A LIVERPOOL barrister has published his first book.
Family law specialist Jonathan Butler of India Buildings Chambers is the author of the new Community Care Law and Local Authority Handbook, out this month.
He said: “I felt there was a need to write it, because I am regularly asked to advise on every single issue in that book, and every time, I would invariably look up the relevant law reports and legislations, which are all found in a lot of different books.
“I thought I really need a book with all this contained between two covers – and I may as well write it. It was really a question of sitting down and setting it out in a coherent fashion.�
The book’s foreword was written by Hon Mr Justice Ryder QC and is described as is “a valuable tool for local authority and private practice solicitors and barristers dealing with community care law, mental health and capacity issues, elder law and public child law matters�.
Mr Butler started in practice 15 years ago. During his career he has held posts including part time president of the mental health review tribunal, and honorary lecturer at Liverpool University’s department of clinical psychology. He is currently considering writing a second book and hopes his work shows that legal expertise is not confined to the Capital.
e said: “The interesting thing is, it tends to be assumed that the experts in this area only exist down in London. I don’t know of many who do this kind of work outside London, or if they do they don’t advertise themselves enough.
“What I hope comes out of this is some awareness for the people of Liverpool that national expertise on this doesn’t necessarily lie in London.�
The Community Care Law and Local Authority Handbook is available now from Jordan Publishing.