From the pages of Jonathan Mitchell QC:

The Murray Stable has now formed four special interest groups: employment, public law, commercial and insolvency, and family law. The Family Law Group is holding a public launch on 22 September at the Mackenzie Building, which is behind the Fringe Office at 172 High Street, EH1 1QX.

The event has been designed in the form of a debate with the following topic:

“Scots Law has no effective means of dealing with mothers who will not allow contact.”

The Motion (taking its format from a four-speech Appeal in the Court of Session) will be argued by Janys Scott QC and Ross Macfarlane, Advocate and will be defended by Jonathan Mitchell QC and Kirsty Malcolm, Advocate. Each advocate will speak for less than ten minutes and the event will be chaired by noted child psychologist and FLaG member Professor James Furnell.

This will be a lively event with lots of scope for audience participation and discussion. The event qualifies for one hour of CPD and gives you the chance to meet informally with members of the Group and its clerking support. It will take place on Monday 22nd September 2008 at 5.30pm in the Mackenzie Building, Old Assembly Close, 172 High Street, Edinburgh EH1 1QX.

The programme is:

• 5.30 Registration: tea and coffee
• 6.00 Introduction by Professor James Furnell
• 6.10 Debate, followed by questions from the audience and plenary discussion
• 7.00 A Brief Word on Clerking: Iain Murray, Murray Stable Practice Manager
• 7.10 Wine and light refreshments

Places are limited and anyone wishing to attend should contact the Murray Stable, preferably by email.