Diverse Voices in Family Law - by Rajnaara C Akhtar

Book Synopsis

Highlighting experiences and voices historically overlooked, misunderstood, or forgotten, this book answers the urgent need for a more diverse and inclusive curriculum in family law in England and Wales.

The book helps readers diversify their understanding of the law and its often-unequal impact on citizens, equipping students with the vital skills and knowledge they need to be lawyers in the real world. Sectioned into three parts, the book covers key areas of family law including marriage, divorce, and parenthood, dispute resolution in family law, and domestic abuse. Each chapter takes a critical legal approach to the development and application of the law, enriched by underlining key issues from a range of perspectives to demonstrate the need to recognise diverse voices.

Written by a diverse team of expert contributors, the book also includes:

- further reading lists;

- helpful chapter summaries;

- end-of-chapter questions to spark discussion and reflection.

Review Quotes

'Family law is shaped by diverse cultural, religious, and economic contexts, and family law scholarship must reflect this complexity. This collection is both powerful and timely: it cuts through myths, and challenges sweeping assumptions about how family law is experienced today. It draws on a broad range of perspectives, from critical feminist studies to decolonising approaches, and issues, from the impact of child protection laws on racially minoritised and asylum-seeking children, to the struggles faced by migrant women and male survivors of domestic abuse, amplifying voices that are too often ignored. Engaging and thought-provoking, this book is required reading for anyone writing about family law, urging us all to ask whether our work truly represents the diversity of voices within society.' Sharon Thompson, Cardiff University

'This exciting new collection will be an essential addition to family law reading lists. It encourages students to look beyond the law and reflect on how it is experienced in practice by individuals depending on their age, gender, sexuality, ethnicity or socio-economic status.' Rebecca Probert, University of Exeter

'This remarkable book leads us through the complexity of the Diverse Voices to be heard in Family Law concerning marriage and divorce law and parenting. On each topic we are given the facts, and then enabled to move forward by considering the questions arising: our family law system originating in traditional Christian values urgently needs to listen and learn!' Mavis Maclean CBE, St Hilda's College

About the Author

Rajnaara C. Akhtar is Associate Professor of Family Law at the University of Warwick, teaching family law and child law. She has conducted extensive empirical research on family law and family justice in England and Wales, and multiple international legal contexts.