Who? June Venters, 48-year-old managing partner at south London firm Venters, who specialises in public law, childcare and crime, and sits as a recorder in the Crown Court, and the family and civil courts.

Why is she in the news? Represented Lisa Arthurworrey, the social worker sacked by Haringey Council following the death of child abuse victim Victoria Climbie, who had her ban on working with children lifted last week. The Care Standards Tribunal overturned a decision made by the former Education Secretary, Charles Clarke, to put Ms Arthurworrey on the protection of children register. Eight-year-old Victoria died in 2000 after suffering months of ill- treatment at the hands of her carers, who are now serving life sentences for her murder. The public inquiry into the case found weaknesses in Ms Arthurworrey's professional conduct, but the tribunal said she had been inexperienced and lacking in essential training. It dismissed 11 allegations of misconduct against her.



Background: After leaving school went to secretarial college, before deciding to study law. Initially chose the legal executive route and is an ILEX fellow. Did the LPC at the College of Law, followed by a training contract with south London firm JB Wheatley & Co. Qualified in 1984 and remained there until 1991, when she set up her own firm, Venters.


Route to the case: 'I was contacted by a Radio 4 journalist to represent Ms Arthurworrey, who had had difficulty persuading solicitors to take her case. There had already been adverse findings against her in the public inquiry and adverse publicity following the Old Bailey trial, so at first glance she had problems meeting the merits test that would entitle her to legal aid. I agreed to see her and, at the end of the consultation, was convinced that injustice had been committed against her. So began an incredible battle to get legal aid.'


Thoughts on the case: 'We succeeded because the tribunal didn't find any actions of misconduct - we won on the facts, but this case has wider ramifications. It cannot be right for professionals who have been found guilty of misconduct in relation to their dealings with children to be treated in the same way as paedophiles and child abusers. We went back to grass roots and looked at Hansard to interpret the legislation. The protection of children register was introduced in the Children Act 1989 with the clear purpose to protect children from paedophiles and abusers. The MP who introduced the Bill agreed, during the parliamentary debate, that there was a need to look at distinguishing names on the list, but that has never happened. There is an urgent need to consider this now.'


Dealing with the media: 'I have been interviewed by the press and radio but Ms Arthurworrey is extremely articulate, and has spoken to the media herself. The reporting has been supportive but I am concerned that the media has not addressed the wider importance of this case.'