This session took place on Wednesday 4th December 2024

Presenter: Stuart Barlow, Bhatia Best Solicitors

Finding of Fact hearings in private children cases have been a source of much debate in recent times. The Court of Appeal has given guidance on matters relevant to the court process. Following the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 Qualified Legal Representatives (QLR) are being increasingly appointed in finding fact hearings. This presentation will review the current law and procedure as well as recent case law including Re H-N and Others (Children) Domestic Abuse:Findings of Fact Hearings)[2021] EWCA Civ 448

It will cover:

1. Conducting a Finding of Fact hearing;
2. Reviewing the importance of Practice Direction 12J;
3. Restrictions on cross examination;
4. The appointment and role of Qualified Legal Representatives (QLR)
5. Recent procedure and case law

About Stuart Barlow

Stuart Barlow is a solicitor and has over 40 years’ experience in Family Law and Court litigation. He conducts most of his own advocacy and has dealt with many cases involving litigants in person. He is a member of the Law Society Children Panel and an Accredited Specialist in Private Children and Cohabitation with Resolution. Until January 2016 he was Chief Assessor of the Law Society Family Law Panel and an Adjudicator for the Legal Aid Agency. Stuart is also a former external examiner of the Nottingham Law School.

He is the author of Rights of Grandparents in Children Proceedings, A Practical Guide to Working with Litigants in Person and McKenzie Friends in Family Cases, A Practical Guide to Working with Litigant in Person & McKenzie Friends in Civil Proceedings and A Practical Guide to Advocacy in Family Proceedings all published by Law Brief Publishing.  He presents training courses for family lawyers throughout England and Wales