Journalist and managing editor of the Today’s Media publications: Today’s Conveyancer, Today’s Family Lawyer and Today’s Wills and Probate.
A report from the Institute for Government (IfG) on the potential impact of government plans to restrict jury trials reveals the changes would “unlock only relatively modest reductions in demand”. Instead, the IfG says, the
The Judiciary of England and Wales has published its Diversity and Inclusion Strategy 2026-2030, which sets out its priorities for expanding the diversity of the judiciary, particularly the number of Black judges. The Judiciary said
Children who are affected by domestic abuse are not being consistently recognised as victims despite it being a requirement of the Domestic Abuse Act, according to a new joint report by Ofsted, the Care Quality
The Financial Abuse Code implemented by UK Finance, the trade association for the UK banking and financial services sector, has been adopted by almost 90% of the UK’s mortgage providers. Yesterday, eight more institutions signed
The government says it will launch a consultation on children’s social media use, with restrictions on ‘addictive’ features, an outright ban on social media access for children, and better age checks among the measures to
All victims going through the Crown Court will have free access to judges’ sentencing remarks in their case, the Ministry of Justice has announced. The move is the latest measure to improve transparency and victims’
A High Court judge in a test case involving a dispute over the ownership of property belonging to a former husband and wife has ruled WhatsApp messages are not legally binding signatures in the transfer
Setfords, Knights and Ward Hadaway have reported strong growth in their latest financial results, with the latter enjoying record turnover of £53.6 million in 2025/25, up 11.6% year-on-year. The firm, which recently merged with Teesside
Regional law firms are celebrating their successes this month, with new offices, a milestone anniversary and expanded services. Bell Lamb & Joynson (pictured) has re-established its presence in Liverpool with the opening of a new
A family legal aid lawyer has questioned the priorities of government as legal practitioners continue to deal with the fall-out from the Legal Aid Agency (LAA) cyber attack last May. Stacey Phoenix, director and head
The Law Society of England and Wales has backed the Online Procedure Rule Committee’s (OPRC) first Online Procedure Rules, as the consultation to seek views on the draft rules draws to a close today (Thursday).
The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill will enter its sixth day of the Committee Stage in the House of Lords on Friday, but Lord Falconor of Thoroton (pictured) has warned the legislation could
The Legal Services Board (LSB) has appointed Richard Orpin (pictured) as its new chief executive officer (CEO). Orpin joined the LSB in 2023 as director of regulation and policy and has almost 20 years of
Divorced women typically have £53,160 less in pension savings than divorced men in the UK, with men walking away with £85,800 compared to £32,640 for divorced women. The research by Mercer, now:pensions and the Pension
Manchester and Cheshire-based Maguire Family Law has appointed Jennifer Hudec to lead its Manchester city centre team, while Collyer Bristow has announced Kate Moran joins as partner in its London-based family team. Moran (main photo)
AI-generated image abuse is escalating at an unprecedented rate and the government and tech platforms must take urgent action to protect women and girls, the domestic abuse charity Refuge has warned. The call from Refuge
Researchers from Northumbria University and the University of London have called for the UK banking industry to ‘design out’ economic abuse, after a six-month study identified how banking products, services and technologies are intentionally weaponised
The government has set out proposals to use interest on lawyers’ client accounts as “a crucial source of funding” to support and enhance services in the justice system. Funds would be directed to “areas of
The Ministry of Justice has published an analysis of the experience of children and families in its Pathfinder pilot, which was launched in Dorset and North Wales in February 2022 to improve the court experience
HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has updated its guideline hourly rates for solicitors, with a recommended 2.28% increase effective from 1 January. The increase will see the top hourly rate (a grade A fee
Jennifer Carr has joined the private family team at Jackson Lees as senior associate, while Harrogate Family Law has welcomed senior family lawyer Charlotte Davies to its team. Carr (main picture), who has more than
The government is calling for “thousands of ordinary people from all walks of life” to help deliver justice by becoming magistrates. The Ministry of Justice said it is looking for “everyday heroes from all backgrounds”
Kent law firm Brachers has completed the acquisition of fellow Kent firm Gill Turner Tucker. The acquisition comes a year after Brachers’ partnership with private equity-backed Lawfront, in a deal which took the national group
The first working Monday of the year has been dubbed ‘divorce day’, due to a supposed influx of couples seeking legal help to end their marriages. But much like the thoroughly debunked Blue Monday, which
Vulnerable children in the care system in England will be provided with more stable and loving homes under government plans to radically accelerate foster carer recruitment. The government says it has committed to tackling the
Today’s Family Lawyer is written for and about the sector, and we want to share the news and stories that are important to you. Take a look at our updated submission guidelines to find out
The “full power of the state” will be deployed in the largest crackdown on violence perpetrated against women and girls in British history, as part of new strategy announced by the government today. All police
Figures from the charity Surviving Economic Abuse, which reveal 27% of mothers in the UK with children under 18 have experience economic abuse in the last year, are “shocking but not surprising,” according to Stowe
With the deadline for responding to the draft business plan and budget of the Legal Ombudsman (LeO) now passed, the Law Society of England and Wales has announced it has rejected the proposals. In November,
The Department for Education has announced plans to “significantly strengthen” reforms to protect children from abuse, through the creation of a new Child Protection Authority. The proposals for a new public body, which are the
National firm Pepperells Solicitors has strengthened its north east presence with its second acquisition in two months, following its acquisition of Elmhirst Parker LLP in October. The deal with Seaham-based Michael Cook Law Firm Limited
A new expert panel chaired by deputy prime minister David Lammy has met to discuss plans that will ensure the UK remains a leading global centre for legal services. Legal and business experts who make
The home secretary has given an oral statement to Parliament on the independent inquiry into grooming gangs, promising it will be completed within three years and supported by a £65 million budget. The inquiry will
A government strategy to lift 550,000 children out of poverty by 2030 will see the biggest reduction in poverty in a single parliament since records began, the prime minister’s office has said. Describing the strategy
A Youth Endowment Fund survey that has revealed high rates of domestic abuse among teenagers is “deeply alarming”, Refuge says. The UK’s largest specialist domestic abuse organisation said the survey data, which revealed two in
An order allowing a hospital trust to remove ventilation and other intensive care support from a child has been set aside after the Court of Appeal ruled the High Court hearing in which the decision