News

Family Law Advice for the Neurodivergent Community (FLANC) celebrated a milestone with its inaugural conference, 'Promoting Access to Justice for Neurodivergent Children and Adults in the Family Justice System,' held at Slaughter & May on April 24th.

The event brought together professionals and families engaged in the family justice system, each sharing their invaluable insight on how the family justice system and professional practice can be improved to better accommodate neurodivergent individuals.

Chaired by Jenny Beck KC (Hon), the conference commenced with a powerful keynote address from Sir Andrew McFarlane, President of the Family Division, underscoring FLANC’s pivotal role in driving change and promoting access to justice for neurodivergent children and families.

The audience heard from a host of inspirational speakers, including members from the Family Justice Young People’s Board, who kindly shared their first-hand experiences of their contact with the family justice system. They each shared their key messages to professionals who work with neurodivergent children, and set out a series of top tips for helping neurodivergent children to feel more at ease and able to effectively engage in services.

Professor Rob George of UCL spoke engagingly about his research with neurodivergent individuals and family law professionals which he used to create best practice tools to help ensure access to justice. Sarah Cockburn, Cafcass Assistant Service Manager and Children’s Guardian, shared her moving experience as a mother of an autistic child and how her personal journey has shaped and strengthened her professional practice. Caroline Croft, from Coram Chambers, provided her perspective as a barrister working in the family justice system. Dr Tom Grange explained the important role of assessments and diagnosis in family proceedings, offering his unique perspective as a Clinical Psychologist.

Alia Lewis, Director at Duncan Lewis and Head of the firms’ specialist Autism & ADHD Unit, explained how her experience as a parent to an autistic child has impacted her work as a children’s solicitor and presented  ideas on how the family justice system can be improved to better accommodate neurodivergent individuals. Inspired by Paula McGowan OBE’s campaign which successfully resulted in the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism, Alia emphasised the critical need for all professionals working within the family justice system to undertake compulsory training on neurodivergence.  

We extend our congratulations to Alia Lewis, Sheena Vadher, Fauzia Mumani and the rest of the FLANC team on hosting such an inspiring conference and on their continued efforts in promoting positive change in the family justice system.

Contact

If you require specialist support from our Autism and ADHD Family & Child Care team, please contact Alia Lewis via email at AliaL@duncanlewis.com or via telephone on 02031141193

Duncan Lewis Solicitors

Duncan Lewis Solicitors is an award-winning law firm renowned for its exceptional legal services and commitment to social justice. With a history spanning several decades, their team of highly skilled solicitors provides top-tier representation in 25 diverse fields of law, including immigration, family, criminal, employment, and property law. They are recognised for their unwavering dedication to making justice accessible to all, regardless of financial circumstances. Duncan Lewis Solicitors' outstanding reputation, numerous accolades, including being crowned Law Firm of the Year at the LexisNexis Awards 2024, and commitment to advocating for marginalised individuals firmly establish it as a leading law firm in the UK, consistently delivering excellent legal representation.