Pump Court Chambers

Caroline Hartley specialises in representing parents, especially if they are vulnerable due to mental health problems, addictions or learning difficulties. She is also very experienced in representing children and local authorities. She has been instructed in many cases involving non-accidental injury (including the most serious cases in which a child has died, or has suffered permanent and significant injury). Caroline is also experienced in factitious or induced illness cases, salt poisoning and sexual abuse as well as neglect, physical and emotional abuse.

Clients consider Caroline to be empathic, sensitive, considerate and kind. She is also described as articulate, learned, experienced and flexible; Her abilities include being pragmatic and invariably quick to focus upon the most pertinent points. “Skilful and professional are terms used to describe her by judges”.

Caroline was previously qualified as a solicitor. In this capacity she worked for five years both in private practice and for Hampshire County Council, first in civil litigation before specialising in children. Caroline regularly appears in the Family Proceedings Court, County Court, High Court and the Court of Appeal. She also sits as Deputy District Judge in both public and private law children and in civil matters.

Since 2011, she has been a legal assessor for the General Medical Council and since 2013 a legal assessor for the Nursing Midwifery Council. She was appointed as a Deputy District Judge on the Western Circuit in February 2013.