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As said above by Anon@11:36pm, these comments are PROOF of themselves as to why there is a problem.

Believe it or not, this is not self interest by lawyers. This is an announcement by a Government minister (one who is against increasing funding to lawyers). If the Government recognises there is a problem, and the courts believe there is a problem, and even LIPs believe there is a problem (although they articulate it as has been said above as "legal advisers and cafcass should be abolished as they are biased") - it means there is a problem.

You see, Mr LIP [not referring to anyone in particular here], you trot down to your first dispute resolution appointment. You've seen the TV with the judges with the wigs and gowns, and the cross-examination. You're a bit nervous (but wouldn't admit it).

You get in there and there are three judges and an assistant (actually they're magistrates and a legal adviser). But they talk to you nicely. It's not so bad.

You explain that she's been a bitch from day one. He new fella thinks he can tell you what to do with your kids. She argues back and says how disgusted she is with you for not paying a penny of CSA.

You argue back and say it's not fair ... and the arguments continue...

The legal adviser is writing away (she's actually working on wording out orders on other cases, but you don't realise that). One of the magistrates is asleep.

20 minutes later, the legal adviser tells you that CAFCASS think its a good idea that you keep having weekend visits and review it in six weeks time.

"The bitch" argues a bit, and then agrees.

A consent order is made.

And you go out of court with the self belief and confidence that one can only get from having "won". You go to the pub, and tell all your mates that you ripped her to shreds in court, and the judges were all against her. You didn't need no lawyers or nuffin.

What nobody told you, though, is that if both you and your ex-partner had been represented by solicitors, the chances are it would have been resolved without going to court. And had it gone to court, it would have been dealt with in five minutes.

And nobody told you that had you been represented, instead of making silly personal attacks, you may have been able to focus on the issues, and move to a difference shared arrangements order based on your shift patterns, so that you could pick the children from school on Friday and not just weekends.

But not to worry. You "won". Without paying £100 per hour that robbing lawyers charge.

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