The Legal Ombudsman (LeO) has launched a call for input on its draft Model Complaints Resolution Procedure (MCRP), a new framework aimed at improving the consistency and quality of how complaints are handled by legal
The Law Society of England and Wales has launched a new practical guide to help solicitors make safer, more informed technology decisions and warns that unsafe AI adoption may expose firms to risks. The majority
The legal profession lacks formal training on managing vicarious trauma, emotional overwhelm, and the human dynamics underpinning family breakdown, leading to family professionals’ own mental health and wellbeing coming under pressure through their work. With
An aristocrat is engaged in a complex High Court battle to prevent trustees of his ex-wife’s £1.2 million income fund from selling a cottage on his family’s 11th century rural estate in Somerset. Sir Benjamin
Abigail is a senior associate in the family and divorce team, with over 26 years’ post-qualification experience. She is a member of Resolution, with specialist accreditations in private law children and financial remedy matters and
The Court of Appeal has ruled on the case of the former manager of the rock band INXS and her £14 million legal battle with her ex-husband and multimillionaire mother, in a case described as
Following extensive trials, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has announced Pathfinder courts will be rolled out across England and Wales with £17 million in government funding for the next financial year. The name of the
The government has reconfirmed its intention to consult on cohabitation reform in the spring, describing it as a “matter of utmost importance”. Responding to a written question from Liberal Democrat spokesperson Joshua Reynolds, Alex Davies-Jones,
A family law specialist has highlighted the implications for those going through divorce proceedings following the publication of two significant cases. The first case (MK v SK [2026] EWFC 28) relates to an allegation of
Lauren qualified as a solicitor in 2016, having completed her training contract at a firm in Chester and joined Rowlinsons in the same month. She specialises in family law, including private Children Act proceedings, divorce,
The Government is seeking views on how digital ID could be used to make public services quicker, easier and more secure to access. Launching a national public consultation, Darren Jones, the chief secretary to the
The Youth Justice Board (YJB) has published a new Evidence and Insights Pack examining harmful sexual behaviour, misogyny and violence carried out by children, bringing together the latest research, data and practice examples from across
The latest episode of the Today’s Family Lawyer podcast welcomes Senior Ombudsman at the Legal Ombudsman (LeO) Clair Daniel to explore the current landscape of legal complaints handling, the challenges facing firms, and the strategic
Domestic abuse charity Refuge is urgently calling on parliament to plug a £55.5 million a year funding gap its says is leaving women at risk in their own homes. As part of the charity’s Home
Sarah is a partner and head of the family department at Ramsdens. She is a recommended lawyer in the Legal 500, member of the Law Society family panel and collaboratively trained solicitor. What was your
Small to medium sized law firms could be unfairly and disproportionately penalised under Ministry of Justice (MoJ) plans to redistribute interest from client accounts to fund access to justice, the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has provided £9 million in compensation to clients of PM Law, which closed unexpectedly at the start of February. The money has been largely used to facilitate property transactions which
The Victims’ Commissioner for England and Wales, Claire Waxman OBE, has welcomed the government’s landmark decision to repeal the presumption of parental involvement from the Children Act 1989. The move, included in the new Courts
Legal regulators are not doing enough to open up the flexible pathways into a legal career that are needed to improve diversity in the sector, said the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEX) in its
New data from Refuge shows that more than half of UK adults (57%) questioned by the charity acknowledge that the home is where women are most at risk of abuse, even though 85% believe most
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has been formally censured by the Legal Services Board (LSB) over its failure to protect consumers affected by the failure of SSB Group. The LSB’s report into the SRA’s handling
The Department for Education (DfE) has committed £126 million to fund a pilot financial allowance for kinship carers across seven designated local authority areas in England. The department hopes the scheme will reach around 5,000
In a significant judgment on expert evidence and alleged alienating behaviour, the president of the Family Division reaffirmed that expert evidence cannot substitute judicial fact-finding. The Rt Hon Sir Andrew McFarlane handed down judgment in
The Office of the President of the Family Division has published new guidance on preparing court bundles for litigants in person in family proceedings. The guidance accompanies practice direction 27A – Family Proceedings: Court Bundles,
The High Court has published a deeply sensitive judgment concerning the withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment for a young child with a severe and progressive genetic condition. In Cardiff and Vale University Local Health Board v
The Law Society of England and Wales has responded to the Legal Services Board’s (LSB) draft statement of policy on equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI), broadly supporting a strengthened regulatory approach but raising concerns about
Helen Clyne helps couples and families navigate divorce, separation and issues involving children and finances. She works with a wide range of clients, but is particularly well‑known for advising on divorces involving significant assets, complex
The government has launched a public consultation on children’s digital wellbeing and is seeking feedback on measures to protect children on social media, gaming platforms and in the use of AI chatbots. The consultation, announced
The Legal Services Board (LSB) has announced Richard Blakeway as its preferred candidate for the post of chair of the Office for Legal Complaints (OLC). The LSB’s recommendation, which came about after an open competition,
All child arrangements and domestic abuse applications must now be submitted online at family courts in Kingston upon Hull, Grimsby, Swansea, Wolverhampton and Chelmsford. All C100 applications must be filed through the MyHMCTS Private Family
Top 100 UK law firm Ward Hadaway has appointed 44 new legal specialists across the north of England over the last five months. The new starters include partners, directors, managing associates, trainee solicitors and paralegals,
The effectiveness of new government legislation meant to protect domestic abuse victims has been called into question by a family lawyer, who says the new orders are simply a “rehash” of previous legislation which police
Investment in UK legal tech rose to record levels in 2025, with backing for companies specialising in artificial intelligence (AI) “surging”, according to figures published today by LawtechUK. The newly published figures from the Ministry
The UK legal services sector grew by 6.1% last year, according to the latest legal services market report from IRN Legal Reports. The total estimated value of the market last year was £55.5 billion, with
Proposals which would insist on separate post holders for roles of Compliance Office for Legal Practice (COLP), Compliance Officer for Finance and Administration (COFA), Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO), Senior Reporting Officer (SRO) amongst other
The latest Today’s Family Lawyer podcast features Frank Arndt, founder of Paradigm Family Law and co‑founder of Whatwouldajudgesay. Arndt is well known in the sector. A former German judge. A specialist in international family law.