Harcourt Chambers

Justine’s practice covers all aspects of family law including public and private law Children Act 1989 proceedings and cases under the Family Law Act 1996.

Justine is regularly instructed on behalf of parents, local authorities, children’s guardians, interveners and prospective adopters. She appears in cases involving allegations of non-accidental injuries, suspected fabricated or induced illness (FII) mental health conditions, domestic violence, physical abuse, drug and alcohol difficulties, longstanding neglect and emotional harm.

Justine has also acted as junior counsel in a case involving serious injury and death of a child, and in a complex case concerning historic sexual abuse allegations.

She is frequently instructed to represent parents facing the prospect of their children being adopted. She has a proven record of successfully persuading the Court to place children with their parents or family members against the recommendations of professionals and/or the local authority.

Her ability to communicate and build rapport means she is regularly instructed to represent vulnerable clients. Justine has good knowledge of the law and guidance for cases where one or both parents have learning disabilities.

Justine has a strong private law children practice and has represented parents, children through their rule 16.4 court appointed guardians as well as other family members. She has experience in private law fact-finding hearings, including those concerning alleged sexual abuse, domestic violence and parental alienation.

Justine appreciates the need to consider the wider issues in these cases and the importance of establishing exactly what the client seeks to achieve and understanding the case from their perspective.

Qualified 2010. Inn: Lincoln’s Inn, pupil 2010-2011. Tenant, Harcourt Chambers October 2011 to date. 2010- Wolfson Scholarship (Lincoln’s Inn Pupillage Award); 2010- Buchanan Prize (Lincoln’s Inn BVC Award); 2009- Sarah Wadham Bursary (Lincoln’s Inn BVC Award); 2009- Sir Thomas More Bursary (Lincoln’s Inn BVC Award); 2008- Hardwicke Entrance Scholarship (Lincoln’s Inn Award).

FLBA, Denning Society; Young Legal Aid Lawyers.

2009-2010, College of Law, London, Bar Vocational Course (Outstanding); 2008-2009, College of Law, London, Graduate Diploma in Law (Distinction); 2005-2008 Worcester College, Oxford University; Philosophy, Politics and Economics (2.1); 2003-2005 Peter Symonds College, Winchester, A levels – Mathematics (A), Economics (A), Philosophy (A), Biology (A), General Studies (A).

Photography, theatre, cooking.