Report recommends sweeping reforms to tackle “national epidemic” of child sexual abuse
The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse has published a long-awaited report on its findings, recommending a string of reforms including the removal of the three-year limitation period for personal injury claims brought by victims. The Inquiry Panel was formed seven years ago following a string of public child sexual abuse claims against high-profile individuals. […]
Judges raises concerns for parents forced to represent themselves in care case
A Deputy High Court judge has raised concerns after a couples were told they must represent themselves in a complex care case because they were £36 over a legal aid limit. Judge Richard Todd said the couple, who lost the case involving their teenage child who has “complex” health needs, were at a “real disadvantage” […]
ENOUGH: Government launches new campaign to tackle abuse
The Home Office has launched a new campaign – “ENOUGH – Violence Against Women And Girls” – in its latest effort to tackle sexual or physical abuse or violence against women and girls. The campaign sets out five approaches – the “five Ds” – which people can use to reduce violence: distract; delegate; document; delay; […]
Research reveals 34% gap in earnings between male and female barristers
Bar Council states findings show there is still a “long way to go” New analysis shows that women barristers earn 34% less on average than male barristers, but the pay gap is decreasing. The analysis by the Bar Council show that despite the average earnings across 2021 for female barristers increased by 6% while male […]
Sunak must abandon UK Bill of Rights, urges Law Society president
President of the Law Society of England and Wales Lubna Shuja has urged new prime minister Rishi Sunak to abandon the Bill of Rights Bill, which she says represents a “lurch backwards for British justice”. Here is Shuja’s full address to the new prime minister. Our justice system is beset by backlogs and plagued by […]
President of family division suggests a rebrand of mediation
Sir Andrew McFarlane, the president of the family division, delivered a speech at the John Cornwell lecture at the Family Mediation Association Conference. He stated: “It is put forward gently, rather than a statement of a firm conviction, but I wonder how well the term ‘mediation’ is understood by the parent in the street. I […]
Keeley Lengthorn and the Baby Loss Awareness Campaign
In this Today’s Family Lawyer podcast, host David Opie is joined by baby-loss awareness campaigner Keeley Lengthorn. Keeley is a partner at Taylor Rose MW and has spent much of 2022 campaigning for greater baby-loss awareness in UK employment conditions. Keeley tells her own story which tragically involves her own loss and being the first […]
Child’s birth to same-sex couple prompts bureaucratic tangle
You wouldn’t be surprised to hear that, when a same-sex couple have a child following lawful IVF treatment, each of them has a right to be registered as the child’s legal parent. However, as a High Court case showed, whilst the law has generally kept pace with social change, the same cannot always be said […]
How is the cost of living crisis affecting parental support for university children?
Halls have become home, Freshers Week has come to an end and now it’s time for the hard work to start. Another cohort of young people has started its university journey. No one is escaping the current cost of living crisis, including the student population. A staggering number of students are expressing concern about making […]
