Instructing experts in the family courts

Training Provider: The Law Society

Additional Info: http://www.lawsociety.org.uk/productsandservices/specialinterest/familysection.page

Free to Family and Advocacy Section members. This webinar forms part of the Law Society Section’s annual webinar programme. These webinars, which cover a range of relevant topics and which are conducted by acknowledged experts in their fields, are free to Family and Advocacy Section members. For further information about the Family Section visit: http://www.lawsociety.org.uk/productsandservices/specialinterest/familysection.page

The Justice Minister has stated that the Government is to announce early changes to court rules on the use of expert witnesses in family proceedings with the aim of cutting delays and costs. The changes are designed to ensure that expert witness reports are only used where necessary to determine a case. The minimum standards required of witnesses are being reviewed as is whether meeting these standards should be a requirement for public funding.

This timely webinar will provide practical guidance on:

• When can and should an expert be instructed in family proceedings?
• Who should fund these assessments and who should take the lead in such instructions?
• How and when to draft letters of instruction to experts in children cases
• Key procedural changes
• What preparatory work will be necessary and at what stage in proceedings should this be conducted?
• What will the minimum standards for expert witnesses likely to be?
• What may happen if instructions to an expert are delayed through the fault of one party/lawyer leading to a delay in the case?
• What powers does the court have regarding an expert who is late without reasonable explanation ?
• What will be required of legal representatives in terms in communications with potential experts, what feedback should be given?

Speakers:
Denise Lester is a solicitor, partner and family law specialist at the Central London Firm of Moss Beachley Mullem & Coleman. She practices in most aspects of family law. She is the chair of the Law Society’s Children Law Sub-Committee.

Jerry Bull is the managing partner at Atkins Hope Solicitors. Jerry's specialist expertise lies in acting for children, parents, guardians, grandparents and other relatives and for local authorities in child-related cases and disputes. He has 25 years as a solicitor and a background originating in local authority work which has given him a good understanding of the processes surrounding the care system. He also has Higher Rights of Audience in civil matters.

The webinar takes the form of a live audio event accompanied by slides during which you will have the opportunity to ask questions. Following the event you will be able to revisit a recorded version.

The audio webinar will take place at 28th June 2013 at 1 pm and is scheduled to last one hour. To ensure your participation in this webinar, you will need to have registered your place by 5pm on 27th June 2013. An email reminder and joining instructions will be issued to the email address you registered with one week and one day prior to the event.

If you would like to check that your system can operate the webinar system please ensure that the sound on your computer is on and click the following link:
http://www.brighttalk.com/pages/customer-support/test-your-system

Prerequisites

The price for this webinar is based upon a single viewer. Discounts are available on bulk bookings. For further details on these please contact Priya Shah at priya.shah@lawsociety.org.uk

Speakers

Denise Lester is a Solicitor, Partner, Moss Beachley Mullem & Coleman and Jerry Bull, Managing Parter at Atkins Hope Solicitors