The Legal Ombudsman (LeO) has published the next round of its public interest decisions as part of efforts to create ‘greater transparency and accountability’ in legal services. In the latest naming and shaming, complaints relating
The legal sector faces a turning point as more than half of people responding to a survey on their mental health and wellbeing said they anticipated leaving their role within the next five years, and
There has been a 50% fall in the number of family mediators offering legal aid since 2018 meaning it is ‘increasingly difficult for the public to access legal aid for family mediation’ according to a
A Scottish court has ruled a separated couple who had previously cohabited could adopt the sibling of their adopted child in a ruling which could encourage English courts to adopt a flexible and more pragmatic
The latest Ministry of Justice (MoJ) figures show children continue to be ‘trapped’ by the courts system, with decision times on public law cases still in excess of the 26 week time limit. There were
The government’s ambition to halve violence against women and girls (VAWG) lacks momentum amid calls for reassurance it remains a priority from Domestic Abuse Commissioner for England and Wales Dame Nicole Jacobs. The commissioner was
The continued impact of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012, which resulted in the removal of eligibility for legal aid for the majority of private law cases in April 2013, has
Deprivation of Liberty orders vastly outnumber applications to place children in registered secure accommodation as a severe shortage of secure children’s homes bites say The Nuffield Family Justice Observatory (NFJO). Ministry of Justice figures (MoJ),
Ward Hadaway has appointed 39 legal specialists across its Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester and Newcastle offices, as part of the Top 100 law firm’s long-term strategy to increase its market share and extend its client base.
Solicitors have heavily criticised the courts infrastructure in a damning new report by the Law Society of England and Wales describing the condition of court buildings as ‘shambolic’ with many in poor states of repair,
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has written to respondents to the consultation on the holding of client funds by solicitors to confirm it will not be taking any immediate action on removing client account from
More than half of UK adults are unaware marriage revokes a Will according to research conducted by charity consortium Will Aid. The annual campaign which returns in November, has conducted a survey of 2000 adults
Legal and professional services business Knights has announced it has launched a dedicated family law team in its Leeds office with the appointment of Senior Associate Ella Dodgson and Associate Rebecca Laffan. Dodgson joins from
Family justice body Resolution has announced the winners of its 2025 awards programme, hosted at Church House, Westminster on Thursday 18th September. The body, which represents more than 6,500 professionals, celebrated its annual awards which
Family law firms across the country have announced a raft of appointments with newly qualified solicitors choosing to remain after the training contracts and partner promotions. Guildford-based TWM Solicitors has confirmed that six second-year trainees
The Today’s Family Lawyer Podcast welcomes Annmarie Carvalho, director of The Carvalho Consultancy (TCC), to discuss her work at the intersection of law and therapy and the launch of her new book, ‘Staying Sane in
In its seventh year, the National Paralegal Awards recognised the work of paralegals up and down the country at a ceremony hosted at the Burlington Hotel in Birmingham last week. Sophie Wells, childcare law paralegal
The Legal Services Board (LSB) has confirmed interim Chair Catherine Brown will continue in the role until at least the end of March 2026. Following approval by the Lord Chancellor, Brown will continue as chair
Family Justice Minister Sarah Sackman KC MP will deliver the keynote speech when the Family Mediation Council holds its 10-year anniversary conference in London later this week. Over 200 delegates and speakers will attend the
Two parents were told they were damaging their own efforts to have their children returned to them after planting covert tracking devices into their children’s bag and toys while they were in foster care. The
Family professionals have been left ‘extremely concerned’ by the news there will be significant cuts to the number sitting days in the London Financial Remedies Court, reducing the number of opportunities for financial remedies proceedings.
Two former law firm partners have joined forces to launch their own family practice under the umbrella of the Excello Law consultant banner. G&G Law is a boutique family firm based in London’s Holborn, founded
A government consultation on the registration of all organisations who provide tax advice and interact with HMRC could see lawyers required to register with the agency under new legislation. HMRC have identified a need to
The Legal Aid Agency (LAA) has begun publishing user guides and frequently asked questions for its new portal ‘Signing into Legal Aid Services’ (SILAS) developed in the wake of the cyber attack which rendered the
Children and families are being let down by unacceptably long delays in family courts, and inconsistent timescales across the country according to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) report into improving family court services for children.
Digitalisation and reform has made access to online divorce service available through HMCTS easier for public users, but legal professionals say they found some of the processes ‘burdensome’ due to document filing issues and lack
There will be no improvements to family court services without ‘comprehensive investment’ said Bar Council Chair Barbara Mills KC in response to the Public Accounts Committee’s (PAC) report ‘Improving family court services for children.’ Published
Yorkshire firm Lupton Fawcett, which has had a presence in the county since 1895, has been acquired by Flint Bishop as part of the latter’s ‘ambitious growth strategy’. The transaction, due to complete at the
The new Legal Aid portal, which will replace the previous portal which was hacked by cyber attackers earlier this year, will see a three-phase restoration starting from ‘early September’ though to October. Responding to a
His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service is actively reviewing and adopting artificial intelligence (AI) in its effort to moderns the courts and tribunals service said Gary O’Reilly, Chief Technology Officer in a blog on the
The report in to bullying and harassment within the Bar has concluded 36 recommendations to tackle what is described as a ‘culture of impunity’ by Baroness Harriet Harman KC, the report’s author. The review was
The ongoing case of Potanin v Potanina has taken an ‘unexpected’ turn after the The Court of Appeal overturned a previous decision to dismiss an application for leave under Part III Matrimonial and Family Proceedings
A family court has denied permission for a mother to relocate her child to Dubai, citing child’s welfare and the importance of maintaining his relationship with his father. His Honour Judge Willans made the ruling
45% of parents share details of their children online, known as ‘sharenting’, and overestimate the effectiveness of privacy settings, leaving them and their children vulnerable to cyber crime. The warning come from the University of
In this episode of the Today’s Family Lawyer podcast, host David Opie discusses the increasing number of disputes between separating partners when it comes to pets, and a new working group looking at amending legislation
Encouraging or assisting serious self-harm is to be a ‘priority offence’ in update regulations attached to the Online Safety Act. The government has introduced new regulations which require tech companies to be legally required to