Public Children Law

Alexander Laing, Bianca Jackson

"Public children law is at the sharp end of our legal system, where some of the most difficult social and legal issues are considered. As the vehicle through which the State seeks to safeguard the most vulnerable of children, it interferes profoundly with the lives of individuals and families across England and Wales. Yet it must protect the rights of all individuals involved in the process. Its scope must contemplate the most needy - from those with physical, mental and learning disabilities to those suffering from addiction - and therefore its apparatus is complex and often misunderstood. Legal practitioners, social care professionals, children's guardians and members of the judiciary are pressed by circumstances to deal with these most difficult and unpredictable cases as a matter of urgency. For that reason, maintaining good practice can be a constant challenge. The proliferation...