Events

The Centre holds a variety events, from practice sharing workshops to policy report launches, across our diverse areas of work. Never miss an invite, and sign up to one of our newsletters.

You can also watch all our past event recordings over on our YouTube channel. 

We currently have three upcoming events planned:

Expert Voices: Supporting litigants in person in private family law

Sign up here to join us on 27th January from 12.30-13.30 for our next Expert Voices event on supporting litigants in person in private family law & the CASS+ approach.

Across England and Wales, it has become commonplace for people involved in family court cases to have no legal representation. But these “litigants in person” can find navigating the complex, slow-moving and sometimes unsympathetic legal system an ordeal. They often experience significant emotional strain and may find it difficult, if not impossible, to achieve the legal resolution they are hoping for. Meanwhile, the court system itself is struggling to cope with the delays and disruption caused by often vulnerable people trying to take the place of trained lawyers.

CASS+, an advice and support service in Devon and Cornwall, is seeking to address this issue by providing free non-legal support to litigants in person. CASS+’s team of volunteers and paid co-ordinators offer help with filling out forms, drafting statements and even accompany people into hearings as an emotional and practical support.

This event will draw on the upcoming evaluation from the Centre for Justice Innovation and Wilkinson Evaluation of the work of CASS+ in the family courts to explore the barriers facing litigants in person, their impact on the individuals involved and the wider system, and how CASS+ has sought to support them. To discuss this, we are delighted to be joined by:

• Sophie Carter, Head of Family Justice Practice, Centre for Justice Innovation (chair)
• Stephen Whitehead, Head of Data and Evidence, Centre for Justice Innovation
• Jude Eyre, Associate Director for Strategy and Delivery, Nuffield Family Justice Observatory
• Steve Parker, CEO, CASS+
• Emma Stewart, Coordinator, CASS+

Expert Voices: One Year On: Learning from the Pathfinder Process Evaluation

Sign up here to join us on the 4th March from 12.00-13.15 for the first of our two focused Expert Voices events looking at the lessons & learning from the Private Law Pathfinder Pilot Evaluations.

In response to the Harm Panel Report recommendation to reform private law, the Pathfinder pilot aims to improve the court experience and outcomes for children and parents involved in private family law proceedings, particularly including those who have experience of domestic abuse. The model is designed to bring a more problem solving, investigative approach which enables the system to ensure the voices and experiences of children are central to the decision making. It also aims to reduce the traumatic impact private law proceedings can have on families. The pilot launched in Dorset and North Wales in February 2022 and it has since then expanded to a further six regions. This event will explore the learning and recommended practice developments identified in the Private Law Pathfinder Pilot Process Evaluation (GOV.UK), published in March 2025 and consider the implementation and lessons learnt from these recommendations one year on. To discuss this, we are delighted to be joined by:

• Sophie Carter, Head of Family Justice Practice, Centre for Justice Innovation (chair)
• Dr Charlotte Barlow, Associate Professor in Criminology and Criminal Justice, University of Leeds
• Dr Helen Richardson Foster, Senior Research Fellow, Connect Centre, University of Central Lancashire
• Dr Clare Scollay, Research Fellow, Connect Centre, University of Central Lancashire
• Additional guest speakers to be confirmed

Expert Voices: Children and families' voices: Pathfinder Private Law Pilot Evaluation

Sign up here to join us on the 11th March from 12.00-13.15 for the second of our two focused Expert Voices events looking at the lessons & learning from the Private Law Pathfinder Pilot Evaluations.

In response to the Harm Panel Report recommendation to reform private law, the Pathfinder pilot fundamentally aims to improve the court experience and outcomes for children and parents involved in private family law proceedings, particularly including those who have experience of domestic abuse. The model is designed to bring a more problem solving, investigative approach which enables the system to ensure the voices and experiences of children are central to the decision making. It also aims to reduce the traumatic impact private law proceedings can have on families. The pilot launched in Dorset and North Wales in February 2022 and it has since then expanded to a further six regions.

This event will focus on the recently published research looking at how children and families experience the new Pathfinder process; Private Law Pathfinder Pilot - understanding the experience of children and families (GOV.UK).

To discuss this, we are delighted to be joined by:

• Sophie Carter, Head of Family Justice Practice, Centre for Justice Innovation (chair)
• Dr Charlotte Barlow, Reader in Criminal Justice and Policing, University of Central Lancashire. Currently Associate Professor in Criminology and Criminal Justice, University of Leeds
• Dr Helen Richardson Foster, Senior Research Fellow, Connect Centre, University of Central Lancashire
• Dr Clare Scollay, Research Fellow, Connect Centre, University of Central Lancashire
• Additional guest speakers to be confirmed