In a national survey of full or part-time employed people 9 in 10 workers (92%), who now increasingly divide their time between home and the office, would be willing to commute further to buy or
The news that all children aged 12 to 15 in the UK will be offered one dose of a Covid vaccine will come as a relief to some parents and children alike. But for separated
Winckworth Sherwood, the leading full-service UK law firm, today announces that Sarah Ingram has joined the Family practice as Partner. Sarah brings with her invaluable experience, having worked on many cutting-edge family law cases over
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) today announced that more than a thousand people have signed up to take the first ever Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) assessment in November. The new single rigorous examination means that
Solicitors are calling for more “pet-nup” clauses following surge in post-pandemic pet disputes. An estimated 3.2 million UK households have acquired a pet since the start of the pandemic, according to the Pet Food Manufacturers’
On 6th September, the Government announced an overhaul of the UK’s fertility laws, with plans to extend the storage limit for gametes (sperm and eggs) and embryos from 10 to 55 years for everyone. This
Resolution has announced the shortlist for the inaugural Resolution Awards which will celebrate the achievements of professionals who have supported families and children during a global pandemic. This year sees three new award categories join
One of the Midlands leading independent law firms has appointed a new CEO to help it capitalise on a record year of performance. Talbots Law, which employs more than 280 people across its six offices
Official family court statistics for April to June 2021 published on 30 September show there were an estimated 66,357 new family law cases – up 14 per cent compared to the same period in 2020.
A landmark survey into the experiences of LGBT+ lawyers and LGBT+ equality in the profession conducted by the Law Society of England and Wales has identified significant progress, but more is needed. “In the last
Solicitors in England and Wales will celebrate Black History Month by embracing the ‘Proud to Be’ theme, which encourages Black people to celebrate and share the pride they have in their heritage and culture. Law
The British Wills and Probate Awards sponsored by Executor Solutions returns on 21st October 2021. Today’s Family Lawyer invites its readers to share the details with colleagues to get involved in celebrating the achievements of
Cybercriminals are becoming more aggressive, a recent report reveals. The report shows that cybercrime gangs are using even more sophisticated ransomware to extort millions from firms across the UK. The average ransomware demand has also
Employers in the legal sector have been provided with guidance by the Law Society and Cardiff University, outlining the reasonable adjustments firms and organisations could make to help them recruit and employ disabled staff. It
In June 2021, the HM Inspectorate of Constabulary published its review of policing domestic abuse during the pandemic. While the review stated the UK had not suffered an increase in reports of domestic violence that
Children law in your hands When is the last time you picked up a text book? In this digital homeworking age, so much of our research and reading is now through a screen, but this
Chief executive of the Law Society of England and Wales Paul Tennant will be leaving the organisation at the end of the year. He will join the Abbeyfield Family and take up a new role
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has won a further grant from the latest round of Regulators Pioneer Fund (RPF) to help connect those using new legal technologies with those who need their services. The award
Legal mental health charity LawCare has today released the findings of its research study Life in the Law. The research into wellbeing in the profession captured data between October 2020 and January 2021 from over
In July HMCTS confirmed that the use of its online divorce portal will be made mandatory for legal representatives from 13 September 2021 (although it will remain possible for some types of application to be
Meetings between the Government and regulators are set to discuss potential changes to the current redress structure, if the performance of Legal Ombudsman services does not improve. The LSB will hear initial feedback on whether
Following a consultation into court costs earlier this year, fees will increase from the end of this month. The costs of some Family Court applications are set to increase, in line with inflation, following the
An Industry Working Group of experts has been formed to improve standards, reliability and security in electronic signatures. The Ministry of Justice has published details of a newly-formed Industry Working Group of experts that aims
After a year and half of homeworking, the shift in guidance on 19 July 2021 recommending a return to the office has left many members of the legal profession facing a dilemma. While some will
The Office for Professional Body Anti-Money Laundering Supervision (OPBAS) has released its latest report on progress made in tackling money laundering by regulators over the past year. While this year’s report acknowledges that professional body
As of 13 September, all new divorce applications must be made via the MyHMCTS portal. Paper applications will no longer be accepted. I welcome this change, provided the portal is up to the task. Over
The will of HRH Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh is to be sealed for 90 years following an order of the president of the family division. Sir Andrew McFarlane, president of the family division
The National Paralegal Awards, hosted by the PPR is taking place on Thursday 23rd September 2021. This event is a virtual award show and is free to attend by registering here This year there are
A report conducted by law firm RPC has revealed that fines for data protection breaches issued by The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) in the latest financial year have increased by 1580% compared to the previous
Cost limit increases for emergency civil legal aid certificates came in to effect on 13 September 2021, but certificates for investigative representations are excluded. The government has increased the cost limit for emergency civil legal
Leading family set 4PB is moving to a new address – St Martin’s Court, Paternoster Row. The move comes as the set found it increasingly needed a more modern and accessible space with far better
The Department for Education has announced a £20 million support package to help low-income and vulnerable families in England by improving access to early education, health and care services. The £20 million package will include
The latest Cafcass figures for August indicate a decrease in new cases, both year-to-date and compared with July’s demand, but the number of open outstanding cases remains high. The number of new Cafcass cases recorded
At the beginning of 2021 the law changed concerning how international couples divorce. At the time, there was a lot of worry that the changes in law would lead to divorces involving international couples becoming
Robert Buckland has been replaced as Justice Minister by Dominic Raab in Prime Minster Boris Johnson’s latest cabinet reshuffle. Buckland, who is MP for South Swindon, is the eighth Justice Secretary since 2010 when the
Today, the Legal Services Board (LSB) launched a consultation on a draft statutory statement of policy on empowering consumers. Developed following engagement with the legal services regulators and others across the sector, it outlines how