Shortcomings in the continuing competence training regime have prompted the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) to undertake a consultation into the future of ensuring solicitors complete regular and relevant training. SRA-regulated solicitors are required to maintain
Efforts to introduce assisted dying in England and Wales have run out of time after the bill stalled in the House of Lords – with supporters accusing peers of holding up the legislation. Speaking at
The government is “running out of time” to reform cohabitation laws, family law professionals have warned, following the publication of the latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimates of families and household types in the
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has confirmed it is investigating a “sophisticated suspected fraud” at PM Law, following its intervention in February. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the regulator said it now believes the
A landmark legal case representing dozens of mothers from Kenya is helping to identify British fathers for the first time, paving the way for recognition of identity, inheritance, financial rights and, in many cases, potential
The Legal Services Board (LSB) is responding to a “rapidly evolving” legal sector and plans to change its approach to oversight regulation to focus efforts on “where they are most needed”, according to its business
In this latest Today’s Family Lawyer Podcast, founders Natasha Grande and Neil Graham explain how newly launched G&G Law came about and what their motivations were behind leaving their secure and successful positions, and striking
Samara Iqbal is the director of Aramas Family Law, where she provides comprehensive legal support to expatriate families across the UK and Middle East. She specialises in prenuptial agreements, child custody arrangements, asset division, and
A new report which aims to shine a light on the global under-reporting of violence against women and girls claims news media has a “blind spot” when it comes to coverage of the issue and
The Legal Software Suppliers Association (LSSA) has responded to the growing use of artificial intelligence in technology by launching a new policy document on environmental, social and governance (ESG), setting out a framework to support
Following confirmation the issuing, management and transfer of cryptoassets are to be regulated, of the Financial Conduct Authority has launched a consultation on its interpretation of cryptoasset activities ahead of the publication of policy statements
A new practice note aimed at providing guidance on how firms can ensure they are compliant with the recent Mazur decision has been published by the Law Society of England and Wales. The practice note
Family judges have been encouraged to write to children involved in court proceedings in an updated toolkit published this week. Before his retirement on Monday, the former president of the Family Division, Sir Andrew McFarlane,
Sir Andrew McFarlane is retiring from the judiciary and as President of the Family Division, President of the Court of Protection and Head of Family Justice after a long and distinguished career guiding the Family
Law firms in England and Wales experienced rapid, sector-wide growth in 2025, with average earnings up by 11.2% compared with a 6.1% increase in 2024. The figures, released yesterday in the Law Society’s new annual
A solicitor has called for courts in England and Wales to take heed of a landmark decision in Scotland which held an abuser criminally responsible for the suicide of his partner. Lee Milne, 40, was
The Lord Chancellor has approved the appointment of Monisha Shah as chair of the Legal Services Board for four years from 1st April 2026. For the last 12 months, Catherine Brown had acted as interim
Rachel Frost-Smith is head of children at Birketts. She is a children arbitrator, solicitor-advocate (higher rights, civil proceedings), and a Resolution-accredited specialist (private law children and private law children advocacy). Rachel leads the private children
The UK Family Law Report 2026, the 12th edition of the annual research report from IRN Legal Reports, forecasts steady growth for the sector, with a forecast of 6% growth in 2026 and a compound
Analysis from the Nuffield Family Justice Observatory exploring future needs of the family justice system suggests there will be an increase in international origins and ties, a more ethnically diverse range of families, more parents
Landmark legislation in Japan has enabled separating parents to be jointly responsible in custody proceedings, in a move which is set to benefit UK divorce cases with an international element involving the country. Until the
Hampshire law firm Andrew & Andrew Solicitors has appointed Shikha Datta as head of its newly established family law department, as the firm continues its growth and expansion of services. Datta brings over 25 years
Private equity backed consolidator Lawfront has announced the acquisition of Reading based Field Seymour Parkes, taking the total number of firms under its ‘regional leaders’ banner to seven. Field Seymour Parkes joins regional firms Farleys,
Charlotte Haskayne, Business Manager at Northgene, joins the Today’s Family Lawyer Podcast to lift the lid on the realities of legal DNA testing and its growing role in modern family law. Where is DNA evidence
Katie is a partner in the Family team and a children’s law specialist. She is one of only a few family law solicitors in the jurisdiction who only practices in children’s law and domestic abuse
The Legal Services Board (LSB) has confirmed the appointment of Richard Blakeway (pictured) to the post of chair of the Office for Legal Complaints (OLC) after an open competition. The appointment follows Blakeway’s appearance before
Ministry of Justice figures have revealed a high of 1,440 deprivation of liberty (DoL) applications in 2025, up 12.5% since the previous year. Quarter four data in the Family Court Statistics Quarterly release reveals 379
The president of the Family Division has issued guidance on allocation and gatekeeping in respect of proceedings relating to children in the Family Court, in accordance with rule 21 of the Family Court (Composition and
LawtechUK, a Ministry of Justice-backed initiative supporting technology startups in the legal sector, has secured further funding to enable it to continue operating for the next three years. The programme, currently delivered in a partnership
Zoe heads up Hill and Company’s family and matrimonial law department, advising clients across all aspects of relationship breakdown and family arrangements. Specialising in family law since she began her career almost a decade ago,
Children in care will be better supported to build and maintain relationships with their siblings under new measures brought forward in law by the government. All local authorities in England and Wales will be required
The latest Family Court Statistics Quarterly for October to December 2025 shows a “concerning” rise in the number of domestic violence remedy orders applied for, up 5% in the final quarter of 2025 compared with
A woman has been jailed for seven years and seven months after deceiving multiple men out of tens of thousands of pounds over a four year period. Gemma Kingsley, of Beadnell in Northumberland, falsely claimed
The number of private law, financial remedy, domestic violence and adoption cases brought before the family courts in the final quarter of 2025 was 4% up on the same quarter in 2024, with 64,336 new
The Legal Services Board has outlined how it intends to strengthen lawyers’ ethical standards in a statement of policy which sets out new expectations designed to reinforce lawyers’ role in upholding the rule of law.
The House of Lords Domestic Abuse Act 2021 Committee has published a call for evidence in its inquiry considering the effective operation of the act and whether it is meeting its policy objectives. The committee