Introduction
Carolyn Jones is Head of the St Philips Family Law Group and joint Deputy Head of Chambers.
Carolyn is a Family Law Specialist known for her no nonsense approach. She has a reputation for excellent client care, scrupulous preparation and intrepid advocacy. She gives direct advice and will speak openly and honestly about the strengths and weaknesses of a case. Carolyn regularly conducts cases in the Family court, High Court and the Appellate courts.
Carolyn regularly lectures on all aspects of family law.
Public Law Care and Adoption
Carolyn is regularly instructed in complex public law cases to act for local authorities, parents, guardians and intervenors and her experience covers cases which include:
- Child death cases,
- Non accidental head injury,
- Sexual abuse,
- Physical abuse,
- Chronic neglect and drug and alcohol abuse,
- Human and child trafficking,
- Fictitious illness,
- Adoption breakdowns,
- PII applications,
- Instructions by the official solicitor to represent vulnerable individuals,
- Wardship,
- Forced marriage,
Carolyn has been instructed in cases which involve;
- Successfully resisting an application to remove a baby from her parents immediately after birth
- Successfully opposing an application to remove children from their parents care during ongoing care proceedings
- Successfully opposing a local authority and a children’s guardian who agreed the plan for a child was adoption. The child was returned to the care of his father.
- Represented a father in care proceedings who was accused of causing a non accidental head injury to his baby son. He was found not to have caused the injury. The baby returned home to the care of his parents
- Representation of an aunt who had been given leave to intervene in a four week High Court fact finding hearing. She was in the ‘pool of perpetrators’ for injuries alleged to be caused to her niece including attempted suffocation. She was ruled out of the pool of perpetrators.
Private Law Children and Domestic Abuse
Most of the private law cases Carolyn receives instructions in, have a complex element to them, including following the breakdown of a same sex relationship.
Carolyn is experienced in representing the child as a separate party in the proceedings.
She has also been instructed in many cases where the application is for removal from the jurisdiction and is therefore extremely familiar with all of the caselaw, procedure and issues in cases of this type.
Reported Cases
A Local Authority v A and others [2009] EWHC Fam 2010 FCR 8503
Re G residence same sex partner [2005] EWCA Civ 462
Testimonials
“Carolyn is an expert in her field.” Chambers & Partners 2025
“She is sensitive to the client’s needs, approachable and always willing to go that extra mile.” Chambers & Partners 2025
“Carolyn is a robust forensic cross-examiner and an exceptional and well-rounded practitioner.” Legal 500 2024
“Carolyn is extremely passionate and knowledgeable. She is meticulous in her preparation and her advocacy skills are top-tier.” Chambers & Partners 2024
“Carolyn is fearless, forthright, extremely dedicated and always makes clients feel they have had the best representation.” Chambers & Partners 2024
“Carolyn is a very experienced, plain speaking and straightforward advocate who gets to the point quickly with judges and witnesses.” Legal 500 2023
“Carolyn is a forthright and experienced advocate, whose ‘no nonsense’ approach to litigation ensures that all parties are clear on her client’s position.” Chambers & Partners 2023
“Carolyn Jones is a very capable advocate and she is able to give clients confidence when most needed.” Chambers & Partners 2023
“She thinks several steps ahead in the case and identifies the key issues from the outset.” Chambers & Partners 2023
“She’s a fantastic barrister.” Chambers UK 2022
“Carolyn is a fearless, passionate advocate who I know will fight for the most fair outcome.” Chambers UK 2022
“If I was a parent in care proceedings, Carolyn is the barrister I would want. Carolyn is utterly fearless and totally dedicated to the clients.” Legal 500 2022
“Carolyn Jones instils an immediate sense of trust and confidence. She is well known within the local set and further afield as a tenacious and passionate advocate who strives to achieve the best possible outcome for her client.” Chambers UK
“She’s an extremely strong advocate who will always work hard for her client.” Chambers UK
“Direct, succinct and brave.” Legal 500
“Very experienced, confident, robust and clear. She brings incisive tactical awareness to everything that she does.” and “An extremely strong advocate who will always work hard for her client.” Chambers UK
