Qualified Legal Representative (QLR)

A lawyer appointed by the court, free of charge to the parties, to conduct cross-examination in family proceedings where one party is, or is alleged to be, a perpetrator of domestic abuse. The scheme was introduced by the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, which inserted Part 4B into the Matrimonial and Family Proceedings Act 1984, with changes to the Family Procedure Rules, brought into force on 21 July 2022, to put an end to the practice of perpetrators cross-examining their victims directly in court — and vice versa, so that an alleged victim doesn't have to question their alleged abuser either. Where the domestic abuse threshold is met, the court must prohibit the parties from cross-examining each other in person. If the party does not appoint their own lawyer and there is no satisfactory alternative, the court can appoint a QLR to conduct the cross-examination on behalf of the party who would otherwise have done it themselves. The QLR is a legal representative drawn from a court-appointed list; their role is limited to conducting (or facilitating) the cross-examination — they are not the party's representative for the whole case, and they don't act as that party's solicitor or advocate on other issues. The scheme is designed to protect victims from the trauma and unfairness of being questioned by their abuser while preserving a fair trial for both sides: the cross-examination still happens, but it's carried out by an independent lawyer rather than by the party personally. A litigant in person who faces this situation should tell the court as early as possible that a QLR is needed, so the appointment can be arranged before the hearing.