Vardags’ managing director, Catherine Thomas, wrote for The Global Legal Post about plans to give children a greater voice in court proceedings concerning them. It had been announced that all children above the age of 10 will have the opportunity to make their feelings known to the judge.
Catherine welcomes the move, which puts children closer to the decision making process which concerns them, but called for a note of caution.
She concluded by saying “with each child and each case being so different there must always been space for discretion being used by the professionals to protect ultimately the welfare of the child. This discretion should extend to still judging each particular case on its merits and facts, taking an objective view on whether the child in question in the case wishes to and is able, to voice their views in the case.”
Vardags Limited is a limited company trading as Vardags, Company No 7199468, registered in England and Wales, having its registered office at 10 Old Bailey, London EC4M 7NG. Vardags is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA Number 535955). Its VAT number is 99 001 7230.
Vardags uses the term ‘Partner’ as a professional title only, to describe a Senior Solicitor, Employee or Consultant with relevant experience, expertise and qualifications (whether legally qualified or otherwise) to merit the title. Our Partners are not partners in the legal sense. They are not liable for the debts, liabilities or obligations of Vardags Limited. Similarly, the term ’Director’ is a professional title only, to describe a non-legally qualified employee or consultant of Vardags with relevant experience, expertise and qualifications to merit the title. It does not necessarily imply that the relevant individual is a director of Vardags Limited.
A list of the directors of Vardags Limited and a list of the names of those using the title of ’Director’ and ’Partner’ together with their official status is available for inspection at Vardags’ registered office.