Samuel Larner

Samuel is undertaking a specialist pupillage in Family Law under the supervision of Kate Burnell KC and Damian Sanders.

Throughout the non-practising period (‘first six’), Samuel has gained extensive experience in both public and private children matters. Notably, Samuel has experienced:

• A composite two-week hearing regarding alleged sexual abuse and neglect (acting for the father);
• A composite two-week hearing regarding alleged inflicted head injuries (acting for the children’s guardian);
• Various Care Order proceedings relating to unexplained injuries;
• Representing applicants and respondents in private children law matters;
• An application for a Deprivation of Liberty Order; and
• An Oxfordshire application.

During the practising period (‘second six’), Samuel has undertaken work in the following areas:

• Acting for the applicant and respondent in non-molestation order applications;
• Acting for the applicant in Domestic Abuse Protection Order hearings;
• Representing the Children’s Guardian in care proceedings for various applications (e.g. Part 25 application for the instruction of an expert, application for PR and Declaration of Parentage);
• Representing the applicant mother in an application for a Prohibited Steps Order and a Child Arrangements Order;
• Representing the mother in contested interim removals;
• Representing various parties at IRH/EFH for Care and Placement Orders;
• Representing the LA in an application for a Special Guardianship Order; and
• Representing both applicant and respondent at FHDRAs and DRAs.

Additionally, Samuel has drafted an advice in support of an extension to a public funding certificate for the instruction of two junior counsel, and an advice in support of making a Supervision Order alongside a Special Guardianship Order.

Samuel continues to welcome instructions in all areas of public and private family law matters.

Prior to pupillage, Samuel was a Senior Lecturer in Linguistics at Manchester Metropolitan University, where he published research in the areas of forensic linguistics, adverse childhood experiences, ethics, and youth justice. Notable research projects explored the role of adults in facilitating children’s allegations of sexual abuse, the effects of Covid-19 on the youth justice system, and racial disparities in Pre-Sentence Reports in the youth courts.

Samuel has served as a magistrate on the Adult Crime Bench in Lancashire, developing expertise in evaluating evidence, structured decision-making, and methodical application of the sentencing guidelines.