Family and children

Guidance and resources on family and children law issues, including relationship breakdown and children in the context of divorce or separation, plus children in public law and cross-border disputes.
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Legal aid and family law

Legal aid should be available for early legal advice, alleged perpetrators and victims of domestic abuse, special guardianship orders and finance cases.

Learn about our position on legal aid
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Parent working from home at table with children doing school work
Parent working from home at table with children doing school work

Stand out as a specialist in child representation

Support your Children Law Accreditation with our expert-led training covering public and private children law, care proceedings, and more — all in 16 clear, self-contained modules.

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Domestic abuse course

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Family law microcredential

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Early legal advice

We’re campaigning for legal aid to be reintroduced for early legal advice, particularly in family and housing law.

Learn more about Early legal advice
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News and articles

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Sarah is a south Asian woman. She is wearing a pink suit and a black watch, she has her arms crossed. She has a neutral expression.

“I couldn’t see career progression, so I made my own opportunities”

Meet Sarah Khan-Bashir. Growing up, a career in law wasn’t on her radar, and the early years of her career were marked by…

07 Aug 2023

Government must support families with more funding for civil legal aid

The Law Society of England and Wales has today (6 January) highlighted how civil legal aid helps level the playing field for families, as it gave oral evidence to the Justice Committee on access to justice and legal aid.

06 Jan 2026

Domestic abuse orders on the rise

Domestic violence protection orders continue to rise.

18 Dec 2025

Survivors of domestic abuse face an uphill struggle for justice in under-funded family…

The Domestic Abuse Commissioner’s (DAC) new report shows that domestic abuse survivors are being failed by a lack of funding in the family courts.

15 Oct 2025

Thousands of children trapped as Law Society calls for investment in family courts

Thousands of children trapped in backlog as Law Society calls for investment in family courts

25 Sep 2025

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The Law Society is the independent professional body for solicitors. Our vision is to promote, protect and support solicitors, the rule of law and justice in England and Wales.

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Topics related to family and children

Client care

Legal aid

Access to justice