James McCarthy

James McCarthy

Called to bar: 
2019
Gray's Inn
Contact: 

clerks@angelchambers.co.uk

James joined Chambers as a tenant in October 2022 following successful completion of his pupillage under the supervision of Clare Templeman (Family), Alison Donovan (Family/Civil) and Iain Alba (Family).

Having studied Law at Swansea University, James achieved a First Class Honours and was awarded the Public Law Wales award for achieving the highest mark in Public Law. During university, James was offered an internship with the Federal Public Defender in Los Angeles and spent 2 months working with Public Defender Attorneys. James went on to study the BPTC with LLM in London under the Edmund Davies Scholarship awarded by Gray’s Inn.

James was subsequently employed as a paralegal in a Legal 500 firm, working in the areas of Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence. James also assisted on the St James & St Verdast Compensation Scheme in respect of historic abuse allegations.

James has developed a practice in the areas of family and civil law. He accepts instructions in a broad range of matters including private & public children law, family injunctions, small claims, fast track claims and possession claims. James has also developed a practice in professional regulation and discipline, representing a national regulator in multi-day fitness to practice hearings relating to the education profession.

Practice Areas

Family law

James represents both Applicants and Respondents in a range of family matters in the County Court before Magistrates, District Judges and Circuit Judges.

 

Private Law:

James frequently receives instructions to represent a range of individuals, including parents and grandparents and Children’s Guardian in respect of applications for Child Arrangements Orders, Specific Issue Orders and Prohibited Steps Orders. James undertakes work at all stages of proceedings in private children matters, including conciliation, direction hearings, fact-finding hearings and final hearings. James regularly works with clients who are alleging or have been accused of domestic abuse, including matters of abuse to the child, and where there is Local Authority involvement.

 

James also represents clients in family injunction applications for Non-Molestation Orders and Occupation Orders, including Transfer of Tenancy.

 

Public Law:

James accepts instructions in public law matters and has represented parents and the Children’s Guardian at all stages of proceedings in respect of applications for Care Orders, Supervision Orders and Discharge of Care Orders. 

Civil law

James is regularly instructed on a variety of small claim and fast track matters, where liability and quantum are in dispute. This includes claims for personal injury relating to Road Traffic Accidents and Employers’ Liability with successful outcomes. James is also instructed on possession claims made under the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 and has frequently acted for local authorities and housing associations in respect of injunction applications.

Memberships 

Gray’s Inn

Wales and Chester Circuit

Family Law Bar Association

Education 

Law LLB, Swansea University – First Class Honours
BPTC/LLM, University of Law – Very Competent/Distinction