Reforming Civil and Family Justice System Recommendations

The Civil and Family Justice Review presents key recommendations for reforming the justice system, including the establishment of a unified Family Court, emphasis on problem-solving courts, and promoting solutions outside the court system. Access to Justice Review II focuses on Family Justice Reform, highlighting areas such as family mediation, legal aid, and early resolution strategies to improve the family justice system. Additionally, the introduction of paperless courts and virtual reality courtrooms are proposed for modernizing the judiciary.

• Justice system
• Family Court
• Reform recommendations
• Access to Justice
• Legal aid

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1. Civil and Family Justice Review Paul Andrews Facing Family Difficulties - the Experience Legal Aid Board Annual Conference 22 September 2016

2. AGENDA A Tale of Two Reviews Access to Justice Review II Civil and Family Justice Review Access to Justice Review Key Family Recommendations Civil and Family Justice Review Key Recommendations The Iceland Deal Harmonising the Reviews

3. A Tale of Two Reviews Access to Justice Review II Launched in June 2014 Undertaken by Colin Stutt Reported in September 2015 Report available at https://www.justice- ni.gov.uk/consultations/report-access-justice-review Civil and Family Justice Review Commissioned by the Lord Chief Justice in September 2015 Led by Lord Justice Gillen Interim report on Family published in August 2016 Interim report available at http://www.jsbni.com/civilandfamilyjusticereview/Pages/default.aspx

4. Access to Justice Review II Family Justice section dealt with Family Justice Reform (10 recommendations) Public Law Proceedings - Different Worlds (1 recommendation) Family Mediation (10 recommendations) Family Legal Aid (18 recommendations) Major Recommendations Establishment of a unified Family Court Divorce to be admin not court based Financial penalties for non compliance with family court orders Examine Scottish model for public law children cases Strategy for funding family mediation Early Resolution Certificates to support early resolution & mediation Binding costs limits Legal aid as a loan

5. Civil and Family Justice Review Key Recommendations (1) Creation of a single family court, replacing the Family Proceedings Court & Family Care Centre, with the jurisdiction of the High Court preserved only for the most complex or legally sensitive cases. Creation of a Family Justice Board, replacing the Children s Order Advisory Committee, as a strategic level forum for driving improvements in the performance of the family justice system. Fresh culture of problem solving courts within the family justice system, bringing together civil and criminal matters, including a new drug and alcohol court and a domestic violence court. Fresh emphasis on solutions outside the court system, more accessible mediation & educative parenting programmes in private law cases.

6. Civil and Family Justice Review Key Recommendations (2) The introduction of paperless courts including a pilot electronic file management system. Greater use of virtual reality courts with video links/Skype/telephonic communication/paper applications and a move towards digital working. Online dispute resolution as an alternative to court in certain types of cases, such as divorce, on a pilot basis. In-depth case management of public law cases involving children with the introduction of a one stop shop concept and fast-tracking of cases involving contact disputes and non-accidental injury. An information hub with improved support for personal litigants and people with additional needs.

7. Civil and Family Justice Review Key Recommendations (3) Developing the voice of the child and extending the use of special measures and support for child and vulnerable witnesses to the family courts, with pilot schemes for the use of registered intermediaries and the NSPCC s Young Witness Service. A new emphasis on open justice within the system. Mandatory judicial training, mandatory accreditation of solicitors and barristers and a requirement for practitioners to keep abreast of developments in best practice, both within the UK and internationally.

8. The Iceland Deal How to Harmonise the Reviews Common ground Unified Family Court Ownership of Family Justice Family Justice Council Early resolution Focused certificates Cost control and sanctions Quality control accreditation and training Tackling Divorce