‘Momentous’ amends to Employment Rights Bill sees recognition for expectant parents who suffer miscarriage
A prominent family lawyer has won her fight to recognise the rights of expectant parents who suffer a miscarriage before 24 weeks of pregnancy following the inclusion of bereavement leave in an amendment to the Employment Rights Bill. Keeley Lengthorn, partner at RWK Goodman, began her efforts to see expectant parents who suffer miscarriage before […]
No More Week: Financial control in relationships across Essex and Suffolk
With No More Week (2nd – 8th March) raising awareness of domestic abuse and sexual violence, new research by Ellisons Solicitors in Essex and Suffolk highlights a lesser-known but highly damaging form of abuse; financial control. A survey of 267 local residents found that nearly 1 in 5 (19.48%) had either personally experienced or knew […]
Private equity firms have invested over £1.18bn into UK law firms since 2019
Since 2019, private equity firms have invested over £1.18 billion into UK law firms, with a record £534 million injected in 2024 alone, according to research by Acquira Professional Services. Traditionally resistant to external ownership, many firms are now reconsidering their stance, enticed by the potential for growth, digital transformation, and strategic expansion. The research […]
Ministry of Justice to increase 171 court and tribunal fees by inflation from April 2025
In early April 2025, and subject to parliamentary approval, the Ministry of Justice will increase 171 court and tribunal fees to account for changes to the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The income generated from these uplifts will help to support the efficient and effective running of His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS). The department […]
Gap in nations’ awareness of red flags of domestic abuse, survey reveals
New data commissioned by domestic abuse charity Refuge reveals the scale of domestic abuse is significantly underestimated, with only a quarter of UK adults (26%) aware that 1 in 4 women will experience it in their lifetime. While nearly 80% of people would report physical abuse, when it comes to the less obvious forms of […]
International Women’s Day: More new female solictors attained partner equivalent positions compared to their male counterparts
This International Women’s Day (8th March 2025), the Law Society of England and Wales encourages the profession to continue supporting women’s progress to senior levels. In 2023, more new female solicitors (832) attained partner equivalent positions compared to their male counterparts (522). Despite advancements, female solicitors still represent only 34% of partners or partner equivalents, […]
New regulatory proposals to strengthen lawyers’ ethical standards
New regulatory measures to strengthen ethical standards in the legal sector have been proposed today, to initiate a significant shift in how lawyers’ ethics are taught, overseen and supported in workplaces. The Legal Services Board (LSB) is seeking views on how regulators support lawyers to fully understand and uphold their ethical duties throughout their careers. […]
Children’s Mental Health: a consideration for family law practitioners every week
In 2015, the charity Place2Be launched its first Children’s Mental Health Week and this now takes place in February each year (3-9 February 2025). Those who work in the family law sphere witness firsthand some of the difficulties that children, sadly, experience with their mental health. Children often struggle to come to terms with the […]