Efforts to help the legal sector better understand the role of the Legal Ombudsman (LeO) and provide insight into their decisions are to be redoubled under a ‘renewed commitment to using statutory powers to publish
The government have confirmed a 30% increase in maximum compensation limits payable under the miscarriage of justice system in England and Wales. Currently the limits are £1 million for 10 or more years imprisonment or
People leaving care and domestic abuse survivors are to be given greater access to safe and secure social housing following changes to local connection requirements, enacted as part of the government’s Plan for Change. Previewed
The government have announced a 10 year fund aimed at boosting pupil achievement, supporting children with mental health issues, and reducing reoffending rates amongst young people in what is described as a ‘groundbreaking’ initiative bringing
In this episode of the Today’s Family Lawyer podcast, host David Opie welcomes Sally Robinson, partner and head of the HCR Law Family Team in Central England. Broadcasting from the Northampton office, Sally brings over
The government has released the latest official statistics related to the diversity of the judiciary, prompting the president of the Law Society of England and Wales to call for ‘significant progress to level the playing
More people than ever are ‘unbundling’ legal services, with one in five consumers dividing the tasks that need to be carried with their solicitors. The highest incidences of the practice were found in probate, trademarks,
In a decision that sees the third largest divorce settlement in English legal history, a wife has been awarded £230m after the court decided a post-nuptial agreement was signed without proper legal advice, financial disclosure,
The number of Deprivation of Liberty (DoL) orders in the first quarter of 2025 is broadly consistent with previous quarters and remains ‘high’ according to the Nuffield Family Justice Observatory (NFJO). The latest numbers have
Northern Ireland is consulting on proposals to changes to divorce law which would bring the country more in line with the ‘no fault divorce’ legislation introduced in England and Wales in 2022 under the Divorce,
The Solicitors Regulation Authority’s annual AML and sanction data collection has started this week, with firms required to provide information about AML and financial sanctions activity and how it’s managed. All regulated firms must provide
Official statistics show the number of fathers aged over 60 is on the increase, as the numbers of children born to younger parents falls. Office for National Statistics (ONS) numbers show a 14% increase in
Family justice representative body Resolution has announced the finalists for it 2025 awards, hosted in London on Thursday 18th September 2025. Church House will host the annual awards event which is a ‘celebration of the
Stourbridge headquartered Talbots has announced the acquisition of Tinsdills Solicitors, in what it describes as a ‘strategic expansion’ into North Staffordshire and Cheshire . Talbots’ offices stretch across the Black Country, Birmingham, Coventry, Shropshire and
A government consultation in civil legal aid funding for housing and immigration has recommended uplifts for providers; with a decision on an uplift for criminal legal aid for solicitors by up to £92m later this
The Supreme Court has dismissed the appeal of a wife who argued the transfer of nearly £80m from her husband for the purposes of future tax planning was a shared asset and therefore subject to
A new statutory instrument has been rushed through Parliament to deal with the aftermath of the cyber attack at the Legal Aid Agency (LAA). The Criminal and Civil Legal Aid (Amendment) Regulations 2025 were passed
In the second full year of data following the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020, so-called ‘No Fault Divorce’ (NFD), 74% of divorces are now processed under the regime. Implemented on 6th April 2022, there
The family law community has been reacting to the landmark Standish v Standish decision in which the Supreme Court dismissed the claims of a wife who contended a near-£80m transfer from her then-husband to her
Super-regulator, The Legal Services Board (LSB), has announced Chief Executive Craig Westwood will leave the organisation after just a year in the role having tendered his resignation citing personal reasons this week. Westwood was appointed
Collaborative lawyer and mediatory Louise Masters has joined Ward Hadaway as a Partner in its Family and Matrimonial team in the Newcastle office to drive the growth of its One Lawyer, Resolution Together service alongside
In this episode of the Today’s Family Lawyer podcast, host David Opie is joined by Jude Eyre, Associate Director at the Nuffield Family Justice Observatory (NFJO). Together, they explore the newly released Toolkit for Judges
The Supreme Court will announce its ruling on the ‘pivotal Standish v Standish case on Wednesday 2nd July. The ongoing saga, which has worked its way through the courts system, will reach a conclusion with
South-east based Rix and Kay are the latest firm to have been acquired by Knight PLC, the third in as many months after the acquisitions of Birkett Long in May and IBB Law in March.
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) have appointed a new Chief Executive Officer to replace the departing Paul Philip, who leaves after nearly a decade in the role. Philip retires later this year and will be
New sentencing guidelines preventing pre-sentence reports (PSRs) which reference personal characteristics, such as race or ethnicity have come into effect. Under the new legislation, sentencing guidelines which risked differential treatment for different races and religions,
The divorce of ultra-wealthy Russians has left a judge in the Royal Courts of Justice with ‘no choice’ but to place a suspended sentence on one party for repeated failures to comply with court rulings.
The government has confirmed its commitment to supporting and investing in the legal sector, laying out its plans in the 10-year Modern Industrial Strategy shared this week. In a statement to Parliament, the secretary of
A campaign to tackle dangerous online pornography has succeeded in amending the Crime and Policing Bill to include criminalising the act of strangulation in pornography. Following the Independent Porn Review, conducted by Baroness Gabby Bertin,
Two in five people believe pre-nuptials should be part of standard marriage contracts, while one in three believe monogamy is no longer a ‘realistic’ ideal in modern relationships. The proportions increase in younger adults where
The government has acknowledged Anti Money Laundering (AML) regulations ‘are seen as a major burden’ to professional business service firms, and has pledged to reform the controversial rules by the end of the year. Writing
Deputy Prime Minister, The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Angela Rayner has told the House of Commons the government will exempt certain victims of domestic abuse and young care leavers from
MPs have voted in favour of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill which would in certain circumstances legalise assisted dying in England and Wales. After some last minute concerns by those in favour
Local authorities in England and Wales have been invited to be part of a pilot to provide financial support to relatives or friends who step in to raise children when their parents cannot The Kinship
A ‘reverse mentoring’ toolkit developed by LawCare and the University of Leeds aims to help law firms and legal organisations become more inclusive, supportive and fair places to work. The term refers to junior employees
Research from UK professional services firm S&W has found that more than half of business owners polled have, or are planning to, cut staff numbers in response to the increase in employer National Insurance Contributions