The Public Law Outline and the Law Society

The Law Society has responded to consultations on the new Public Law Outline (PLO) to replace the Protocol for Judicial Case Management in Public Law Children Act Cases from April 2008 and also responded on revised statutory guidance for local authorities (Volume 1 Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations) to be issued in November 2007. The Society generally supports the Public Law Outline and as regards public funding hopes that the trigger point for the availability of 'Family Help Public' at Level 2 for parents will change. The final version of the revised statutory guidance is likely to say that local authorities should send a 'letter before action' to parents, recommending that they take legal advice and offer to meet with parents and solicitors to discuss the local authority's concerns.