Law Society weighs in on Pathfinder family courts expansion

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The Law Society of England and Wales has welcomed the Ministry of Justice’s expansion of the Pathfinder family court scheme into the Midlands, while urging the government to ensure the programme delivers meaningful improvements for families.

The Pathfinder programme first piloted in Dorset and North Wales in 2022, and received a £12.5 million funding boost earlier this year. The scheme is one of the most significant reforms to family justice in recent decades. It allows police, local authorities and support services to work together and share information when a case commences, compiling this into a Child Impact Report. The aim is to allow judges to have all the important background information before the first hearing, in hopes that any unnecessary disputes and delays are reduced and better-informed decisions can be made within a short timeframe.

Law Society President Mark Evans welcomed the expansion, but stressed that access to legal aid must be guaranteed if families are to use the system effectively. He added: “To ensure that the new system can be a positive addition to family justice for our communities, we urge the government to continue to evaluate the pilot in detail and involve the families themselves and family practitioners in this process.”

Discussing the impact of this programme in the Midlands, family law solicitor, Elle-May Macey, explained: “Under the old system, parents could wait months for a first hearing and face repeated court dates. Resolving matters in weeks instead of months can be life-changing for a child caught in the middle and it allows parents to move forward without prolonged uncertainty.”