New form to help victims of economic abuse navigate debt and trauma
Victims of economic abuse will soon find it easier to manage their debts, as 25 banks and building societies have committed to using a newly introduced document designed to simplify the process, as reported by The Guardian. The Economic Abuse Evidence Form (EAEF) allows money and debt advisers, trained by specialist charities such as Money […]
Over 300% increase in contacts to NSPCC Helpline about physical punishment against children
In the last year, NSPCC received triple the amount of calls to their Helpline surrounding concerns about children experiencing physical punishment. This included but wasn’t limited to children being hit, slapped, and shaken, as part of discipline and punishment. Between April 2023 and March 2024, their Helpline answered 1,451 contacts across the UK that mentioned […]
Successful cyber attacks up 77% year on year
The legal sector has seen a 77% increase in the number of successful cyber attacks increase by 77% over the past 12 months, from 538 in 2022/23 to 954 2023/24. The increase has been driven by the sensitive and personal nature of information held by firms, including financial information which can be sold on the […]
New powers for courts to penalise non-engagement in alternative dispute resolution in family trust and inheritance cases
As of 1st October 2024, courts in England and Wales will have the authority to impose legal costs on parties who fail to participate in non-court dispute resolution processes in cases under the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996 (TOLATA) and the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975, as reported […]
Law Society says ‘not surprising’ that victim confidence in the justice system is low
The Law society say they ‘aren’t surprised’ that victims have lost confidence in the UK justice system. Victims are no longer reporting some crimes to police because so many offenders are ‘never brought to justice’. A new report, external said the public are losing faith in the criminal justice system and have “rumbled” that police do not […]
Legal Services Board publishes research into diversity of the profession
The Legal Services Board (LSB) has today published research on the systemic barriers to equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in the legal profession, alongside a report exploring the judicial diversity pipeline. Law Society of England and Wales president Nick Emmerson said: “We welcome the LSB’s research and its visualisation of what is known about EDI […]
Costs orders in private children proceedings
Many parents agree the arrangements for their children after they separate or divorce without the involvement of lawyers, or the family court. An increasing number cannot do so, and this has led to applications in private children proceedings rocketing in recent years. The family courts are generally overwhelmed, and steps have been taken to encourage […]
