Fewer and fewer private law cases have both parties represented

New figures published by the Ministry of Justice show that both parties have legal representation in just 22% of private law children cases coming before the Family Court in the period October to December 2014.  The number of cases in which both parents are represented has been falling quarter on quarter since the end of 2013.

The current figure of 22% is 42% lower than the equivalent period in 2013.  In 29% of private law cases neither part had legal representation.

In the past it has been suggested that a lack of legal representation has increased the judicial workload and led to slower progress of private law cases through the Courts.

You can download the latest bulletin of Family Court statistics here.