Coram Chambers recently welcomed the legal team from Haringey Council for an enriching training day held in their conference rooms in Holborn, London. The event featured presentations by Coram barristers Katherine Duncan, Kyle Squire, and Jake Walker, focusing on essential topics in public law and practice.
The training session commenced with practical tips and tricks for drafting threshold documents, followed by a comprehensive public law update highlighting significant cases from the year thus far.
Kyle Squire provided insightful training on Deprivation of Liberty Orders, equipping attendees with crucial knowledge to navigate these complex legal areas.
Jake Walker delved into a critical discussion on Child Competence and Separate Representation in Public Law Children Proceedings. This session explored the legal position surrounding Family Procedure Rules (FPR) 16.3 and 16.29, while highlighting the ‘Sufficient Understanding’ test and its application in the court system. Attendees examined leading case law, including:
- Re S (A Minor) (Independent Representation) [1993] 2 W.L.R. 801, [1993] 2 FLR 437
- CS v SBH & Ors [2019] EWHC 634 (Fam)
- Re W (a child) (public law proceedings: child’s separate representation) [2016] EWCA Civ 1051
- Re C (Child: Ability to Instruct Solicitor) [2023] EWCA Civ 889
The discussions also addressed key considerations, such as the absence of a burden of proof, the limited role of welfare during proceedings, the importance of meetings with judges, and the utilisation of expert evidence. A particularly complex issue raised during the training involved parental alienation and its impact on determining whether a child possesses ‘sufficient understanding.’
Stephanie Williams, Principal Lawyer – Social Care at Haringey Council, expressed her appreciation for the training, stating, “We had a great time. A big thank you to the clerks that looked after us and Kyle, Jake, and Katherine for the training.”
This collaborative effort between Coram Chambers and Haringey Council demonstrates a commitment to enhancing legal knowledge and fostering best practices in public law proceedings, benefitting both legal professionals and the communities they serve.
