Jo Edwards comments on new Ministry of Justice statistics that highlight growing pressure on family courts

The new figures, released on 29 March 2018, relate to cases in the family courts in the fourth quarter of 2017 and show that, among various other statistics, 37% of private law cases involved unrepresented parties on both sides, the highest on record; and that there had been a 5% increase in the number of private law children cases (i.e. for a Child Arrangements Order, formerly ‘residence’ or ‘contact’).

Head of Family, Jo Edwards, commented on the statistics, raising concerns over the significant and growing pressure on the courts and called for an urgent impact assessment of the legal aid cuts made five years ago.

Jo was quoted in Family Law and New Law Journal.