Cara Sylvester
Solicitor
Contact Information
- Solicitor
- Child Care
- Harrow
- 02031141241
- @Send Email
Profile / Experience
I am a Solicitor in the Child Care department. I joined the firm in 2019 as a paralegal, completed my training contract and qualified in March 2023. I am part of a friendly and dedicated team and work under the supervision of Solicitor and Director, Alia Lewis.
I represent parents, grandparents and extended family members as parties and intervenors in a variety of public and private children law matters.
My public children cases extend from public law outline (PLO) matters and child protection conferences to representing parties in proceedings issued by the Local Authority. I have gained extensive experience in dealing with cases involving issues such as non-accidental injury, fictitious illness, child abuse, substance misuse, domestic violence and mental health concerns. In addition, I have handled matters involving deprivation of liberty.
My private law children work includes all aspects concerning child arrangements issues including section 8 orders, special guardianship, international relocation, and international child abduction. I have represented parents in a number of cases where the child is made a party and a rule 16.4 Guardian is appointed and I have also dealt with many cases involving section 37 directions. My work also includes cases concerning neurodiverse children. I have successfully represented a client to obtain a prohibited steps order upon the conclusion of proceedings preventing the child from being taken to another country. I have also successfully represented a client to discharge a special guardianship order in favour of a family member and persuaded the court to place the children back in my client’s care.
I also work as part of a specialist Autism and ADHD team who are dedicated to making positive changes within the family justice system to ensure that neurodiverse clients are appropriately supported throughout the legal process.
I am readily available by phone and email to help clients and I work alongside my colleagues to assist clients to achieve the best outcome. I act sensitively and empathetically in all cases, understanding that matters concerning children are often distressing and fraught with emotion.
I represent parents, grandparents and extended family members as parties and intervenors in a variety of public and private children law matters.
My public children cases extend from public law outline (PLO) matters and child protection conferences to representing parties in proceedings issued by the Local Authority. I have gained extensive experience in dealing with cases involving issues such as non-accidental injury, fictitious illness, child abuse, substance misuse, domestic violence and mental health concerns. In addition, I have handled matters involving deprivation of liberty.
My private law children work includes all aspects concerning child arrangements issues including section 8 orders, special guardianship, international relocation, and international child abduction. I have represented parents in a number of cases where the child is made a party and a rule 16.4 Guardian is appointed and I have also dealt with many cases involving section 37 directions. My work also includes cases concerning neurodiverse children. I have successfully represented a client to obtain a prohibited steps order upon the conclusion of proceedings preventing the child from being taken to another country. I have also successfully represented a client to discharge a special guardianship order in favour of a family member and persuaded the court to place the children back in my client’s care.
I also work as part of a specialist Autism and ADHD team who are dedicated to making positive changes within the family justice system to ensure that neurodiverse clients are appropriately supported throughout the legal process.
I am readily available by phone and email to help clients and I work alongside my colleagues to assist clients to achieve the best outcome. I act sensitively and empathetically in all cases, understanding that matters concerning children are often distressing and fraught with emotion.
- View Cara Sylvester’s "Domestic Violence" profile
- View Cara Sylvester’s "International Child abduction Wardship" profile
Education
- BA (Hons) Law and Sociology (Qualifying Degree) - University of Warwick (1st class) (2018)
- LPC LLM - University of Law (Distinction) (2022)
Career
- Duncan Lewis Solicitors (April 2019 – Present)
Testimonials
- "Cara handled my case very professionally, She went above and beyond to help and her communication via phone and email was brilliant and she was very knowledgeable, thank you." - Client, 2020
- "I have been fully supported...My life savers. Thank you from the bottom of my heart." - Client, 2020