Outgoing president of the Family Division Sir Andrew McFarlane has published his final ‘view’ before his retirement this month. He highlights the pathfinder courts, charities within the family sphere - and who he will miss when he steps downs after almost eight years.

McFarlane said he was retiring at a time when he was 'still very much enjoying the role'. He added: ‘I shall miss the people that I currently see and work with regularly. I shall miss the court work, the development of projects and (although I thought that I would never feel this) I shall even miss the Rule Committee.

‘I am not going for negative reasons. There is a rhythm to life, and a time for every purpose. With the start of the three year cycle to implement the [child focused model], and after nearly eight years at the helm, it is time for me to turn the page and start a new chapter.’

McFarlane, who announced he had handed in his six months’ notice to step down from his post in October last year, acknowledged that the process of choosing his successor is ‘well advanced’ but the ‘lucky winner’ may not be announced until after his retirement date on Monday 13 April.

Sir Andrew McFarlane

Sir Andrew McFarlane: 'There is a rhythm to life, and a time for every purpose'

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McFarlane highlights the successes and things to come to the Family Division including the roll out of the pathfinder model, now to be called the child focused model (CFM), for private law cases to the remaining 32 court centres over the next three financial years. In the first year, the CFM will be launched in eight court centres in the North and Midlands. The remaining 24 court centres will take it up between April 2027 and March 2029, he said. 

‘From now on the CFM cannot any longer be seen as a "pilot". The time has come for all parts of the family justice system to recognise CFM as part of business as usual and adapt their ways of working to accommodate its structure.’

Stressing 'the profound impact legal support can have in transforming the lives of those who would otherwise struggle to represent themselves', he praised the work of Not Beyond Redemption, a charity in which he is patron that helps support mothers in prison.

McFarlane also noted the work of Support Through Court and Lawyers Who Care, which provides mentorship and advice to care-experienced young people who want to embark on a legal career, which he described as a ‘most inspiring organisation’.