VAWG rights groups raise concerns over ‘landmark’ sentencing reforms
Sentencing reforms announced in the last week in the wake of the review by former Justice Secretary David Gauke, have been described as ‘landmark’ by the government but those campaigning for the rights of those impacted by domestic abuse and sexual violence are concerned the reforms don’t provide adequate protection for survivors. Recommendations for a […]
1 in 4 experience domestic abuse as ONS better captures the experience of victims
It is estimated one in four adults have experienced some form of domestic abuse since the age of 16, an increase from previous figures which estimated the number was closet o one in five, after the the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said it had ‘improved’ the way it collected data on victims of domestic […]
Legal Aid Agency cyber incident update
The Legal Aid Agency continues to update its Frequently Asked Questions page following the cyber attack which has forced many of its systems offline. The page was created in the wake of the attack on 23rd April. Since then the agency has said the extent of the breach is worse than first feared with unconfirmed […]
Communication is key when dealing with delays, says Legal Ombudsman in new guidance
The Legal Ombudsman (LeO) has set out its expectations for service providers when dealing with third-party delays, which stress the importance of effective communication. The LeO says almost half of the complaints it receives are about communication and delays, with a ‘common feature’ being whether the delay could have been caused or influenced by a […]
‘Lawyer’ now legally protected term in Scotland, as Law Society hails ‘major milestone’
A new bill passed by the Scottish Parliament will prevent anyone who isn’t licensed from using the title ‘lawyer’, following a 10-year campaign by the Law Society of Scotland. The Regulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Bill will give the title of ‘lawyer’ the same legal protection as ‘solicitor’, making it an offence for anyone to […]
No better time for financial advisers to enter divorce and separation market
There is no better time for financial advisors to enter the divorce and separation market according to a new report from membership body Resolution which estimates the value of the opportunity at around £1/2bn. ‘Unlock the divorce and separation market; a £500 million opportunity for financial advisers‘ has been published by Resolution in partnership with […]
Navigating mental health in family law
The impact on mental health for all involved in family law cannot be ignored: Litigants’ lives are invaded in the most fundamental manner by the State; mental health is weakened in all but a few cases. The long-term mental health of children who are the subject of court proceedings is significantly worsened by those proceedings. […]