Divorce 2:
Lecture overview:
Part 1: Introduction
• How this lecture fits in
• Thinking about reform
Part 2: Arguments around reform
• Generally
• Owens v Owens
Part 3: Approaches to reform
• The 1996 Act
• The Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020
• When dealing with problem questions, you are expected to apply the current law
• Outlined in lecture 1
• You will need to research case law etc for your summative
• You may refer to the new law (i.e. covered in this lecture) in problem question answers (e.g.
to note differences) BUT
• Make sure it is clear which law you are applying to the facts
• Always think back to your client – what is relevant to them?
• Not everything in this lecture will be relevant for a problem question.
• We need to teach you the subject holistically
• Different subjects across your degree connect
• Picking out relevant information is a skill we are looking for
• When arguing for reform, there are two aspects to think about:
• Whether reform is needed
• How to reform
• These are connected
• Suggested reform should be related to the criticisms you identify
• Watch the following clip from BBC news from 1:47 – 8:08 -
https://learningonscreen.ac.uk/ondemand/index.php/prog/11EEB072?bcast= 127445958
• NB errors in reporting (e.g. references to ‘grounds’ of divorce rather than ‘facts’ and
the reference to ‘unreasonable behaviour’)
• Things have moved on since, but this is a good overview of issues
Lecture overview:
Part 1: Introduction
• How this lecture fits in
• Thinking about reform
Part 2: Arguments around reform
• Generally
• Owens v Owens
Part 3: Approaches to reform
• The 1996 Act
• The Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020
• When dealing with problem questions, you are expected to apply the current law
• Outlined in lecture 1
• You will need to research case law etc for your summative
• You may refer to the new law (i.e. covered in this lecture) in problem question answers (e.g.
to note differences) BUT
• Make sure it is clear which law you are applying to the facts
• Always think back to your client – what is relevant to them?
• Not everything in this lecture will be relevant for a problem question.
• We need to teach you the subject holistically
• Different subjects across your degree connect
• Picking out relevant information is a skill we are looking for
• When arguing for reform, there are two aspects to think about:
• Whether reform is needed
• How to reform
• These are connected
• Suggested reform should be related to the criticisms you identify
• Watch the following clip from BBC news from 1:47 – 8:08 -
https://learningonscreen.ac.uk/ondemand/index.php/prog/11EEB072?bcast= 127445958
• NB errors in reporting (e.g. references to ‘grounds’ of divorce rather than ‘facts’ and
the reference to ‘unreasonable behaviour’)
• Things have moved on since, but this is a good overview of issues
