Guidance

Public Law Outline (PLO)

Published 2023-01-26Last updated 2024-12-10

Re-Launch of the Public Law Outline

The President of the Family Division re-launched the Public Law Outline (PLO) on 16 January 2023. The PLO provides a template for case management of proceedings with a view to reducing delay and bringing cases within the statutory 26 week time limit. The focus is on making the case ‘smaller’ by reducing the number of hearings per case and by making ‘every hearing count’.

Re-Launch of the PLO Webinar (16 January 2023)

Public Law Outline: Refocus

The President of the Family Division re-launched the Public Law Outline (PLO) on 16 January 2023. The PLO provides a template for case management of proceedings with a view to reducing delay and bringing cases within the statutory 26-week time limit. The focus is on making the case ‘smaller’ by reducing the number of hearings per case and by making ‘every hearing count’.

Building on the good work across England and Wales since that relaunch in 2023, it has become appropriate to refocus minds on the principles behind, and benefits of, the PLO.

This webinar includes remarks from the President, the Lead Family Presiding Judge Sir Michael Keehan, and Director of Children’s Services for Essex County Council, Helen Lincoln.

London Family Justice Strategy online launch event

Following the President of the Family Division’s recent online event refocusing minds on the requirements of the Public Law Outline (PLO), in co-operation with the MOJ, HMCTS and Cafcass Mr Justice MacDonald has set out a Family Strategy for London and launched a Practice Note to ensure adherence to the PLO in London.

A recording of the online launch event, at which the speakers were the President of the Family Division, a member of the Family Justice Young Peoples Board, Mr Justice MacDonald, Steven Reddy (Director of Children’s Services for the London Borough of Tower Hamlets) and Lord Ponsonby (Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Ministry of Justice), can be found below.

Procedure rules cited 1

Explicit references found in this document. A reference that names only a Part number without its rulebook is not matched — that citation is ambiguous across the Civil, Family and Criminal rules.

FPR PD 12ACare, Supervision and Other Part 4 Proceedings: Guide to Case Management
cited asPD 12A
…of the PLO Webinar (16 January 2023) Public Law Outline (PD 12A): PRACTICE DIRECTION 12A - CARE, SUPERVISION AND OTHER PART 4 PROCEED…