Kent Law Clinic at the University is providing the local community with an opportunity to learn more about family court proceedings at an event on Wednesday 1 November.
Taking place from 18.00 to 19.30 in the courtroom of the Clinic’s Wigoder Law Building on the University’s Canterbury campus, the free event will involve local barristers, judges and representatives from the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass) alongside members of the Kent Law Clinic.
The family court event offers anyone expecting to go to court the opportunity to experience what it feels like and help to explain what is likely to happen at a family hearing.
Law Clinic solicitor and event organiser Philippa Bruce says this should help give people who may be worried about their case, or beginning court proceedings, an insight into how the family court works to help them prepare for the experience.
A previous client said going through the family courts can be a terrifying prospect especially if unable to afford legal representation.
However, she said events like the family court day helps remove the ‘mystery’ from the proceedings and that seeing judges, barristers and social workers as ‘real people’ makes the experience less daunting.
Individual legal advice on specific cases is not available but the event aims to address a broad spectrum of questions ranging from when to arrive at court and where to sit, to how to prepare, organise and present a case.