Family Lore Podcasts

Family LoreCast #38, 24th March 2011

2011-03-24T11:28:00.003Z

This week Natasha and I discuss the cases Re A (a child) and N v F, Lord Neuberger's speech on open justice and the recent parliamentary debate on 'hyper-injunctions'.

Click below to listen to the LoreCast.

Family LoreCast #37, 10th March 2011

2011-03-10T10:45:00.003Z

After a break, Natasha and I return for our 37th LoreCast. Stories discussed this week include:

Click below to listen to the LoreCast.

Family LoreCast #36, 17th February 2011

2011-02-17T11:35:00.004Z

In this week's LoreCast I discuss the Practice Directions supplemental to the new Family Procedure Rules and the cases of C (A Child) and O (Children), and Natasha explains what happened at the meeting of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Family Law and The Court of Protection this week, which explored the issue of shared parenting.

Click below to listen to the LoreCast.

Family LoreCast #35, 10th February 2011

2011-02-10T10:50:00.004Z

In this week's LoreCast Natasha and I try a slightly different format, with each of us discussing items that we have found particularly interesting. Topics covered are the cases of Jones v Jones and Richardson v Richardson, a study published on how local authorities work with domestically abusive fathers and the next meeting of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Family Law and The Court of Protection, which 'will explore the different interpretations of shared parenting as a legal and practical notion'.

Click below to listen to the LoreCast.

Family LoreCast #34, 3rd February 2011

2011-02-03T11:00:00.004Z

In this week's LoreCast Natasha and I discuss the second report of the Munro Review, the case of CW & Ors v TW and Sir Nicholas Wall's call for cohabitees' property rights.

Click below to listen to the LoreCast.

Family LoreCast #33, 27th January 2011

2011-01-27T10:47:00.003Z

In a slightly shorter than usual LoreCast this week, Natasha and I discuss the case where a surrogate mother who changed her mind was allowed to keep the baby and the Law Society's warning regarding the rise in litigants in person if the government presses ahead with legal aid reforms.

Click below to listen to the LoreCast.

Family LoreCast #32, 20th January 2011

2011-01-20T11:01:00.004Z

This week Natasha and I discuss the Law Society's warning of the possible risks of using cheap online divorce sites, Resolution launching a new online directory of IFAs with divorce accreditation and the BBC's forthcoming series Justice - A Citizen's Guide.

Click below to listen to the LoreCast.

Family LoreCast #31, 13th January 2011

2011-01-13T11:16:00.004Z

This week Natasha and I discuss the Law Commission's consultation paper on pre-nuptial agreements, the launch of the Justice for All campaign and the government's proposed child support reforms.

Click below to listen to the LoreCast.

Family LoreCast #30, 6th January 2011

2011-01-06T10:37:00.002Z

In our first LoreCast of the new year Natasha and I look back on the big family law stories and cases of 2010, and look forward to the stories that will be making the headlines in 2011.

Click below to listen to the LoreCast.

Family LoreCast #29, 16th December 2010

2010-12-16T10:50:00.003Z

In our last LoreCast of the year Natasha and I discuss Baroness Deech's question on legal aid cuts in the House of Lords, David Cameron's speech on families and relationships, the sharp rise in the number of women killed by violent partners and an Oxford solicitors firm's promotion offering half-price divorces.

Click below to listen to the LoreCast.

Family LoreCast #28, 9th December 2010

2010-12-09T11:11:00.006Z

This week Natasha and I discuss whether mediation will replace solicitors in divorce proceedings, the drop in the proportion of married residents in England and Wales, the recent study that found that one in two children will see parents split by the age of 16 and the case Re Jane (A Child). Natasha also explains what happened at the second meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Family Law and the Court of Protection.

Click below to listen to the LoreCast.

Family LoreCast #27, 2nd December 2010

2010-12-02T10:54:00.004Z

This week Natasha and I discuss Mr Justice Coleridge's address to the ALC National Conference, the Euromillions lottery winner who is to pay his ex-wife £2 million, the straight couple who are to test civil partnership law, the case of H (A Child) and the case CMEC v Beesley.

Click below to listen to the LoreCast.

Family LoreCast #26, 25th November 2010

2010-11-25T10:46:00.004Z

This week Natasha and I discuss the Law Society's campaign to fight legal aid cuts, the Court of Appeal ordering the naming of a couple in big money ancillary relief proceedings and the introduction of domestic violence protection orders. Natasha also mentions the next meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Family Law and the Court of Protection.

Click below to listen to the LoreCast.

Family LoreCast #25, 18th November 2010

2010-11-18T12:30:00.004Z

This week Natasha and I discuss the following family law news items: the government's proposed legal aid reforms; LB Richmond v B & W & B & CB, in which the High Court considered the use of hair testing as evidence of alcohol consumption; Hong Kong’s Supreme Court upholds principle of equal division on divorce; and the case of W (A Minor).

Click below to listen to the LoreCast.

Family LoreCast #24, 11th November 2010

2010-11-11T10:46:00.003Z

Natasha and I discuss the following family law news items from the last week: BASW rejects Loughton's comments on inter-racial adoption; Children and families charities call on Minister for protection against cuts; Family court service Cafcass criticised by MPs; the Court of Appeal cases of Re L-W (Children) and Kingdon v Kingdon; and Oil millionaire's ex-wife seeks higher divorce settlement.

Click below to listen to the LoreCast.

Family LoreCast #23, 4th November 2010

2010-11-04T11:37:00.003Z

After another short break, Natasha and I return to discuss Lord Judge's call to reform the family justice system and the opening event of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Family Law and the Court of Protection, which was a debate on the future of ancillary relief.

Click below to listen to the LoreCast.

Family LoreCast #22, 14th October 2010

2010-10-14T10:38:00.003+01:00

In a change to our usual formula, this week Natasha and I do not discuss the week's news items. Instead, we talk about the future of family law, in particular no-fault divorce, the presumption of shared parenting, compulsory mediation and legal aid.

Click below to listen to the LoreCast.

Family LoreCast #21, 7th October 2010

2010-10-07T10:49:00.004+01:00

This week Natasha and I discuss the first instalment of Professor Eileen Munro's review of children's social services in England, the High Court's decision that the LSC’s family law legal aid tender exercise is illegal and the Government's decision to axe child benefit for higher-rate taxpayers from 2013.

Click below to listen to the LoreCast.

Family LoreCast #20, 30th September 2010

2010-09-30T10:56:00.004+01:00

This week Natasha and I discuss the 'bonfire of the quangos', which will see the end of the HFEA and the LSC, and could also see the end of CMEC, Cafcass and even the UK Supreme Court. We also discuss the surge in judges ordering parenting classes.

Click below to listen to the LoreCast.

Family LoreCast #19, 23rd September 2010

2010-09-23T11:10:00.004+01:00

This week Natasha and I discuss the speech Is the Family Justice System in need of review?, given by the President of the Family Division Sir Nicholas Wall to the shared parenting charity Families Need Fathers on the 19th September. Topics covered include shared residence, compulsory assessment for mediation in private law children matters, the future of legal aid and McKenzie friends.

Click below to listen to the LoreCast.

LoreCast #18, 16th September 2010

2010-09-16T10:58:00.003+01:00

This week Natasha and I discuss:

* Cafcass and the continued rise in the number of care applications (story here);

* The Guidance issued by Mrs Justice Hogg for use in cases of stranded spouses (story here); and

* The question of whether the court can make a contact order without making a residence order (story here).

Click below to listen to the LoreCast.

Lorecast #17, 9th September 2010

2010-09-09T10:52:00.008+01:00

After a long summer vacation Natasha Phillips and I return with our weekly discussion about topical family law matters.

This week we discuss:

* The conflict between Indian ministries regarding the ratification of the Hague Convention (story here).

* The recent report that found that 40% of victims of domestic violence are males (story here).

* The latest news regarding the family legal aid contracts tender (story here).

* The implementation of no fault divorce in New York (story here).

Click below to listen to the LoreCast.

LoreCast #16, 8th July 2010

2010-07-08T10:53:00.003+01:00

This week Natasha and I discuss Lord Justice Munby's Hershman-Levy Memorial Lecture on 'Lost Opportunities: Law and Transparency in the Family Courts', in which he called for further opening up of the family courts. We also discuss the Family Justice Review's 'call for evidence', and we end with a couple of appropriate quotations.

Click below to listen to the LoreCast.

LoreCast #15, 1st July 2010

2010-07-01T10:46:00.004+01:00

This week Natasha and I discuss the case S (A child), the proposed closure of 157 courts and the latest quarterly court statistics. Natasha finishes with a story that suggests that the rights of the child may have gone a little too far...

Click below to listen to the LoreCast.

LoreCast #14, 24th June 2010

2010-06-24T11:16:00.004+01:00

This week Natasha and I discuss the recent cases Re AR (A Child: Relocation) and T v B, which involved a lesbian couple, where the mother sought maintenance for their child from her former partner. As usual, Natasha finishes with a quotation...

Click below to listen to the LoreCast.

LoreCast #13, 10th June 2010

2010-06-10T14:49:00.004+01:00

This week Natasha and I discuss the adoption case Oxfordshire County Council v X, Y & J, along with the agreement between 14 EU states that will allow couples of different European nationalities to choose which nation's divorce laws will apply to them. Natasha finishes with a quotation...

Click below to listen to the LoreCast.

LoreCast #12, 4th June 2010

2010-06-04T15:28:00.008+01:00

Following the half-term break Natasha and I return to discuss the President's Guidance in relation to split hearings and the case of Kernott v Jones. This time I end with an appropriate quotation...

Click below to listen to the LoreCast.

LoreCast #11, 21st May 2010

2010-05-22T08:56:00.002+01:00

After a short hiatus due to the election and certain technical problems, Natasha and I return to discuss the case of JKN v JCN and Lord Justice Thorpe's comments in the case of C (Children).

Click below to listen to the LoreCast.

LoreCast #10, 29th April 2010

2010-04-29T17:46:00.002+01:00

This week Natasha and I discuss the judgment in the Sharon Shoesmith case and the latest in the Young divorce saga. In the usual light-hearted finish, I detail a cunning scheme for divorce lawyers to drum up new business.

Click below to listen to the LoreCast.

LoreCast #9, 23rd April 2010

2010-04-23T07:10:00.003+01:00

After the Easter hiatus, Natasha and I return with our ninth Lorecast, in which we discuss the case of Re W (Children), in which the court sought the views of a six-year-old child, a study that indicates that marriage has no bearing on children's outcomes and the tricky problem of dealing with pets on divorce.

Click below to listen to the LoreCast.

LoreCast #8, 25th March 2010

2010-03-25T15:20:00.006Z

In a shorter than usual LoreCast this week, Natasha and I discuss two topics: firstly pre-nuptial agreements and the Radmacher v Granatino case, which was heard by the Supreme Court this week, and secondly the interesting case of Hewett v First Plus Financial Group Plc, in which the Court of Appeal gave its judgment this week. At the end Natasha relates a story which demonstrates the ends that men will go to to find embarrassing ways to propose marriage...

Click below to listen to the LoreCast.

LoreCast #7, 18th March 2010

2010-03-18T15:09:00.007Z

This week Natasha and I discuss the case of the boy who has threatened to go on hunger strike if he is made to live with his father, Baroness Deech's latest lecture, the survey commissioned by Resolution into attitudes towards divorce and relationship breakdown, and Mr Justice Moylan's speech at the Resolution annual conference, in which he reviewed ten years of the Human Rights Act. We end with a light-hearted look at relationships.

Click below to listen to the LoreCast.

LoreCast #6, 11th March 2010

2010-03-11T14:41:00.004Z

This week Natasha and I discuss three topics: the Supreme Court decision in Agbaje v Akinnoye-Agbaje, the LGA warnings regarding the effects of implementing the recommendations of the Laming Report and Jack Straw's challenge to the recommendation that Sir Nicholas Wall be the next President of the Family Division. At the end, we each tell a 'relationship joke', with Natasha's being somewhat naughty...

Click below to listen to the LoreCast.

LoreCast #5, 4th March 2010

2010-03-04T15:02:00.005Z

This week Natasha and I discuss various topics, including the possibility of an inquisitorial family justice system, the Centre for Social Justice Green Paper on the Family, the case of Re W and the case of Vaughan v Vaughan. Oh, and at the end we have what may possibly be a first for a divorce lawyer...

Click below to listen to the LoreCast.

LoreCast #4, 26th February 2010

2010-02-26T06:30:00.004Z

This week the topics that Natasha and I discuss include the mounting opposition to the proposals to further open up the family courts to the media, a report comparing cohabitation with marriage, the claim by Iain Duncan Smith that broken home 'damage infant brains', and the continuing problems with the child maintenance IT system.

Click below to listen to the LoreCast.

LoreCast #3, 18th February 2010

2010-02-18T12:41:00.007Z

This week Natasha and I discuss the advertisement campaign to tackle teenage domestic violence, the case of Doctor A & Ors v Ward & Anor and the issue of professional anonymity, NAPO's criticisms of Cafcass and the recent increase in the number of family disputes. We also have a bit of fun at the end of the podcast...

Click below to listen to the LoreCast.

LoreCast #2, 12th February 2010

2010-02-12T14:59:00.006Z

This week Natasha and I discuss various topical family law matters, including delays in the family courts, draft guidance to the forthcoming Private Law Practice Direction, possible review of Payne v Payne and Baroness Deech's proposal that grandparents be remunerated for the free childcare that they provide. Oh, and there is a little surprise in store for me at the end...

Click below to listen to the LoreCast.

LoreCast #1

2010-02-05T10:12:00.009Z

Today Natasha Phillips (of Divorce Manual and Researching Reform) and I begin a new project: LoreCast, a weekly series of podcasts discussing family law news. This week's topics include the Families and Relationships Green Paper, the divorce rate drop, children and media access to the courts, forced marriage concerns and the recent case of Re S. Click below to listen to the LoreCast.

Podcast Interview #11: Judith Middleton, Judith's Divorce Blog

2009-10-01T13:19:00.015+01:00

Today I had the very great pleasure of speaking with Judith Middleton (left), author of Judith's Divorce Blog. Judith is a Partner at Latimer Hinks Solicitors in Darlington, where she specialises in family law. Amongst other things, we talk about blogging, her work, current issues in family law and sailing in the English Channel in a force 8 gale! My thanks to Judith for taking time out of a very busy schedule to take part in the podcast.

Podcast Interview #10: Sam Hasler - An American Perspective

2009-08-21T19:37:00.004+01:00

Today I am speaking to Sam Hasler, a US attorney and sole practitioner based in Anderson, Indiana, USA, where his areas of practice include business litigation and family law. He is the author of Sam Hasler's Indiana and Family Law Blog. We talk in detail about the US system of family law, with particular reference to Indiana, discussing the differences from (and similarities with) the system in England and Wales. We also talk about the effect of the recession, and why Sam got into blogging.

Podcast Interview #9: Avi Lasarow, Trimega Laboratories

2009-08-04T12:01:00.006+01:00

I speak to Avi Lasarow of Trimega Laboratories about the drug and alcohol misuse testing that the company provides. In particular, we talk about hair drug and alcohol testing, and its use in public and private law children proceedings. Avi says that such tests have become the 'gold standard', and explains the reasons for this.

Podcast Interview #8: Marilyn Stowe, Stowe Family Law

2009-07-31T16:48:00.001+01:00

Today I am speaking to Marilyn Stowe, senior partner in Stowe Family Law and one of Britain’s best known divorce lawyers. Apart from being one of the most sought after divorce lawyers in the country, Marilyn has written two books, regularly writes articles for national newspapers and magazines, appears frequently on television and radio, and is the author of the Marilyn Stowe Blog. Topics covered include reforms to the family justice system, the recent cases of McFarlane and Radmacher and Mr Justice Coleridge's views on family breakdown.

Podcast Interview #7: Nick Langford, ex-Fathers-4-Justice

2009-07-31T16:46:00.002+01:00

Today I am speaking to Nick Langford, former Political & Research Co-Ordinator for the fathers’ rights group, Fathers 4 Justice, until it disbanded recently, and not to be confused with Nicholas Longford, new chair of Resolution. We speak about what Fathers 4 Justice stood for, the group's (and his) views on the family justice system, opening up the system, divorce reform and reconstructing iron age roundhouses (see picture!), among other things. My thanks to Nick for taking part.

Podcast Interview #6: Mark Keenan, Divorce Online

2009-07-31T16:43:00.004+01:00

Today I am speaking to Mark Keenan, founder and Managing Director of Divorce Online, the first online divorce service in Europe. Mark founded Divorce Online in 1999, and it has since grown into the largest single provider of divorce services in the country. We talk about how he set up the company, how it does its business and the future of provision of family law services, amongst other things.

Podcast Interview #5: Natasha Phillips, Divorce Manual

2009-07-31T16:42:00.001+01:00

Today I am speaking to Natasha Phillips, author of the Divorce Manual blog. Natasha is not a practising lawyer but does have a legal background which, she says, gave her a ‘slightly unusual insight’ into the divorce process, when she went through it herself. Her blog has been described by The Times as “packed with resources for families going through the Family Courts in the UK.” We talk about how she became interested in family law, her blog, her work to improve the family justice system and other things, including a remote controlled arachnid!

Podcast Interview #4: Rosemary Slessor

2009-07-31T16:41:00.001+01:00

Today I am speaking to Rosemary Slessor, better known in the blawging community as 'Fiona', author of the Divorce Survivor blog which is, to my knowledge, still the only Scottish family law blog. Fiona is not, in fact, a lawyer. However, she writes on the subject of family law with as much authority as many a family lawyer, and has been blogging now for over a year. We talk about everything from divorce in Scotland, in particular the differences between the Scottish and English systems, to 'Munro bagging' - you'll have to listen to the podcast to find out what that is! My thanks to Rosemary for taking the time to do what I hope you will find a very interesting podcast.

Podcast Interview #3: Jacqui Gilliatt

2009-07-31T16:40:00.002+01:00

For my third podcast interview I talk to Jacqui Gilliatt. Jacqui is a barrister at 4 Brick Court, a leading set of Chambers in family law, she has written articles on family law matters, she is the author of the Bloody Relations blog and she is the General Editor of the Family Law Week Blog. We talk about Jacqui's work at the Bar, supervising pupils, blogging and some of the big issues in family law today, amongst other things.

Podcast Interview #2: Lucy Reed

2009-07-31T16:37:00.005+01:00

In my second podcast interview and the first of what I hope will be many podcast interviews with people with something to say about the family justice system I talk to Lucy Reed, barrister and author of the Pink Tape blog. We talk about a number of things, including the role and work of barristers in family law, some of the big issues in family law at the moment and what it's like mixing motherhood with a career at the bar.

Podcast Interview #1: Charon QC

2009-07-31T16:33:00.002+01:00

Today I embark upon a new career as a podcast interviewer, and who more appropriate to talk to for my first podcast interview than Charon QC, probably the most prolific podcaster in the UK legal blogosphere? We talk about many things, including podcasting, Twitter, blogging and, of course, drinking red wine. I hope you enjoy listening to the podcast as much as I enjoyed making it: