Called to the Bar by Gray’s Inn July 2004
Victorian Practising Counsel (Division A, Part 1), Australia, August 2024.
James Schofield is developing a broad practice in family law and children law, children’s rights and human rights, in all areas of international law and in criminal defence and administrative law, including immigration, disability discrimination and education law.
A highly experienced advocate for parents, children and Children’s Guardians in the Family Courts since 2008.
James Schofield acts for children through their Guardian and for parents or other carers. He has a strong interest in proceedings where Non-Accidental Injury is alleged or involving children with Special Educational Needs.
He has a specific interest in challenges to extradition, deportation, juvenile detention and international human rights, public international law and international humanitarian law.
He was Called to the Bar of England and Wales in 2004 and admitted to the Victorian Bar in 2024.
Prior to the Bar, he worked as an overseas correspondent for the ABC Australia in Africa (1991-1995) and the Middle East (1996 to 1997), for the BBC in London (1997-1998) and for the Financial Times of London in Lebanon (1998-2000).
My work
Direct Access
James welcomes direct access clients because he believes in providing the best possible service for clients at an affordable cost. In some cases, it may be possible to resolve your problem without going anywhere near the door of a court. But if the dispute continues, James has the advocacy skills to give you the best possible chance of securing the outcome you want. He works hard for his clients, preparing properly.
What my clients say
“I would like to say that Mr James Schofield has provided me with a superb service after my first barrister made a mess of my case and I lost all faith in the legal system.
Mr Schofield started from a disadvantaged position and with a great deal of hard work, both at weekends and Bank holidays, he managed to turn my case around.
He pays attention to detail, researches the facts, has a conscientious approach and is full of strategy ideas for which I am hugely grateful.
He has been a breath of fresh air after my previous experience of the legal system, and I highly recommend him for his tenacity with my case.”
– Ms H (2024).
“I would strongly recommend James to anyone finding themselves in the Family Court with complex Child arrangement cases, including leave to remove applications.
His calmness and reassurance in a time of distress was most important to me and the outcome for our children’s well-being could not have been better.”
– Mr AE (2018), in a case which turned on whether the mother should be allowed to take the children to live with her abroad. The Court refused the application for leave to remove and directed that the children should live with each of their parents.
“After two and half years of ongoing disputes concerning the arrangements for my children I felt that the problem was irresolvable and I was extremely stressed and despondent.
I had also paid a considerable sum of money on solicitors’ fees which had had no impact on my wife’s intransigence.
I approached James as a direct access client, my wife having made an application to the court alleging emotional and mental abuse on my part towards my children.
I met James in conference and he immediately grasped the fundamentals of the situation and was able to direct me in my response by preparing a position statement for me and suggesting how the matter should be addressed in front of the Judge.
At the subsequent hearing James was able to negotiate an agreement with my wife which no one had been able to achieve before.
The allegations were dismissed by the Judge due to James’ advocacy and an order agreed which was far better than I had hoped for.
James has now given to my children through his skill as a negotiator and advocate a shared care arrangement that both of them had wanted and which will most certainly work in their best interest.
Without James’ calm, intelligent and determined approach my children would still be caught up in a battle between my wife and I and restricted as to the amount and quality of time they now spend with me.
I cannot recommend James highly enough to those caught up in long protracted disputes.”
– Mr C (2016)
Professional & academic
Memberships:
Member, International Commission of Jurists (Australia Section) since 2021
JUSTICE
Member, International Law Section of the Law Council of Australia
Bar Human Rights Committee
Gray’s Inn
Victorian Bar
FLBA
Education:
BA (Hons), MA (Oxon)
Graduate Diploma in Law (Commended)
Bar Vocational Course (Very Competent)
1995 Logie Award (Australian television award) for most outstanding achievement in television news (Rwandan genocide).
1994 Walkley award (Australian journalism award) for best application of the radio medium to journalism (Somalia).
1994 Walkley award for best coverage of a current story (Sudan).
Runner-up for the 1995 Golden Walkley Award for Excellence in Journalism, Australia’s highest award for journalism.
He was also Highly Commended for a report from a scene of conflict on the West Bank (1997).