Mr Justice Baker QC visits University of Exeter Law School

On 26 October, Exeter Family Law students enjoyed the privilege of a guest lecture from Mr Justice Baker, the Family Division Liaison Judge for the Western Circuit.  His topic was Family Law and the Family Justice System Today and by outlining the journey which Family Law has taken since he was called to the bar and exploring some of the wide-ranging issues he has encountered in practice and on the bench, he vividly brought to life the spectrum of current issues and procedural reforms Family Law is grappling with.  In indicating some of the risks in a move to administrative divorce and some of the very difficult child protection and adoption issues he had had to decide as well as the challenges surrogacy brings to Family Law, he ended on a positive note about the future for a career in Family Law.  With our students having only been introduced to this area of law a few weeks before, the Family Law lecturing team (led by Professor Anne Barlow and Professor Liz Trinder) were delighted with the enthusiastic questions his lecture prompted.  These drew excellent answers and student debate around issues such as FGM, divorce reform and the child protection system.

At the reception afterwards, students had the opportunity in a more informal setting to ask further questions of Sir Jonathan, who was so genuinely impressed with their outstanding questions and general enthusiasm for Family Law that he has offered to return next year.