Family Law

Bristol-based St John's Chambers have been successful in their application to be one of the first 'Host Chambers' for the Justice First Fellowship.

The Legal Education Foundation set up the Justice First Fellowship in 2014 to support the next generation of lawyers who want to do publicly funded work and promote access to justice. So far, the Fellowship has funded 18 Fellows. Up until now these have all been trainee solicitors, but the Fellowship wants to extend the scheme to pupil barristers working in family law.

The successful Fellow will spend their first year working at the Bar Pro Bono Unit in London, or as a project worker in Bristol. The second year is a pupillage within St John's Chambers family practice group, concentrating on publicly funded work. At the end of this second year, the Fellow will be considered for tenancy in the same way as our regular pupils.

Applicants will be expected to be able to demonstrate a strong commitment to access to justice in the field of family law. The closing date for all applications, which are to be made through the Justice First Fellowship website, will be 4 May 2016. Interviews will take place in the coming months for the first Fellow, who will start at St John's Chambers in October 2017.

Judi Evans, head of the family law practice group at St John's Chambers, said:

'We are proud to be the first set of Chambers outside London to be selected for this ground-breaking scheme. The Justice First Fellow will be a great addition to our public family law team, as they will be bringing with them invaluable hands-on experience of case-work from having spend their first year as part of the programme working on the Bar Pro Bono Unit.'

For more information and details on how to apply, please visit: Justice First Fellowship.

---

See also: 'Adoption debate – this house supports non-consensual adoption?' HHJ Wildblood QC (designated family judge for Bristol, Weston, Gloucester and Bath) will chair a debate about non consensual adoption on 27 April at the Bristol Civil & Family Justice Centre from 4.30 pm - 6.30 pm.

More details are available on the family court info website.