Janet Plange

Work Department

Janet has been practising at the Family Bar for nearly 40 years  and is a well known for her commitment to every aspect of the family justice system. She advises on both public and private law proceedings.

About

• Introduction
• Family
• Qualifications
• Memberships
• Languages

Position

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

• Adoption
• Care & Supervision
• Child Abduction
• Child Arrangement
• Divorce
• Family
• Forced Marriage
• Inquests
• Molestation & Occupation
• Professional Discipline
• Public Inquiries
• Relocation Internal and Abroad

Janet Plange has a reputation for her work and commitment to vulnerable parents in public law proceedings who appear to be in difficult or hopeless cases. She is regularly instructed on behalf of local authorities and guardians. Janet undertakes some pro bono work where it is considered that the parent is otherwise unable to access justice in the Family Courts. In suitable cases she will work with solicitors to keep her costs within legal aid limits where clients fall just outside the limits for eligibility.

Introduction

Janet has been practising at the Family Bar for nearly 40 years  and is a well known for her commitment to every aspect of the family justice system. She advises on both public and private law proceedings. She has a reputation for her work and commitment to vulnerable parents in public law proceedings who appear to be in difficult or hopeless cases. She is regularly instructed on behalf of local authorities and guardians.   

Janet undertakes some pro bono work where it is considered that the parent is otherwise unable to access justice in the Family Courts. In suitable cases she will work with solicitors to keep her costs within legal aid limits where clients fall just outside the limits for eligibility.  

Previously, Janet worked for two years as an in-house lawyer in two busy London local authorities where she gained invaluable experience and insight into the role of a child protection solicitor.  This experience informs her work on behalf of all clients.

Janet’s interests include all aspects of dance (particularly Latin American) and ballet, and she is a Sadler’s Wells member. She also enjoys visiting art galleries and museums, and is a Tate Member.

Janet loves international travel, and visits Spain and South American countries several times every year. She speaks fluent Spanish and French.

Family

• Public and Private Law proceedings representing parents and other adult family members
• Public and Private Law proceedings representing children/guardians
• Public and Private Law proceedings representing the Official Solicitor in cases of parents under a mental health disability
• Private Law Proceedings representing parents in highly complex cases where expert evidence (psychiatric and psychological) is commissioned; cases of implacable hostility and where a change in living arrangements is considered in view of this
• Public and Private law cases where there are serious allegations of physical, emotional and sexual abuse, and where there is a conflict of expert evidence
• Public Law proceedings where there are parallel criminal proceedings
• High Court Wardship proceedings
• Adoption proceedings at all levels of first instance court
• Representation of local authorities in Public Law proceedings at all levels of Court
• Court of Appeal cases
• Same sex couple cases involving living/time spent with conflict, including complex High Court cases
• Removal from the jurisdiction cases and cases with an immigration/foreign aspect

Career

YEAR OF CALL: 1981

Languages

She speaks fluent Spanish and French

Memberships

Family Law Bar Association (FLBA)

Education

LLB Hons, University of Birmingham