4PB has launched a student essay competition focused on Financial Remedies. With this opportunity, 4PB aims to introduce current law students, as well as those who have completed their studies and are actively seeking pupillage,
Lawyers who help change lives through volunteering free legal help take centre stage at this year’s Pro Bono Week (6th-10th November). The 22nd annual celebration recognises the outstanding voluntary contribution made by the legal profession
As the global AI Safety Summit 2023 begins in Bletchley Park, Buckinghamshire, Refuge Research Lead, Dr Michaela Bruckmayer outlines concerns for the safety of women and girls as technology is weaponised as a tool for
Domestic Abuse Commissioner welcomes the Online Safety Act receiving Royal Assent and has described it as a “significant step forward” in protecting victims of domestic abuse from online harm. Campaigners who have worked tirelessly for
Wiltshire police are currently reviewing over 3,500 Clare’s Law applications filed between April 2015 and 2023 after discovering instances of incorrect or incomplete information provided. In light of these revelations, one staff member has been
A recent report, commissioned by the Local Government Association (LGA), has exposed the staggering profits of the largest independent providers of children’s social care in England. In the 2021/22 fiscal year, these top 20 providers
Ahead of the AI Safety Summit 2023, the Law Society of England and Wales has made artificial intelligence (AI) regulation recommendations for the government to consider. The recommendations, made in response to the government’s white
More than twenty Violence Against Women and Girls organisations, including Refuge, Women’s Aid, and End Violence Against Women Coalition, and the British Medical Association are concerned about the safety of domestic abuse survivors and victims
An independent report has revealed that a significant number of law firms are still struggling to fully comply with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) transparency rules, even though a minority of legal practitioners believe these
Barbara Mills KC, 4PB’s Joint Head of Chambers, has this week led a delegation from the Bar Council of England and Wales to Nairobi, where among other things, there was a meeting at the Nairobi
Parents up and down the country can see for the first time exactly what additional childcare support they will be entitled to over the coming months and years due to the government’s investment in childcare.
Hundreds of couples hoping to become parents but going through the distress of fertility issues will have their chances improved, as the government announces two significant law changes to IVF provision in the UK. Currently,
The Law Society of England and Wales is calling on its members to share their experience about how they are delivering unbundled legal services. Unbundling allows solicitors and clients to agree that some tasks traditionally
Recognising the vital role social workers play in supporting some of the most vulnerable children and families, local authorities will be allocated a share of £11.7 million to hire up to 461 extra social work
Simon Rowbotham, formerly of 7BR and Mai-Ling Savage, formerly of Garden Court Chambers, have joined 4PB. Simon is an experienced practitioner in financial remedies following divorce and the dissolution of civil partnerships, and receives regular
The Online Safety Act has today (Thursday 26th October) received Royal Assent, heralding a new era of internet safety and choice by placing world-first legal duties on social media platforms. The new laws take a
Today’s Family Lawyer would like to introduce our inaugural training sessions which will aim to provide family lawyers with the essential knowledge and skills they require to excel in their practice. While this marks our
In the United Kingdom, a silent crisis is unravelling within the family court system, as recent statistics reveal that 42% of family court cases involve parental alienation, with children under the age of five being
In the year ending March 2023, the United Kingdom has witnessed a concerning upward trend in the number of police-recorded ‘honour-based’ abuse (HBA) offences. The data, collected by the Home Office from police forces in
Victims of violent and sexual crimes are calling for a reduction in court transcript costs, which they have described as “unaffordable.” They informed BBC Newsnight that charging them thousands of pounds for copies of court
The Northern Lights DR conference returns to Leeds on 10th November, with a line-up of speakers to educate and inform on topics ranging from divorcing a narcissist to honing your listening skills. The opening and
A survivor of domestic abuse from Northampton is appealing to the public to support her new “life-saving” alert system by signing an online petition. Eve Mason, aged 37, was a victim of stalking by her
In 2022/23, the NSPCC’s Childline service delivered more than 105,000 counselling sessions on mental and emotional health and wellbeing. Out of these, more than 30,000 were specifically related to stress and anxiety. The NSPCC are
The Chairwoman of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) has expressed disappointment in the government’s handling of the inquiry’s recommendations, stating that victims have been left feeling neglected. Professor Alexis Jay, who concluded
Children’s services continue to make progress and maintain strong performance despite facing significant national challenges, according to a recent report commissioned by the Local Government Association. The report highlights the inspiring work of local partnerships,
National domestic abuse charity Women’s Aid has published a “first-of-its-kind” report into what influences children and young people’s attitudes towards domestic abuse, proving a direct link between the viewing of harmful misogynist content online and
New research published by the Law Society of England and Wales has found that the government’s digitisation of the court system is adding to the delays “plaguing” the civil court system and “undermining” people’s access
Women’s Aid has joined forces with the UK’s leading scheduled coach operator to support survivors of abuse by providing free National Express coach travel across the UK. The Road to Refuge scheme provides women, men
Laurus enhances its family law division with the appointment of Jacqueline Fitzgerald, in line with its strategy for growth and commitment to excellence. Joining from Grosvenor Law where she was also a partner, Jacqueline is
The Online Safety Bill is awaiting Royal Assent and the briefing gives an overview of its parliamentary stages and how it has been amended – House of Commons. The Online Safety Bill was introduced in
LawCare has seen a 24% increase in the number of legal professionals contacting them for support – based on the number of contacts from January to August 2023, compared with the same period in 2022.
In a recent systematic review published in the October 2023 edition of Child Abuse & Neglect: The International Journal, researchers emphasize the need to recognize childhood verbal abuse as a distinct form of maltreatment. The
On World Mental Health Day, the Law Society of England and Wales is calling for urgent reforms to the Mental Health Act. Law Society President Lubna Shuja said: “As we celebrate World Mental Health Day,
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has taken control of the running of the Solicitors Indemnity Fund (SIF), meaning solicitors’ clients will continue to be able to claim compensation – even if something is found to
The continued delays in the family courts mean families are the victims of a broken justice system, the Law Society of England and Wales warned. This warning comes as quarterly statistics from the Ministry of
The Victims and Prisoners Bill will be amended so parents who kill a partner or ex-partner with whom they have children will automatically have their parental responsibility suspended upon sentencing. The rule will apply to