Children needed for research study into private law family court hearings
This research will use interviews with young children to explore their experiences of participation in private law family court hearings in England and Wales.
Study Description
While children’s participation in public law proceedings has been widely studied, there is little direct research on their involvement in Section 8 cases - despite younger children being among those most affected.
This PhD research takes a socio-legal approach to examine how children aged ten and under experience participation in private law family court hearings in England and Wales. It focuses on Section 8 orders under the Children Act 1989, including Child Arrangements Orders, Prohibited Steps Orders, and Specific Issue Orders.
Recognition of the importance of children’s voices in legal proceedings is growing, as seen in judicial practices like judges writing letters to children in their judgments and research by the Nuffield Family Justice Observatory (NFJO). This PhD addresses the existing research gap by exploring children’s lived experiences of participation, providing critical insights into their role in family justice decision-making.
The research is underpinned by Actor-Network Theory (ANT) and the Lundy Model of Participation. ANT offers a lens to examine how human and non-human actants interact within a broader network, while the Lundy Model emphasises space, voice, audience, and influence as key elements of meaningful participation. Together, these frameworks provide a comprehensive approach to understanding and analysing children’s involvement in private law proceedings.
What will participants be doing?
The children will be speaking directly to the researcher in a semi-structured interview. All interviews will take place online via google meet or similar programmes.
Duration
One interview for a maximum of 45 miutes
Apply
If you are interested in putting your child forward for this study, or wish to know more, please contact Paris Bradley (up2138568@myport.ac.uk).
Participant characteristics:
- children aged 5 to 10 years old
- children who have participated in private family law hearings in some way, whether through speaking to the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS), writing a letter to a judge, speaking directly to a judge, or any other type of participation.
- any gender
Closing date for applications
21 April 2025