More than half of all people involved in children’s cases have no legal representation, according to new figures from the Ministry of Justice.
The statistics, released under a Freedom of Information request made by Marc Lopatin of Lawyer Supported Mediation, show that 52 per cent of people involved in cases concerning children between November and December of last year went to court without the help of a solicitor or barrister.
In November, 4,174 people were unrepresented, compared to 3,941 with solicitors. In December, both numbers dropped but represented clients remained the minority –3,481, compared to 3,840 without legal help.
The number of unrepresented ‘litigants in person’ also increased across the eight months to December last year, reaching 34,249, from 25,656 in same period last year.
Whether a factor of the system, the costs or the sheer bloody mindedness of those contesting, unfortunately some parents are left with no option once the money runs out. I know of a number of parents who’ve spent £50k+ and the battles continue unabated. There comes a point when there’s nothing left in the pot, but the principles…
[…] the increase in ‘litigants in person’. Earlier this year, it was reported that 52 per cent of people attending children’s cases had no legal representation between November and December last […]