BOOK REVIEW ROUTLEDGE HANDBOOK OF FAMILY LAW AND POLICY ROUTLEDGE HANDBOOKS Edited by John Eekelaar and Rob George ISBN: 978 0 415 64040 4 ROUTLEDGE TAYLOR & FRANCIS GROUP www.routledge.com POLICY CHALLENGES FACING FAMILY LAW: A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE An appreciation by Phillip Taylor MBE and Elizabeth Taylor of Richmond Green Chambers International lawyers and comparative lawyers, as well as specialist family lawyers will find this recent publication from the Routledge Handbooks series a compelling read. The editors, John Eekelaar and Rob George, have assembled a formidable selection of carefully researched and closely argued viewpoints on family law policy from no less than forty-four expert contributors from a range of jurisdictions worldwide. The editors -- both from Oxford University -- explain that the Handbook is about both family law and policy, adding that the crucial linkage between the two determines the orientation of all the contributions. Certainly the Handbook reveals important differences -- as well as similarities -- in family law policy across a number of different jurisdictions worldwide; some common law, others not. ‘How do they do this in other countries?’ is the pivotal question which, in our view is successfully addressed in this book The essays are grouped under six categories ranging from marriage and alternative relationships to parenting, child welfare, to the last section: globalization and pluralism. This final category is particularly interesting in view of the personal, social and legal problems generated within culturally diverse groups in societies designated as multi-cultural. One of the several issues addressed in the book is the role of the state in supporting families and protecting the vulnerable, which would include women, children and minorities. Maleiha Malik’s article, for example, warns that ‘lack of access to mainstream legal justice, or the failure of the mainstream legal system to accommodate minorities may drive users towards minority legal orders without the protections available within state law.’ We can all think of instances where unfortunate situations of this nature have occurred and are likely to occur again. The rights of the vulnerable are also discussed in Rosemary Hunter’s article: ‘Domestic Violence: a UK Perspective’ which brings together, in detailed yet succinct form, a number of insights and comments on domestic violence, mainly in England and Wales and its impact, for example, on contact orders and other domestic situations which come before the courts. Other issues of course, come in for scrutiny, including sexual orientation and gender… the status of marriage… divorce and separation… assisted conception and -- of special interest to many a family lawyer in the UK -- the movement of family members between jurisdictions. Researchers and those seeking additional sources of information will also appreciate the copious footnoting in every chapter which provides almost innumerable references for further reading. Family practitioners wishing to keep up with cross-border commentary, research and shades of opinion on family law issues should get a copy of this book.

• published: 07 Oct 2014
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