“Comprehensive review” of civil legal aid market underway – but changes remain years away
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has announced a review into the civil legal aid market in an effort to move to a “more effective, more efficient, and more sustainable system” – but changes likely remain years away with the report not published until 2024, leading to calls for interim measures. The review The MoJ is set […]
Police failing to safeguard sexual abuse victims from honour-based abuse – report
A new report has found police officers’ response to sexual abuse sometimes fails to recognise the potential risk of honour-based abuse for victims. The report was published in response to a police super-complaint filed by the Tees Valley Inclusion Project which raised concerns that the police response to sexual abuse was putting victims from ethnic […]
Domestic abuse: Cost of living “pushing services to breaking point”
New research from Women’s Aid has suggested the cost of living crisis is pushing domestic abuse services to “breaking point”. Responding to a Women’s Aid survey in late 2022, 96% of specialist frontline services said they were facing financial issues related to the cost of living crisis, with 78% stating their funding was not rising […]
Rape cases reaching court up 91% from 2019
The latest update on the Rape Review has revealed the number of rape cases reaching court is up 91% from 2019 as improvements are being made across the criminal justice system. The number of cases referred by the police to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is also up 95% with the volume of cases charged […]
Judge calls for more media scrutiny on Wales’s social care “scandal”
Lack of accommodation forces Welsh 14-year-old girl to move to south-east England A judge in Wales has called for media attention to be drawn on the ongoing failings in the Welsh social care system. Judge Gareth Jones made the comments during a ruling regarding a 14-year-old’s placement whereby the child from North Wales was placed […]
Natalie Sutherland: Understanding fertility and surrogacy law
Recorded in November 2022 this Today’s Family Lawyer Podcast features Head of Modern Families Department at Burgess Mee Natalie Sutherland discussing her work as a fertility and surrogacy law specialist and the launch of the Fertility Workplace Pledge; a commitment by business to better engage with the fertility challenges employees often face. The discussion covers […]
Family mediation: In conversation with Mary Raymont
Ahead of National Mediation Week commencing on 16th January, Today’s Family Lawyer spoke with Mary Raymont of Advantage Mediation on the role mediators play in family law – both now and in the future. What is family mediation? Family mediation is a voluntary approach to achieve solutions for families involving an independent mediator. This approach […]
Conveyancers: The key to solving cohabitation disputes?
With UK marriage rate dropping in recent years, an increasing number of young couples choose to cohabit rather than “tie the knot”. With finances stretched due to increases in the cost of living, and salaries not matching that increase, many couples are choosing to live together and, importantly, pool their resources to get a much […]
