Government announced £16m grant funding for access to justice charities
The government have announced a new Legal Support Grant launching today (1st October) providing funding for 48 front line organisations delivering eviction, problem debt, benefit disputes and family breakdown legal support. The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has said £16 million is being allocated to charities including charities and advice providers, including Citizen’s Advice and Shelter Cymru, to expand […]
LSB chair warns international regulators to look ahead to pre-empt AI risk
The chair of the Legal Services Board (LSB), Monisha Shah, has warned regulators to “identify emerging risks before they become system challenges” and protect consumers while supporting innovation. In her opening remarks at the International Conference of Legal Regulators, Shah praised the “opportunities” presented by new technology such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), but emphasised the […]
Rise in family cases leads to calls for more non-court dispute resolution engagement
Increases in the number private family law cases in the courts has led to calls from family law professionals for the judiciary to more proactively point families in the direction of non-court dispute resolution (NCDR) options The latest quarterly family court statistics show an 11% increase in the number of private family law cases in […]
Law Society commits £300,000 to legal sector charities
The Law Society has committed an initial £300,000 to provide a further three years of funding to two charities operating in the legal sector, one focused on helping those who cannot afford legal advice, and the other providing mental health and wellbeing support for professionals. LawWorks, who will receive £130,000 in the first year, enables […]
Are grandparents being left behind by family justice reform? What 2026’s changes mean for grandparent applications
Grandparents play a vital role in many children’s lives, providing care, stability and continuity during times of family change. Yet when relationships break down, they can find themselves suddenly cut off, with limited legal routes to maintain contact. As family justice reforms reshape private law children proceedings, including the proposed removal of the presumption of […]
Celebrating 25 years of Support Through Court
The latest Today’s Family Lawyer podcast celebrates 25 years of legal support charity, Support Through Court. Joining podcast host David Opie, are Emma Kiely, Service Manager for the charity’s Birmingham office, and Melanie Bataillard-Samuel, founder of MBS Family Law, current chair of Resolution and a dedicated fundraiser for the organisation. With a dramatic rise in […]
Conduct in financial remedies: could reform revive the blame game?
The government is considering whether domestic abuse and other misconduct should play a greater role in financial remedy proceedings. Marcus Dearle, senior partner at Miles Preston, argues that serious misconduct must be recognised, but warns that reform risks bringing blame back into divorce through the back door. The government’s A Fairer End to Relationships […]