Family courts urged to prioritise domestic abuse allegations over parental alienation claims
In family court disputes in England and Wales, new guidance from the Family Justice Council advises giving greater weight to domestic abuse allegations than to claims of “parental alienation”. The recommendation aims to address common disputes arising in private law cases, where parents argue over child custody and visitation after separation. The advisory council’s report […]
Government faces challenges in addressing prison overcrowding amidst plans for expansion
Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood has acknowledged that even with the government’s plans to create 14,000 additional prison places by 2031, the UK prison system could still face a capacity crisis in the coming years. She warned that “building alone is not enough” to resolve overcrowding. The government has unveiled a 10-year strategy, titled the Plan […]
England’s chief prosecutor condemns crown court delays in rape cases
The backlog of rape and sexual offence cases in England’s crown courts is “totally unacceptable,” according to the nation’s chief prosecutor, Stephen Parkinson. The new Director of Public Prosecutions has made tackling these delays his “highest priority” as he launched a new survivor support programme aimed at addressing the challenges victims face. In an interview […]
Domestic killers face tougher sentences in latest move to halve violence against women and girls
Two new statutory aggravating factors for murder sentencing announced will mean judges will have to consider tougher jail terms for murders involving strangulation or when the killing is connected to the end of a relationship. The move will implement two outstanding recommendations from Clare Wade KC’s independent Domestic Homicide Sentencing Review. It is the latest […]
“Value over volume” for newly launched legal recruitment business
A new recruitment agency dedicated to the legal services sector has opened its doors to ‘address the evolving needs of the legal sector’ says its founders. VacantC Legal Recruitment has been co-founded by Bold Legal Group CEO Rob Hailstone, and technology executive Craig Taylor who was until recently Chief Revenue Officer at Thread Legal Software […]
Child Abuse on Caldey Island: Monks’ ‘heartless’ response condemned in report
A safeguarding review has revealed that victims of child sexual abuse on Caldey Island, off Pembrokeshire, were subjected to decades of cruelty, neglect, and hostility by the island’s Cistercian monks, as reported by The BBC. One survivor said the monks’ actions after the abuse made its effects “a million times worse”. The review found that […]
‘Diversity: Not Just a buzzword, but a business imperative for UK law firms’
When choosing a law firm, one might assume clients typically prioritise expertise, reputation, and value for money. However, in an age where social responsibility and fairness are becoming increasingly important, there’s another factor that is fast gaining prominence: diversity and inclusion (D&I). This year, in the Law Firm Marketing Club’s ‘What Clients Want 2024’ survey, […]
The direction of family law
I recently spoke at a family law masterclass for law students at Kings College. When preparing the talk, I started off by quoting my idol, Lady Hale, “A lot has happened in Family Law since the 21st century has begun, and we are only a quarter of the way through. A good parlour game for […]