Family analysis: A pilot Practice Direction 36J comes into force on 1 October 2018 to allow certain lawyers to attend family proceedings in the Family Court and Family Division of the High Court with a view to reporting on proceedings. These persons are colloquially described as ‘legal bloggers’. The pilot will run for nine months and concludes on 30 June 2019.
Practice Direction 36J
What is the purposes of the pilot scheme?
Family Procedure Rules 2010 (FPR 2010), SI 2010/2955, 36.2 sets up the pilot scheme. The pilot scheme applies in relation to any proceedings to which FPR 2010, SI 2010/2955, 27.11 (attendance at private hearings) applies.
The purpose of the pilot scheme is to assess the use of new practices and procedures to allow for attendance at hearings in private by certain lawyers with a view to their being able to report on proceedings (as legal bloggers), in addition to duly accredited representatives of news gathering and reporting organisations.