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Anyone asking why family cases where representation is involved are expensive should re-read Practice Direction 27A relating to preparation of bundles for hearings. This PD applies to virtually all court appointments in Family Cases. It runs to some 39 main & sub paragraphs. It prescribes labyrinthine procedures to be followed and contains dire warnings to practitioners of wasted costs orders if the procedure is not followed. For most court appointments the cost of preparing a bundle compliant with the rules is grotesquely disproportionate to the issue before the court and on many occasions is barely referred to at all. To cap it all, a bundle is apparently of such importance and assistance to the court that if neither party is represented then no bundle needs to be filed at all! I note that the MoJ report commented that cases where neither party was represented were speedier - can one always assume that the outcome was fairer as a result?