Access to means-free legal aid extended for families and domestic abuse victims
Access to means-free legal aid has been extended for both parents and those with parental responsibilities as well as domestic abuse victims, the Legal Aid Agency has announced. The changes, which have been welcomed by the Law Society, took effect on 1st March 2023. In public family law cases, the extension applies when opposing applications […]
‘Buoyant’ family law sector set to see rise in demand
Demand for family law expertise is set to climb 4% over the course of 2023 in what marks the fourth year of growth in five years for the sector, a new study has found. According to LexisNexis’ latest Gross Legal Product (GLP) Index for the sector, family law has proven “particularly buoyant” and is subsequently […]
Government considering cost shifting to promote mediation over family courts
Lord Chancellor Dominic Raab has suggested he is considering a cost shifting policy as the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) looks to steer private family law cases towards mediation and out of the family courts. Speaking before the House of Lords constitution committee, the Secretary of State for Justice said that though the government remains committed […]
McFarlane considers best practice when servicing a parent in refuge
President of the Family Division Sir Andrew McFarlane has considered the practice that should be adopted when court orders need to be served upon a parent residing in refuge. The need for guidance stems from the tension between the need for the court orders to be served and the need to ensure confidentiality of the […]
Most vulnerable given more support to pay for court fees
The most vulnerable will be better supported to access justice despite the rising cost of living thanks to new proposals published on the 7th March to reform the government “Help with Fees” scheme, says the Ministry of Justice. The scheme supports people on low incomes and with little to no savings with court and tribunal […]
Give police power to seize domestic abusers’ house keys, pleads senior coroner
After a women was murdered by her husband after he was released on bail, a senior coroner demanded that the police be given the authority to confiscate house keys from people suspected of domestic abuse. Andrew Cox, the coroner for Cornwall, reached the decision after hearing the circumstances surrounding Sharon Harmon’s 2021 stabbing to death. […]
Domestic abuse: “We’ve a way to go yet”
In this latest Today’s Family Lawyer podcast host David Opie is joined by family lawyer and domestic abuse specialist Richard Port MBE. Richard is well known to many family lawyers and the wider family law community for his outspoken views, particularly on social media. He has also been awarded an MBE for his commitment to […]
Diary of a legal aid lawyer: Getting the most from your talented legal aid team
When I first started at The Family Law Company, I asked a member of our support staff where she worked – she said she was “just in the basement”. But to me there was no “just” about it. All good things are built on solid foundations; the most important people are often behind the scenes. […]
International Women’s Day: Female lawyers ‘positive about future’
Over eight out of 10 female lawyers claim that they feel positive about their future in the legal profession, new research coinciding with International Women’s Day has found. Realm Recruit surveyed a cross-section of 65 lawyers from its extensive network on topics relating to gender equality within the law. It found that 88% of lawyers […]
