MPs vote to decriminalise abortion
A majority of MPs voted to decriminalise abortion in the open debate in Parliament this week. A majority of 242 passed an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill which will ensure women who terminate a pregnancy after 24 weeks or without approval from two doctors will no longer be criminalised. As it stands the […]
Law Society ‘supports SRA’s focus on core responsibilities’ following Axiom Ince review
The Law Society of England and Wales has announced that it supports the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s (SRA) reprioritisation of work and the emphasis placed on investing in its core functions in the 2025-2026 business plan and budget consultation. The SRA’s consultation, launched in May, aims to address the shortcomings highlighted in the independent review of […]
LSB survey finds higher prices, but availability of remote services offers greater choice
New research from the Legal Services Board (LSB) reveals the price of legal services is rising, but the transparency of the prices offered is improving and consumers are benefitting from more services being made available remotely. The Prices of Individual Legal Services in England and Wales looks at five commonly used legal services: conveyancing, divorce, power […]
PM u-turns on grooming gangs inquiry
Prime Minster Sir Keir Starmer has apparently u-turned on the decision to hold an enquiry into grooming gangs, accepting the recommendations of Baroness Louise Casey and announcing a national inquiry will be conducted. The Prime Minister had previously indicated a national review into child sexual abuse by Professor Alexis Jay published in 2022 was sufficient […]
Hatton Family Law acquired by Stowe
Chatham specialist family law firm Hatton Family Law has been acquired by Stowe Family Law expanding the presence of the private-equity backed firm into the Southern Home Counties, said Stowe Chairman Ken Fowlie. Hatton Family Law joins Chapman Pieri, Watson Thomas Solicitors, Crisp & Co and Hawkins Family Law as another acquisition by Stowe, who […]
‘Urgent need’ for enhanced accountability and responsiveness when it comes to complaints – LSCP
There is an ‘urgent need’ for enhanced accountability and responsiveness across the legal services sector when it comes to providing clients with both information about redress and complaint, and handling complaints about services provided. A survey conducted by the Legal Services Consumer Panel (LCSP) has identified 46% of the Legal Ombudsman’s (LeO) investigations found poor […]
In the age of AI and rising costs, NALP says paralegals are more relevant than ever
Today’s Media spoke to Amanda Hamilton, director and patron of the National Association of Licensed Paralegals (NALP), about the evolving role of the paralegal and NALP’s role in the profession’s voluntary self-regulation. A recent survey measuring public perception of AI in the legal sector found that the public isn’t yet ready to fully trust the technology in […]
Understanding gaslighting and narcissistic behaviour
In this powerful episode of the Today’s Family Lawyer Podcast, host David Opie welcomes Shoba Aziz, an experienced barrister at Great James St Chambers, for an important conversation exploring the psychological dimensions of domestic abuse—specifically narcissistic behaviour and gaslighting. Drawing on over 20 years in legal practice, Shoba shares her deep expertise in private child and family law, especially […]