Catherine Atkinson and William Dean deliver training to the LBLA on sections 17 & 20

On 6th April 2017, Catherine Atkinson and William Dean spoke at a training session for solicitors from local authorities which are members of the London Boroughs Legal Alliance. The topics were sections 17 and 20 of the Children Act 1989 and practical considerations in cases which engage those provisions. The training took place in the Council Chamber of the Camden Town Hall in Judd Street, London.

Catherine spoke about a local authority’s powers to provide services under section 17, potential methods of challenging local authority decisions (and responding to challenges) and recent case law on reviewing such decisions. William spoke about the duty to accommodate children under section 20, the requirements and expectations on local authorities when fulfilling that duty and recent decisions of the Court of Appeal, particularly Re N (children) [2015] EWCA Civ 1112 and London Borough of Hackney v Williams [2017] EWCA Civ 26.

Both Catherine and William have broad experience in dealing with Children Act matters and provide advice to local authorities in ongoing cases and in respect of discrete points of law. They routinely appear in court in care and other family proceedings.

If you are interested in receiving training from barristers at 9 Gough Chambers, please contact us.