Alex Norris has become the first non-lawyer to be granted the post of Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice in a Labour government. The MP for Nottingham North and Kimberley, who on Monday
The Court of Appeal has rejected an appeal by parents against an adoption order for their children after they highlighted a “procedural irregularity”. The Family Court at Portsmouth approved an adoption plan for two children,
Legal aid rates for family mediators, which have remained frozen for 25 years, must be improved to “ease pressure on family courts”, the Family Mediation Council (FMC) has warned. The organisation is calling for urgent
The government has announced default overnight curfews and the switch-off of addictive features to protect 16 and 17-year-olds on social media. The plans follow Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s announcement in mid-June that the UK
Children’s cases referred to the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Services (Cafcass) rose 9.7% in the last year, according to the latest figures. In the three months from 1 April 2026 to 30
A Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) report has found that sanctuary schemes “play an increasingly important role” in enabling survivors of domestic abuse to “remain safely in their homes” – but that
A Family Court judge has given approval for a parental order to be made for a British couple following complications arising from a child being born to a surrogate in Minnesota, USA. One of the
Nagalro has welcomed the Independent Review of Social Work Professional Regulation in England but argues that proposed reforms should go further when it comes to family procedure rules in courts. The review by Dame Annie
Ministry of Justice (MoJ) data reveals the number of Black judges has remained “disappointingly stagnant”. The diversity of the judiciary statistics for 2026 show Black judges make up only 1.6% of the judiciary, up slightly
A judge for the family division of the High Court has given permission for a “blameless” couple who had fertility treatment in Sri Lanka to apply for an adoption order after it was discovered that
A new report calls on the government to embed a recognition of kinship care and understanding of trauma into its special educational needs (SEND) reforms. The All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Kinship Care report,
The widow of a “giant of the legal profession in Birmingham” has lost her appeal against a 28-day suspended prison sentence for contempt. Sophie Fleming was previously found to have harassed the executors of her
The solicitor general has announced a national rollout of the Victims’ Right to Review scheme a year on from its launch. Following a successful pilot launched in the West Midlands in June 2025, rape and
Most parents who go to court to make arrangements for their children do not return to court, according to new research by the Nuffield Family Justice Observatory. The new report, Routes Through Court for Families
A petition calling for parents convicted of abuse to automatically lose parental responsibility has attracted more than 13,500 signatures. The petition, which has three months still remaining, could potentially trigger a Parliamentary response or debate
The government’s proposed social media ban for under-16s could create a new battleground for separated parents, family lawyers at HCR Law have warned. The proposals, which are intended to protect children from harmful online content
New research reveals that across every form of contact, law firms scored themselves significantly higher for customer service than customers did. A survey of 200 law firms and 5,000 consumers discovered the gap between business
The government has announced that social media platforms will be blocked from offering services to under-16s. The move follows Australia’s social media ban which came into force in January. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said
Half of women working in legal services say their current working pattern is unsustainable for their long-term health. A majority (67%) of women lawyers have considered moving jobs or taking a career break due to
New salary research has revealed the biggest disparity in pay begins four years after lawyers have qualified. Realm’s 2026 Private Client Salary Guide explores salary benchmarks from a survey of 1,000 lawyers and experts across
The former CEO of National Association of Licensed Paralegals (NALP), who “fought tirelessly” for better recognition of paralegals in the UK, has announced she is retiring. Amanda Hamilton (pictured), who is credited with transforming the
New research from Bangor University has revealed systemic barriers to justice for victims of non-fatal strangulation with “inconsistent application” and a need for police training. The offence of non-fatal strangulation came into force under the
The Law Society of England and Wales has launched a survey about LGBTQ+ solicitors’ experiences five years after it first launched its Pride in the Law initiative. The Pride in the Law 2026 survey will
A report showing the majority of judgments in the family court contain gender bias and victim-blaming was presented to MPs in Parliament this week. Right to Equality’s Scratching the Surface report contains analysis of 91
Necessary reform of the “technical gaps” and “insufficient regulatory powers” around surrogacy and reproductive law may not be resolvable in one statute, according to Baroness Ruth Lynn Deech. Addressing the House of Lords last week,
A judge has said the family court is “indebted” to the press for helping to locate two children reported missing across two continents, in a case which illustrates the importance of open hearings and transparency
The government has committed £8.4 million to roll out services to help children and young people in care find and maintain relationships with trusted adults nationally. The Enduring Relationships programme is designed to help connect
The family justice system “is not working as it should” according to a new five-year strategy report published by the Nuffield Family Justice Observatory. “The family justice system makes life-changing decisions about tens of thousands
Breast Cancer Now’s annual Tour de Law charity race is now open for registration. The event will see barristers and solicitors from across the UK participate and compete in a virtual charity cycling event over
Pre-nuptial agreements are no longer the preserve of the super-rich. Their use is rising rapidly, particularly among younger generations, and the once-controversial contracts are now seen as a sensible way to plan for a responsible
Anyone reporting wrongdoing in the legal sector to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) now has greater protection against the risk of retaliatory action. The SRA has been designated a prescribed person under the Public Interest
The Judicial College has set out an overview of its training in domestic abuse for magistrates and judges in family court for the first time. The overview, published in addition to the Judicial College Prospectus
Social landlords will be able to evict domestic abusers under a new law proposed by the government, which also seeks to better protect abuse victims from homelessness. The landmark Social Housing Bill, which returned to
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has revealed a 58% increase in misconduct reports “placing significant pressure” on the number of investigations it is having to undertake. In the six months to the end of April
The Legal Ombudsman (LeO) has published its latest raft of public interest decisions, revealing “serious failings in the delivery of legal services”. The six new decisions reveal failures to provide clear advice, carry out essential
American parents who owe “significant child support” will have their passports revoked under new plans to implement an existing but little-used federal law. The US State Department under President Donald Trump says it will use