Specialist Care Proceedings Lawyers represent some of society’s most vulnerable individuals—children at risk and parents navigating complex legal allegations. Despite their commitment, the sustainability of their service is threatened by outdated and insufficient legal aid rates. Instead of increases that reflect the inflation and rising operational costs, we saw reductions in 2013, placing immense pressure on an already overburdened system. 

While strides have been made in other areas such as Crime, Housing, and Immigration with recent aid rate increases, Family Legal Aid—particularly in the realm of Care Proceedings—has been overlooked. This neglect means that vulnerable children and struggling families may face diminished access to justice due to the financial constraints placed on the lawyers who serve them.

Talented and dedicated lawyers, who have devoted their careers to upholding exceptional standards of care, are being forced to reconsider their roles due to unsustainable financial realities. With rising operational costs, the risk of losing experienced practitioners from this field is a genuine concern, one that could critically impact the quality of legal support available to those most in need.

This situation not only threatens the livelihoods of legal practitioners but, more importantly, it endangers the fundamental right to fair representation and justice for families and children caught up in complex care proceedings. It is imperative that we raise our voices and seek immediate action from our governing bodies to conduct a comprehensive review and adjust the rates appropriately.

Let's urge the government to prioritise a review and reform of Family Legal Aid rates to ensure that the care and protection of our most vulnerable families remain intact. Please sign this petition to demand change before access to justice is irreparably harmed.