Lord Justice Wall shoots from the hip when it comes to problems in the family justice system.

He even took the step of writing to LSC chief executive Carolyn Downs, warning her that family judges were alarmed by the effect of the tender outcome on ‘well-respected practitioners’.

In a speech to Families Need Fathers last week, Wall gave further insight into the esteem in which he holds solicitors and other professionals working in family justice. He said: ‘The best thing about the system, in my view, is the people who work in it…they are not in it for the money, but do the work because they believe in it.’

Praise from the head of family justice is a fillip to all professionals working in the system. But sadly it will not be enough to protect it from further deep cuts.

As Wall added: ‘The government is likely to invest heavily in the outcome of the Family Justice Review. Be under no illusions. The recommendations are likely to be radical. There are no sacred cows.

‘You do not need a crystal ball to see that legal aid for private law proceedings is likely to be further diminished if not abolished; that long and protracted contact and residence disputes will become things of the past; and that out-of-court mediation and conciliation will be encouraged.’

Family lawyers must brace themselves, we fear.