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Introduction

Pauline qualified as a solicitor in 1989 and has practised exclusively in the field of family law ever since. During the course of her career as a solicitor, she has developed a particular expertise in the law relating to children, especially children and their families in the context of public law care and adoption proceedings. Her experience covers the full range of child protection cases including the most serious matters involving homicide within the family, sexual abuse, non-accidental injury, neglect, domestic violence, substance misuse and mental health difficulties. In 1996 Pauline was accredited by the Law Society as a member of the Children Panel authorised to represent parents and children in public law proceedings. Over the years, Pauline undertook increasing amounts of advocacy as a solicitor, and in 2007 was awarded Higher Rights of Audience by the Law Society and has now fully embraced this skill by transferring to the Bar and joining chambers in October 2011. Pauline is therefore a dual qualified practitioner in that she remains on the roll of solicitors but now practises as a barrister. Pauline has also completed the training to practice as a collaborative lawyer in 2007. In addition to her children’s work in the public law field, Pauline has considerable experience of the law arising from alternative family structures, especially in the gay community, and families created by surrogacy or donor insemination arrangements.

Accreditations

  • “Experienced Junior Counsel, recently drawn from the ranks of solicitors”

Selected cases

  • Re H (Paternity: Blood Test) [1996] 2 FLR 65
  • Re W (Discharge of Party to Proceedings) [1997] 1 FLR 128
  • Re C (Care: Consultation with Parent not in Child’s Best Interests) March [2006] Family Law 246
  • Re J (Child Giving Evidence) [2010] 2 FLR 1080
  • London Borough of Sutton v Gray and Butler [2012] EWHC 2604 (Fam)
  • CtL, CmL, TLP, ARP, MM and JB (Children) (Fact Finding: Protection From Sexual Harm), Re [2013] EWHC 2133 (Fam) (01 March 2013)
  • CtL and CmL (Children) (Welfare Hearing: Expert Report), Re [2013] EWHC 2134 (Fam) (21 June 2013)

Areas of Expertise


Professional memberships

  • Pauline is a member of the Association of Lawyers for Children (and is a former Treasurer of the Association) and a member of the Family Law Bar Association.

Education

  • 1983-86 University of Exeter Law Degree
  • 1987 College of Law Solicitors Finals Course

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Published: 19th Sep 2016

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