Family Justice Council Open Meetings
The Family Justice Council holds a remote Open Meeting every July. This provides an opportunity for members of the public to see first-hand the work of the Council and ask questions. Guests attend the meeting as observers.
Information about how to attend the next Open Meeting and submit any questions to the Council will be updated on this page each year.
13 July 2026
The Family Justice Council will hold its 12th Open Meeting on Monday 13 July 2026 from 11am to 1.30pm. The meeting will be held remotely via MS Teams.
The Family Justice Council is an interdisciplinary body with members drawn from a cross section of those who work, use, or have an interest in, the family justice system. They include judges, lawyers, doctors, social workers, academics and civil servants. The Council monitors the effectiveness of the family justice system, advising on reforms necessary for continuous improvement and promoting an interdisciplinary approach to family justice in England and Wales. For further information on the council and its work please see the About the Family Justice Council webpage.
The open meeting provides an opportunity for members of the public to see first-hand the Council at work. Guests will be able to observe the meeting, which will conclude with a question-and-answer session. Please note that any questions for the Council will need to be submitted in advance and we may not be able to answer all questions submitted.
To register to attend:
- To register for remote attendance only, please complete the following Registration Form only (external link).
The closing date for registration is 12pm on Wednesday 8 July 2026.
To submit a question to the Council and register to attend the meeting:
- To submit a question and register, please complete the following Register and submit a question form (external link).
The closing date for questions to be submitted is Friday 12 June 2026, as this will allow time for any questions to be considered by the members.
The MS Teams link will be circulated to registered attendees by 12pm on Friday 10 July 2026.
7 July 2025
The Family Justice Council held its eleventh Open Meeting on Monday 7 July 2025 from 11am until 1.15pm. The meeting was held remotely via MS Teams.
Over 70 guests observed the meeting, which concluded with a question-and-answer session.
The minutes of the open meeting will be placed on the website once approved at the next meeting of the Council in November 2025.
22 July 2024
The Family Justice Council held its tenth Open Meeting on Monday 22 July 2024 from 11am until 1.30pm. The meeting was held remotely via MS Teams with over 80 observers.
10 July 2023
The Family Justice Council held its ninth Open Meeting on 10 July 2023 from 11am until 1.30pm. The meeting was held remotely via MS Teams.