The number of legal professionals specialising in child care is not sufficient to meet demand, it has been claimed.

A new article in the Law Gazette posits more solicitors in the field are needed to present cases for local councils.

Child care work has expanded in recent years, particularly in light of changes to legislation and high-profile cases such as the death of Baby P.

The news source reports unqualified paralegal staff are increasingly being used to present cases and North Yorkshire County Council principal lawyer George Eddon said that he would be wary of such a policy "because of the nature of the cases".

However, chair of the Law Society's children law sub-committee Uma Mehta insisted that unqualified staff being sent to court by local authorities is "not a problem", as "only those with adequate experience and under supervision" are selected for such work.

She also called for action to ensure legal aid firms can take on more newly-qualified or trainee solicitors.

In an assessment of the three main UK political parties' General Election manifestos, the same publication noted a lack of commitment to legal aid.