Problems with Family Law

Because Celia is a barrister working with family law, I meet many barristers, solicitors, judges and others who work in the same field.

Looking from the outside, I have come to the conclusion that the real problem is not the laws, but the fact that the Government does not put enough money into this Cinderella part of the legal process. Courts have been closed, good social workers are leaving due to poor conditions and salaries, extensive form filling is now rife and legal aid rates have been reduced so that good legal practitioners have moved to more lucrative work.

Unless the Government increases funding and makes access to the Courts and legal processes easier, the situation will worsen as in the next few years, many dedicated legal personnel will retire and new law graduates are not showing any inclination to follow them, preferring such branches as tax, commercial and intellectual property rights!