More victims of rape and sexual offences will be spared the stress of being cross-examined in court under a measure rolled out to a further 14 locations. The scheme, which has already been successful in 12 Crown Courts, allows victims and witnesses of crimes such as rape and modern slavery to have their cross-examination video-recorded […]Read More
Revised sentencing guidelines that clarify how courts in England and Wales should sentence offenders convicted of arranging or facilitating sexual offences against a child were published this week by the Sentencing Council following consultation. Under the revised guidelines, which will come into effect on 31st May 2022, judges and magistrates will consider the intended sexual harm […]Read More
Kinship carers must be given access to non-means tested free legal advice to ensure they know their rights and can secure a child’s future, avoiding the need for them to be taken into the care system, the Law Society of England and Wales said today in response to a parliamentary report. The All-Party Parliamentary Group […]Read More
Many small law firms are thinking big when it comes to the tech they need to see them through another period of profound change. But the latest research from LexisNexis’ Bellwether report shows that 47% say they have no plans to invest in any technology at all. Today, LexisNexis Legal & Professional released the 10th […]Read More
Given by Helen Adam, Mediator and chair of the Family Solutions Working Group, this online event was hosted as part of the Family Justice Council’s annual interdisciplinary conference, which was held in Bristol on Wednesday 6 April 2022. This year’s topic was “Private Law – a proportionate and safe approach”. For those who could not […]Read More
Tory MP Nickie Aiken has launched a campaign demanding new workplace legal protections for employees undergoing in vitro fertilisation (IVF). It comes as women are increasingly facing discrimination and being sidelined at work for undertaking fertility treatment. Speaking to the Times Radio, Aiken said: “Women are facing discrimination at work and even being forced out […]Read More
The Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (DVDS), often referred to as “Clare’s Law”, was implemented across all police forces in England and Wales in March 2014. It means members of the public can ask the police for information on their partner’s criminal history and therefore know if their partner poses a risk to them. Under the […]Read More
Solicitors acting for Coodes’ Mental Health and Community Care Team say its workload has more than doubled over recent months, with an exponential increase in cases as a direct result of the Covid pandemic. At the start of Mental Health Week (9-15 May 2022), the South West legal firm believes loneliness and social isolation are […]Read More
The Law Society of England and Wales has responded to the Queen’s Speech, which took place on Tuesday, announcing a range of new bills and reforms. Bill of Rights Law Society president I. Stephanie Boyce said: “The Human Rights Act confirms and protects the rights and freedoms of people in the UK and provides robust […]Read More
Chaired by Lisa Harker, Director of Nuffield Family Justice Observatory Young people’s experiences of extra-familial risks and harms (EFRH) – including exploitation, abuse or criminality – may be both a cause and consequence of trauma. In recognition of this, many children’s social care departments have sought to develop more effective responses to EFRH through developing […]Read More
Lawyers slash marketing budgets and headcount in 2021 with outsourcing and digital marketing embraced New research amongst law firms and accountants with more than 15,000 employees reveals that marketing and business development budgets were cut to 2.6% of turnover in 2022 from 3.1% in 2020. For a typical professional services firm with a £20 million […]Read More
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has launched a public consultation on its 2022-23 Business Plan and budget, including details of the work it plans to focus on in the coming year, continuing its commitment to accountability and transparency. Covering the third and final year of the SRA’s current Corporate Strategy, the plan sets out the […]Read More
Latest figures from the ONS show that in 2020, there were 103,592 divorces granted in England and Wales, but with the new no fault divorce law that came into force on the 6th April, this figure is likely to increase in the coming years. Thinking about family finances may be the last thing couples want […]Read More
A world-first Legal Advisory Report and Policy Guidance just published advises medical institutions and professionals practicing in transplantation medicine on their international legal responsibilities to prevent complicity in organ trafficking and forced organ harvesting – the act of killing a person for their organs. The Legal Advisory Report, published by international human rights law firm, […]Read More
Peter Fish and Catharine Seddon appointed as members of the Board of the Children’s and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass). The Rt Hon Dominic Raab – Deputy Prime Minister, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice – has approved the appointments of Peter Fish and Catharine Seddon as members of the Board […]Read More
London law firm Stephenson Harwood has offered staff the option to work from home permanently – but remote workers will see their pay cut by 20%. According to the BBC, the firm recruited workers from outside London during the pandemic who worked remotely but were paid less. The firm is now offering this remote working […]Read More
Kingsley Napley is pleased to announce four new partners at the firm as part of its annual promotions round. This brings the total number of partners at the firm to an all-time high of 72, of whom 38 (52%) are female. Those being made up to partner, with effect from 1st May 2022, are: Jessica […]Read More
HMCTS has issued guidance on its new divorce service including an overview of the changes to divorce law following the implementation of the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020. A range of materials are available including a recording of the webinar on the new divorce service, in addition to the webinar slides and instructional videos. Read More
The High Court of England and Wales has launched the recruitment round for the 2022/23 intake of the Judicial Assistants (JA) scheme. The role of JA offers those in the early years of their professional practice a ringside view of the trial process and first instance decision-making from the perspective of the judge, for the […]Read More
The legal age of marriage and civil partnerships in England and Wales is to be raised from 16 to 18 and penalties are to be introduced for those facilitating underage marriages. The Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Bill, which was introduced in June 2021, was passed in parliament on Tuesday without opposition and is […]Read More
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