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Jacqueline provides advice in family, crime and immigration work.
She now specialises in family law but her background traverses many areas of law and she still sits as an immigration judge. For this reason she is often seen as the perfect advocate for cases that involve various disciplines.
Jacqueline has practised as a family barrister for more than 25 years. In that time she has regularly been instructed in both private and legal aid work and is pleased to do either.
She has a background in serious criminal offences, particularly those involving young offenders, offenders with mental health issues, sexual offences and cases where it was necessary to cross-examine very young children. Her patience, determination and legal aptitude in dealing with these cases meant that since she moved to an exclusively family law practice she has become renowned for working in particularly difficult cases where the participants are from challenging backgrounds. In particular she is sought after where the client has mental health issues, issues with violence or where the child may be particularly vulnerable. She is also regularly instructed in cases where sexual offences and violence are alleged, including child abuse and other related matters.
The fact that her work covers three complex legal disciplines is rare, but she is able to deal with each area of law with ease.
Family
Jacqueline has a particular reputation for enhanced client care, tactical insight and tenacity. This has stood her in good stead when dealing with care cases and other aspects of family law. She has been involved in lengthy care cases in both the High Court and the Principal Registry acting on behalf of the parents. She is also instructed where the client has particular difficulties and has required assistance from the Official Solicitor. She deals with private family law cases on a regular basis, where she is able to promote compromise and sensibility during legal proceedings at a difficult and emotional time for the parents, and arrives at solutions that are in the best interests of the child and ultimately the family.
Hobbies & interests
- Schools – deputy chair, school governor and special educational needs inclusions link governor at a school. Additionally, Jacqueline has been asked to sit on exclusion and appeals panels at different schools and her wealth of experience is invaluable.
- Charitable work – in particular the HCPT Pilgrimage Trust, which she has been an active member of for thirty years and she was the regional chair for the metropolitan north west. She also engages in the work of a local homeless charity where she has often been involved in the raising of funds and awareness of the problems that the homeless face. She has often helped to organise fundraising for children’s charities.
- British Sign Language (BSL) stage 1 and 2.
Appointments
- Sits as an immigration judge.
- Tribunal chair with the disability and special educational needs tribunal, which she has served for more than 15 years. She was the tribunal’s first black chair when she was accepted in 1999/2000 and is considered to be a valuable member.