LegalEx London shows how AI, used properly, can unlock real efficiency for law firms
At LegalEx London on 25 February, LEAP was back with a clear message for the profession. In 2026, the challenges facing law firms are no longer abstract. They are practical, daily pressures around efficiency, productivity, risk management, cyber security, client service and staff burnout. For Craig Matthews, chief executive officer (CEO) of LEAP, the conversations […]
What can we expect in family law in 2026?
Family law never stands still. Legislation, rule changes, decisions from our higher courts that change previously accepted thinking and technological developments all keep practitioners on their toes. But what are the key changes and challenges facing family justice professionals and advisers in 2026? Top of the list is almost certainly the wide-ranging consultation the government […]
SRA formally censured for failures over SSB Group
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has been formally censured by the Legal Services Board (LSB) over its failure to protect consumers affected by the failure of SSB Group. The LSB’s report into the SRA’s handling of SSB Group identified “prolonged delays in identifying and responding to clear warning signs” at the firm, with the decision […]
Government commits £126m to kinship care pilot across seven local authority areas
The Department for Education (DfE) has committed £126 million to fund a pilot financial allowance for kinship carers across seven designated local authority areas in England. The department hopes the scheme will reach around 5,000 children over a programme lasting up to three and a half years. An estimated 130,000 children currently live in kinship […]
President of Family Division sets aside alienating behaviour findings and limits use of expert evidence
In a significant judgment on expert evidence and alleged alienating behaviour, the president of the Family Division reaffirmed that expert evidence cannot substitute judicial fact-finding. The Rt Hon Sir Andrew McFarlane handed down judgment in Y (Experts and Alienating Behaviour: The Modern Approach) in February at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, following a […]
New guidance released on preparing court bundles for litigants in person in family proceedings
The Office of the President of the Family Division has published new guidance on preparing court bundles for litigants in person in family proceedings. The guidance accompanies practice direction 27A – Family Proceedings: Court Bundles, which came into effect on Monday, and applies to court cases in England and Wales which are being heard in […]
Risk of future domestic abuse not sufficient to justify removal, court finds
In contested proceedings under Part IV of the Children Act 1989, His Honour Judge Willans has concluded two children should remain with their father under a supervision order, preferring “good enough” parental care over a safer but more interventionist placement. The decision was handed down at the Family Court in West London following a January […]
High Court weighs faith, medicine and a child’s best interests in life-sustaining treatment case
The High Court has published a deeply sensitive judgment concerning the withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment for a young child with a severe and progressive genetic condition. In Cardiff and Vale University Local Health Board v SR & Ors [2026] EWHC 348 (Fam), the court was asked to determine whether it was lawful and in the […]
When ‘high conflict’ isn’t conflict at all: A trauma-aware lens on domestic abuse in family law
Sara Davison, also known as The Divorce Coach, describes how clients experiencing domestic abuse may present during proceedings, and explains how family lawyers can identify patterns of behaviour and offer support and encouragement. In family law, the phrase ‘high conflict’ appears frequently. It’s used to describe relentless email exchanges, entrenched positions, emotional volatility, last minute […]