Jo Carr-West discusses the pursuit of meaningful protection in family proceedings in New Law Journal

Her article considers long-standing concerns that the family court has often fallen short of effectively protecting vulnerable parties.

She examines how the courts have historically balanced competing principles, and failed to properly recognise and respond to domestic abuse. 

The article examines the Government’s current consultation ‘A Fairer End to Relationships’ and reflects on whether these proposed reforms signal a genuine cultural and practical shift, or whether gaps remain between the intentions of the law and its real-world application.

Ultimately, she considers whether the system will be equipped to offer consistent and effective protection, concluding that while progress is evident, continued vigilance and refinement are essential to ensure that protections are not only theoretical but truly meaningful in practice.