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Local Authority Team

The Local Authority Team is one of the largest teams within Chambers. By virtue of its composition and the experience of its members, we offer local authorities a comprehensive and expert service to meet all their needs.

 

All members of the team advise regularly on, and present, applications for care and supervision orders on behalf of local authorities. We recognise the value to our local authority clients of being available to cover hearings at the very outset of proceedings, including interim care hearings. We are able then to carry proceedings forward, ensuring consistency of representation whenever possible. We have a wealth of experience in conducting hearings of complexity in higher courts, and appeals in the High Court and Court of Appeal.

 

Members of Chambers have appeared on behalf of local authorities in a number of leading cases concerning issues such as:

 

  • interim care orders (Re G (Minors) (Interim Care Orders) [1993] 2 FLR 839)
  • discharge of care orders (Re S (Discharge of Care Order) [1995] 2 FLR 639)
  • secure accommodation (Re M (Secure Accommodation Order) [1995] 1 FLR 418) and (Re D (Secure Accommodation Order No. 1) [1997] 1 FLR 97)
    case management (Re C (Expert Evidence: Disclosure: Practice) [1995] 1 FLR 204)
  • contact and care (Re T (Termination of contact: discharge of order) [1997] 1 FLR 517)

 

We also advise and represent local authorities in other areas of the law, including adoption (freeing and removal from placements), education and judicial review. We are familiar with the procedures involved in public interest immunity in the Crown Court and conduct hearings (often in emergency situations) in relation to publicity and restraint of publicity. Members of the team have also advised and appeared on behalf of local authorities in appeals concerning child-minding and day care registration.

 

Chambers is conscious of the specific budgetary disciplines that local authorities must live with, and is committed to working with authorities to deliver 'Best Value' in legal services. We are committed to developing and agreeing service protocols with authorities that define mutual expectations and service standards. We will negotiate and agree scale rates with authorities.