Warwick Law School News

We are excited to share that Dr Rachael Blakey has been shortlisted for the Society of Legal Scholars (SLS) Peter Birks Prize for her monograph, Rethinking Family Mediation: The Role of the Family Mediator in Contemporary Times. The prize recognises outstanding legal scholarship published by Early Career Academics.

Rachael’s monograph explores the status of family mediation in today’s family law system, particularly following significant cuts to legal aid in 2013. She argues that family mediators have increasingly adapted to a changing family justice system, by providing more evaluative and legal support to separating families. Rachael also submits that these findings have implications for the meaning of ‘family justice’, with the court system no longer being the only place to secure it.

Rachael said about her nomination:

“I am incredibly grateful for the nomination by the SLS. Now more than ever, it is really important that we try to understand what is going on in our legal systems, not simply what is said to happen.”

The winners of the Peter Birks Prize will be announced at SLS’ Annual Conference in Leeds.

Congratulations Rachael on this well-deserved recognition. Best of luck!