Summary: On this week's show, which you can listen to by clicking these very words, Ben and Kirstin talk their way through the so-called "revolution" in the family courts. It is something of an oddity that reforms that actually do very little in terms of changing the status quo and, instead, assume that lawyers have been doing it wrong for all of this time, should be heralded as a "revolution" by a political judge. Check out the government hype in the links below. Not content with having a pop at the President of the Family Division's self-congratulation, Ben finds the High Court utterly objectionable as it gives a litigant in person a raw deal and seems to object to justice being done. Knife crime guidelines get the sharp tongue of Kirstin as we celebrate another Court of Appeal decision that is a little lacking in purpose. In addition, we have a little look at the cost of getting judicial review wrong - or rather, not turning to the silver bullet that is ADR. Yes, you may be able to tell that we are feeling more than a little snarky this week. It might pass. It might not. Links: Law students in divorce courts and putting the children first. Sir James Munby’s Oscar Speech: http://flba.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/2014view11-2.doc.docx http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2610014/Law-students-drafted-help-resolve-divorce-cases-shake-family-justice-system.html http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/04/23/law-studentstrusted-counselling-divorcing-couples_n_5197804.html http://www.adjacentgovernment.co.uk/local-government-news/family-justice-reforms-put-childrens-need-first/ http://www.tayloremmet.co.uk/blogs/new-family-court/ THINK OF THE CHILDREN (or “How to use children to push a government austerity agenda" video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XA99gui758I https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/217343/family-justice-review-final-report.pdf Knife crime guidance. http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Crim/2014/747.html The cost of getting it wrong: http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Admin/2014/11l97.html Medical excuses and litigants in person getting steamrollered. http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Admin/2012/332.html
