A Practical Guide to Representing Parents in Care Proceedings

This book will provide practitioners working with parents and carers who are parties to care proceedings with a toolkit to deal with some of the key issues that may arise within a case.

In addition to setting out the current law and practice in an accessible format, practical suggestions are given about working with vulnerable parents and carers.

The book will consider some contemporary issues in public law children proceedings as well as how best to present cases for parents and carers.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Alison Leivesley is a solicitor, partner and head of the family department at Bindmans LLP. She is a Resolution Accredited Specialist in children law public, children law private, domestic abuse, forced marriage and 'honour' based violence. She acts for parents and carers in public law children proceedings with a specialism in cases with international elements and those involving forced marriage, so called 'honour' based violence and female genital mutilation. She is ranked as a star individual in Chambers and Partners Family/Children Law: Public Law Matters and ranked for Family/Children Law: Cross-Border Disputes. She is listed as a Leading Individual in the Legal 500. Alison was the winner of the Family Lawyer of the Year at the British Family Law Awards in 2024. She was Highly Commended at the Lexis Nexis 2023 Family Law Awards in the Partner of the Year category and was Female Trail Blazer of the Year at the 2024 Modern Law Awards.

CONTENTS

Chapter One - Threshold

Chapter Two - Criminal Investigations / Proceedings

Chapter Three - Expert Assessments

Chapter Four - Parents With Specific Needs

Chapter Five - Cases With International Elements

Chapter Six - Final Orders

Chapter Seven - Contact

Chapter Eight - Current Issues

Chapter Nine - Transparency

Chapter Ten - Working With Clients