Lindsay Halliwell, Partner in Steele Raymond’s Family team, has strengthened the firm’s family mediation services, becoming the second member of the team to offer Child Inclusive Mediation. Already a Family Mediator since 2011, becoming Accredited
Victims of domestic abuse will be better protected from perpetrators under new plans to strengthen the police’s fight against violence towards women and girls, announced by the Home Secretary. Marking the first step in the
New changes to the law will force tech firms to clamp down on the sharing of non-consensual intimate images on their platforms as part of a drive to tackle online sexual offending. The offence of
Baroness Helen Newlove, the Victims’ Commissioner for England and Wales, has raised concerns that not all victims have been informed about the early release of offenders under a new government scheme addressing prison overcrowding. This
The family law sector has seen a wave of appointments and expansions, as firms strengthen their teams and extend their reach to meet growing client needs. Reeds Solicitors LLP recently announced the opening of its
A record number of individuals applied to legally change their gender last year, as the UK government weighs options to fulfil an election promise aimed at streamlining the process, as reported by The Times. Official
A renowned family law specialist has released a new book that will provide crucial advice for lawyers and the public in navigating the complexities of child welfare disputes. Tom Quail, head of family law at
NSPCC are calling for a national strategy for England to tackle child neglect, as professionals report that the current response is “inadequate” and “slow” 83% of those working across healthcare, the police, children’s social care
Mothers under the age of 20 are at the greatest risk of being involved in care proceedings in the 10 years after having their first child, finds a new study led by UCL researchers. The
Women’s Aid have launched its flagship annual fundraising challenge, ‘Step Forward for Survivors’. The Step Forward for Survivors Challenge is calling on the public to show their solidarity with survivors of domestic abuse by running
In June this year, a national policing strategy was launched to help forces target serial domestic abusers during the Euros football tournament. Developed by the UK’s Football Policing Unit, the strategy aimed to provide forces
It has been announced that Karen Barham, a consultant family solicitor at law firm Moore Barlow, has made the shortlist of the LexisNexis Family Law Awards 2024 in the category of Family Law Champion of
Cheshire West and Chester Council has been urged to improve its care for homeless young people and children transitioning out of care, as reported by The BBC. Ofsted also flagged concerns over a small number
Nigerian nationals Abraham Alade Olarotimi Onifade, Abayomi Aderinsoye Shodipo, Nosimot Mojisola Gbadamosi and Adekunle Kabir have been jailed for a total of 13 years after a hearing at Woolwich Crown Court. The court heard how,
OurFamilyWizard have announced that Alicia Farran has joined their UK Team. As part of OurFamilyWizard’s continued growth and expansion in the UK, they have said that it’s with huge excitement that they welcome Alicia to
Only one in five (21%) believes justice is accessible, warns the Law Society of England and Wales. This warning comes as research by the Law Society and the Legal Services Board reveals that the justice
Victims of economic abuse will soon find it easier to manage their debts, as 25 banks and building societies have committed to using a newly introduced document designed to simplify the process, as reported by
In the last year, NSPCC received triple the amount of calls to their Helpline surrounding concerns about children experiencing physical punishment. This included but wasn’t limited to children being hit, slapped, and shaken, as part
As of 1st October 2024, courts in England and Wales will have the authority to impose legal costs on parties who fail to participate in non-court dispute resolution processes in cases under the Trusts of
Recent high-profile marriages and divorces have reignited conversations around the growing need for prenuptial agreements as an “increasingly important tool” for those looking to safeguard their pre-marital wealth ahead of entering into a marriage. A
New victim survey seeks to understand the impact of court waiting times — including delays caused by the Crown Court backlog — on victims across England and Wales. The Victims’ Commissioner, Baroness Newlove, has launched
In the wake of the case of Child Q, a 15-year-old Black girl who was subjected to a traumatic strip search by police at her school in Hackney, the Children’s Commissioner launched an extensive investigation
The government has initiated a contingency plan to manage the strain on the prison system, following a surge in sentences related to recent riots. Operation Early Dawn, a pre-existing emergency strategy, has been triggered to
A lack of continued support for families when their children return home from care is costing hundreds of millions of pounds each year, according to new research that we commissioned. The study, Supporting Children and
According to the Office for National Statistics, there has been a significant rise in couples choosing to cohabit before marriage across the UK. Following an analysis of data spanning the past 20 years, instances of
BBC broadcaster Nikita Kanda has joined charity Refuge as an ambassador to shine a light on the charity’s life-saving work supporting survivors of domestic abuse and is one of the faces of Refuge’s Summer Escape
Osbornes Law, a London-based firm, has launched free fertility testing for all staff as part of a new health benefits programme, making it the first law firm to offer such a service, as reported by
Results from NSPCC’s new survey reveal that 86% of UK parents – more than eight out of 10 – whose children play, believe in-person play has a positive impact on children’s wellbeing. The YouGov survey
An east London law firm, Symons Gay & Leland LLP, has been fined £12,636 for violating anti-money laundering regulations, as reported by The Law Society Gazette. The breaches occurred between June 2017 and July 2023,
Prisoners serving whole life orders – which means they will never be released – will now be automatically blocked from getting married or entering a civil partnership after the new Lord Chancellor signed a measure
A project which places lawyers within a trusted health and community centre has demonstrated how the system could be successful in transforming the UK’s legal aid provision. The Australian Bagaraybang bagaraybang mayinygalang (BBM) Health Justice
The Legal Services Board (LSB) published its Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024 (PDF). The report describes the LSB’s work to ensure regulation contributes to reshaping legal services to better
Refuge has issued a comment responding to the scale of domestic abuse and violence against women and girls (VAWG) after stating that ‘we must reiterate domestic abuse is a crime’ and it is a social
Solicitor Sophie Hughes has returned to Manchester-based family law firm Merrick where she started her legal career. Sophie rejoined after successfully completing her training contract with Glaisyers ETL. She gained a Distinction in her LLM
More than five million people and families with children could qualify for free legal help and advice in cases such as unfair eviction or domestic abuse, if the new UK government implements changes recommended by
Findings from a new Women’s Aid report show that 22.2% of women supported by the charity’s No Woman Turned Away project have experienced further abuse from the perpetrator while waiting for a refuge space, with