New practice guide: Supporting children and young people with communication needs – Family Law

‘Communication difficulties are a core characteristic for people with a learning disability. A new four-part practice guide aims to enable decision-making by children and young people with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN).

The practice guide offers guidance, tips and practice pointers for practitioners to involve a child or young person with SLCN in making decisions about their lives. The primary focus is to ensure the voices of children and young people with SLCN are heard.’

Full guide

Full Story

Family Law, 8th July 2024

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

A delicate balance – Local Government Lawyer

‘When is it in the best interests of an adult without capacity to be separated from her mother and covertly administered medication? A recent decision at the Court of Protection provides some guidance.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 5th July 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Lucy Letby handed 15th whole-life jail sentence – The Guardian

‘Lucy Letby cried from the dock: “I’m innocent,” as she was jailed for attempting to kill a newborn girl in a “shocking act of calculated, callous cruelty”.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 5th July 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Woman admits murdering her parents – BBC News

Posted July 5th, 2024 in families, guilty pleas, murder, news by michael

‘A woman has admitted murdering her parents after their bodies were discovered at the family home.’

Full Story

BBC News, 4th July 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Thousands of children “fallen victim” to record backlogs in family courts, Law Society President warns – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Law Society President, Nick Emmerson, has called on the next government to protect children “trapped” in a family court crisis due to record backlogs.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 2nd July 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

CPS Statement: Decision not to charge in relation to fatal collision at The Study Prep School, Wimbledon – Crown Prosecution Service

‘CPS Statement: Decision not to charge in relation to fatal collision at The Study Prep School, Wimbledon.’

Full Story

Crown Prosecution Service, 26th June 2024

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Controversial Suspected Inflicted Head Injuries pilot launched: Lawyers raise concern about lack of consultation and potential unfairness – Transparency Project

‘When a child suffers a head injury which medical professionals suspect may be inflicted, safeguarding processes are triggered, often leading to care proceedings and the removal of the child from the care of their parents, usuall y for many months and sometimes forever.’

Full Story

Transparency Project, 27th June 2024

Source: transparencyproject.org.uk

Tribunal “erred in law” by failing to recognise young person lacked capacity to litigate and failing to appoint his mother as alternative person – Local Government Lawyer

‘An Upper Tribunal judge has ruled that the First-tier Tribunal “erred in law” by failing to recognise that a young person lacked capacity to litigate and consequently his mother should have been appointed as his alternative person.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 28th June 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

High Court allows 15-year-old to change name despite opposition from local authority – Local Government Lawyer

Posted June 28th, 2024 in care orders, children, families, family courts, local government, names, news by sally

‘A High Court judge has allowed an application made by a 15 year old girl to change her forename and surname, despite the application being opposed by the girl’s mother and the local authority.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 27th June 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Constance Marten and Mark Gordon found guilty of two charges – The Guardian

‘Constance Marten and her partner, Mark Gordon, have been found guilty of concealing the birth of a child and perverting the course of justice after the body of their baby daughter was found following a high-profile search, it can now be reported.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 26th June 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

The tricky task of making a Child Arrangements Order: directive or undefined? (and how to seek clarification from the judge?) – Transparency Project

Posted June 27th, 2024 in child arrangements orders, families, holidays, news by sally

‘This appeal case sheds light on the “bread and butter” work of private children law proceedings. The court and the lawyers are tasked with trying to negotiate, determine and then capture in writing the child arrangements between two parents who cannot, or will not, work together. Emotions are high and every detail feels high stakes.’

Full Story

Transparency Project, 26th June 2024

Source: transparencyproject.org.uk

Court of Appeal hands down ruling on use of medical research literature in care proceedings – Local Government Lawyer

Posted June 27th, 2024 in causation, children, evidence, families, news, personal injuries by sally

‘The Court of Appeal has allowed appeals brought by a mother and a father against findings made by a judge that their infant son sustained an injury through an acceleration/deceleration event – attributable to “a lack of reasonable parental care”.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 26th June 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Court of Appeal finds Family Division judge failed to adhere to “fundamental principle” of justice being seen to be done – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Court of Appeal has criticised a judge for her “blatantly unfair conduct”, finding that an interchange with a father demonstrated a “complete failure of proper judicial process”.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 25th June 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Different treatment for other boroughs – discriminatory policy – Nearly Legal

‘AK, R (On the Application Of) v Westminster City Council (2024) EWHC 769 (Admin). This was a judicial review of Westminster’s Allocation policy as it applied to ‘reciprocal transfers’ between another borough and Westminster.’

Full Story

Nearly Legal, 23rd June 2024

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

FRJ – AT v BT: The Return of Compensation – Financial Remedies Journal

‘In AT v BT [2023] EWHC 3531 Francis J considered what he described (at [4]) as “the proper approach of the court to the sharing principle and to the principle of compensation” given that “the husband maintains that this is a pure needs case and the wife asserts that this is a full sharing case”. This led H to offer a lump sum of £3.545m and W to seek a lump sum of £9.145m (with W to retain a property with an agreed value of £195,000 (£190,000 net of notional costs of sale)).’

Full Story

Financial Remedies Journal, 20th June 2024

Source: financialremediesjournal.com

MoD failed soldier killed in training, family say – BBC News

Posted June 24th, 2024 in armed forces, bereavement, families, government departments, inquests, news by tracey

‘The Ministry of Defence failed a soldier killed in a crash during a training exercise, his family have said.’

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BBC News, 22nd June 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Stephen Lawrence detectives will not face charges – BBC News

‘Four retired detectives who ran the first Stephen Lawrence murder investigation should not face criminal charges for their actions in the case, a review has concluded.’

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BBC News, 18th June 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

AI in the family justice system: report published by Nuffield Family Justice Observatory – Family Law

Posted June 17th, 2024 in artificial intelligence, families, family courts, news by tracey

‘The Nuffield Family Justice Observatory has published a briefing paper to prompt discussion and reflection about how artificial intelligence (AI) could potentially improve experiences for families and professionals using or involved with the family justice system. It also outlines the challenges and risks involved, and the governance required for safe usage.’

Full briefing paper

Full Story

Family Law, 11th June 2024

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

A Brilliantly Logical Approach to Dealing with Pensions – Financial Remedies Journal

‘SP v AL [2024] EWFC 72(B). In this judgment, His Honour Judge Hess sets an example of how, by following a logical thought process, seemingly complex pensions can be reduced to a very straightforward outcome.’

Full Story

Financial Remedies Journal, 13th June 2024

Source: financialremediesjournal.com

Stephen Lawrence: Met’s decision to stop looking for killers to be reviewed – The Guardian

Posted June 17th, 2024 in bereavement, families, murder, news, police by tracey

‘The Met police’s decision to shut down the hunt for the racist killers of Stephen Lawrence is to be reviewed, with police admitting “serious mistakes” are still being made in the case, the Guardian has learned.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 16th June 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com