we do not seek more money; what we seek are two things:

(i) a properly graduated advocacy scheme that does not over-reward the less complex cases at the expense of the more complex cases—this will hopefully stem the

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Hugh James—Phil Edwards

Hugh James—Phil Edwards

Serious injury teambolstered by high-profile partner hire

Freeths—Melanie Stancliffe

Freeths—Melanie Stancliffe

Firm strengthens employment team with partner hire

DAC Beachcroft—Tim Barr

DAC Beachcroft—Tim Barr

Lawyers’ liability practice strengthened with partner appointment in London

NEWS
Ceri Morgan, knowledge counsel at Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP, analyses the Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Johnson v FirstRand Bank Ltd, which reshapes the law of fiduciary relationships and common law bribery
The boundaries of media access in family law are scrutinised by Nicholas Dobson in NLJ this week
Reflecting on personal experience, Professor Graham Zellick KC, Senior Master of the Bench and former Reader of the Middle Temple, questions the unchecked power of parliamentary privilege
Geoff Dover, managing director at Heirloom Fair Legal, sets out a blueprint for ethical litigation funding in the wake of high-profile law firm collapses
James Grice, head of innovation and AI at Lawfront, explores how artificial intelligence is transforming the legal sector
back-to-top-scroll