Women in England and Wales are projected to have smaller families and have children later in life than previous generations, according to new data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Girls turning 18 in
The UK Government has announced a comprehensive update on its strategy to combat child sexual abuse and exploitation, with a major package of reforms aimed at delivering justice for victims and bringing perpetrators to justice.
In the latest episode of the podcast, host David Opie sits down with James Nutt, Laboratory Operations Manager at Cansford Laboratories, to explore a fresh perspective on the use of hair strand testing in the
More than 100 women have now come forward with allegations against the late Mohamed Al-Fayed, the Egyptian billionaire and former Harrods owner, accusing him of sexual abuse and assault spanning decades – as far back
For the first time, victims from across England and Wales will be able to apply to observe private Parole Board hearings held to decide if a prisoner is safe to be released. It will let
New sentencing guidelines for ethnic minority offenders have been scrapped after a standoff between senior judges and the government. Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood opposed the rules, arguing they would create a “two-tier” justice system. The
The daughter of Angela Crompton, whose name inspired the Ask for Angela safety scheme, is calling for stricter government action to ensure its proper implementation. Angela was killed by her husband in 2012, and the
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has published information about the number of children subject to applications to deprive them of their liberty under the inherent jurisdiction of the high court (DoL applications) in the Family
More children and young people will be supported to achieve and thrive in their local school, as the government announces that 10,000 new school places will be funded for children with SEND, delivering on Plan
The Legal Services Board (LSB) has reaffirmed its commitment to improving the performance of legal regulators. Speaking at a recent meeting, LSB Chief Executive Craig Westwood outlined the Board’s approach leading up to the next
The Ministry of Justice has released an update on the implementation of the Government’s Pathfinder programme for private law reform, including stakeholder support, a commitment to continuous improvement, and a focus on scaling successful initiatives.
Between October to December 2024 there were 24,171 applications made (74% from sole applicants, 26% from joint applicants). This was a decrease of 2% from the same quarter in 2023, according to the Family Court
As the HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) Reform Programme, established to help modernise the courts and tribunal system, comes to an end, the Law Society of England and Wales has played an influential role
The latest findings from the Domestic Homicides and Suspected Victim Suicides 2020-2024 Year 4 Report reveal the devastating toll of domestic abuse, with experts warning that urgent action is needed to prevent further loss of
The Law Society of England and Wales welcomes the reduction in family court backlogs and delays, but further investment in civil legal aid is needed to support children at risk of being deprived of their
The two largest legal regulators in England and Wales have fallen short of expected standards, according to the latest annual performance assessment published by the Legal Services Board (LSB). The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and
The Law Society of England and Wales has backed the amendments to the Mental Health Act 1983, which is a positive step towards ensuring that essential mental health services guarantee dignity, respect and access to
The growing number of Britons using foreign surrogates to have children has raised concerns among campaigners, who warn it is introducing commercial surrogacy into the UK “through the back door”, as reported by The Times.
HMP Millsike is the first of four new jails to be built as part of the Plan for Change to create 14,000 extra prison places by 2031. This extra capacity will help put more violent
Tackling the criminal court backlogs will help ensure the public can access the swift justice that everyone needs, says the Law Society of England and Wales. Investment into the criminal justice system could help free
Tatiana Soroka, the former wife of Russian billionaire Farkhad Akhmedov, is facing a £2 million legal bill as she pursues a negligence claim against Baroness Shackleton of Belgravia and her law firm, Payne Hicks Beach,
The Family Mediation Trust (TFMT) has announced that the Family Mediation Council (FMC) has been awarded funding through the Family Mediation Impact Fund to develop a resource aimed at strengthening domestic abuse screening and assessment
New findings reveal that 94% of UK adults who took part in the survey believe that emotional abuse in childhood can have a lasting psychological effect well into adulthood. The NSPCC commissioned a YouGov survey
The Law Society of England and Wales welcomes the government’s proposed changes to increase legal aid fees. The changes will lead to the highest rate increase after nearly 30 years of underinvestment in our justice
Podcast host David Opie is joined by Rukhsana Koser and Sarah Palmer, Solicitor’s at Enable Law, to discuss Special Educational Needs (SEN) and family law and shed light on the increasing challenges families face and
A sexual predator who raped a 10-year-old he groomed on social media has had his sentence increased after the Solicitor General, Lucy Rigby KC MP, intervened. The Court of Appeal increased Ryan Sutton’s sentence by
Recognising the need for modernisation, HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) launched a digital divorce service, revolutionising the way couples apply for divorce. Since its digital transformation, the divorce application process has significantly improved. Over
The UK Government has published its initial response to Shifting the Scales, a report by the Domestic Abuse Commissioner for England and Wales, which exposed critical failings in the criminal justice system’s handling of domestic
A senior executive at the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has reassured solicitors that no firm decision has been made regarding the potential removal of client accounts, as reported by The Law Society Gazette. The recent
Michael Fuchs, the billionaire property tycoon who once held a stake in Manhattan’s iconic Chrysler Building, has suffered a significant legal setback in his prolonged divorce dispute, as reported by The Times. The latest ruling
A new study examining divorce among older couples has found that when wives experience poor health, marriages are significantly more likely to break down – whereas husbands’ health struggles have little impact on the likelihood
Social media companies, including Elon Musk’s X, are set to be investigated by Ofcom for their failure to prevent the spread of child sexual abuse material online, as reported by The Telegraph. The UK regulator
The Government has reintroduced emergency measures to address prison overcrowding, despite an early release scheme aimed at easing pressure on the system, as reported by The Telegraph. Labour’s Justice Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, has reactivated Operation
New research has revealed the UK areas searching for divorce lawyers the most, with Oxford coming out on top. The study by family law firm Reiss Edwards analysed data from Google on over 350 keywords
As the Law Society of England and Wales celebrates its bicentenary in Bristol on 13th March, they reflect on the significant impact solicitors in the Southwest region have had on the legal landscape, the local
Four law firms have been fined a combined total of £47,666 by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) for failures in complying with anti-money laundering (AML) regulations. The breaches, spanning several years, included inadequate risk assessments,