Why did you write The Family Court Without A Lawyer?
“I had the idea for FCWAL in 2008 – even before legal aid was massively restricted in family cases I still came across people who had no lawyer and who were completely at sea. It was obvious that many of them would really benefit from some basic guidance about what the rules and expectations were in the family court, so they could have a reasonable chance of getting a good outcome. It was a much bigger project than I anticipated at the time, and since then both the book and the number of litigants in person have grown. It can’t explain everything, and it isn’t a substitute for legal advice but the feedback I get is that it is helpful and allows people to feel that they have some tools to try an deal with a really daunting process. Over time I’ve used that feedback to add new sections to the book where people have told me there was something they would have found useful.”
It can’t explain everything, and it isn’t a substitute for legal advice but the feedback I get is that it is helpful and allows people to feel that they have some tools to try an deal with a really daunting process.
Who should read this book?
As the title suggests, it’s an ideal resource for Litigants in Person (those attending court without a lawyer).
McKenzie Friends will find it useful too. Here at OnlyMums & OnlyDads we often suggest parents get hold of a copy before court action. It gives a flavour of what’s involved and just how complicated the whole process is for people.
When should I use this book?
Lucy describes it as a “manual”. It’s best used to prepare before the day of court itself. It will help you with the processes and understand the key issues that the court will be basing their decisions on.
What do others say about this book?
Bob Greig, Director of OnlyMums & OnlyDads has been familiar with this book since 2012 and says “We have to thank Lucy for her superb effort in preparing this manual. I wish I had had a copy myself years ago when I was going through court. We now have somewhere to direct dads (and it’s often dads) who come to us in the middle of Children Act proceedings not knowing where to turn or fully understanding of what’s going on.”
Hats off to Lucy – what an achievement!
Posted on March 19, 2018
