Family and Immigration Barrister

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Barristers and Solicitors: The Differences Explained

Barristers and Solicitors: The Differences Explained – Sima Najma

If you’re currently studying law, and wondering which direction to take your career, then I hope this will prove to be a useful tool in your decision making process. As you come to the conclusion of your undergraduate studies, the legal training for prospective Barristers and Solicitors will begin to separate as each branch follows … Read more

What Is A Section 7 Report And Can I Challenge It?

What Is A Section 7 Report And Can I Challenge It? – Sima Najma

In summary, where an application has been made to the Court under Section 8 of the Children Act 1989, a Section 7 report is ordered by the Court primarily concerned with the child’s welfare, and which is written by a CAFCASS worker, or a social worker from the local authority. What Is CAFCASS? CAFCASS: Children … Read more

Does A Parent’s Immigration Status Affect Disputes About Children in Family Law proceedings concerning Children?

Does A Parent’s Immigration Status Affect Disputes About Children in Family Law proceedings concerning Children? – Sima Najma

Disagreements between parents about arrangements for their children raise all kinds of sensitive issues and emotions. But what if the immigration status of one parent is uncertain such as them being an overstayer or an illegal immigrant? When the Court is asked to make decisions under the Children Act 1989 about where a child should … Read more

Turning Children Against Parents: Parental Alienation

Turning Children Against Parents: Parental Alienation — Sima Najma

What happens if a child has been manipulated to such an extent by one parent that he or she is unwilling to have any contact with the other parent? The approach of the Courts and practitioners to what’s known as parental alienation is constantly evolving as our understanding of the effects of this type of … Read more

How COVID-19 Has Impacted Britain’s Courts

How COVID-19 Has Impacted Britain’s Courts — Sima Najma

For an already under-pressure Court system, the Covid-19 outbreak has almost proven to be the straw that breaks the camel’s back. During the first lockdown, Courts shut completely and only re-opened at the end of May 2020. That two-month shutdown caused hearings planned for the summer of 2020 to be rescheduled into 2022, and caused … Read more