Only 25% of legal associates want to make partner in their firm within the next 5 years
LexisNexis Legal & Professional® released a new report – Disloyal lawyers: has the partnership model lost its lustre? – which reveals the majority of legal associates aren’t racing to take on the responsibilities, risks and potential rewards of partnership. A LexisNexis survey of 500+ law firm associates and senior leaders found only a quarter […]
‘No-fault’ divorce: What’s changed two years on?
A landmark change to family law was brought in two years ago when ‘no-fault’ divorce was implemented to support separating couples to divorce more amicably. Now the dust has settled, how is it working in practice and what additional obstacles are facing the justice system? The latest government data shows that between October to December […]
Leadership promotions and growth across Fisher Jones Greenwood
Fisher Jones Greenwood (FJG) has promoted a number of experienced team members into senior leadership roles. The firm, which is currently based in 10 locations across Essex and Suffolk, is embarking on a period of planned expansion, having secured backing from private equity house Blixt in 2021 and becoming part of the larger Lawfront Group. […]
Nagalro open leltter to government urges the end of Deprivation of Liberty Orders for Children not in therapeutic care
Following Nagalro’s 2023, multi-disciplinary conference on the growing use of Deprivation of Liberty orders to place children in unregulated accommodation, Nagalro has written and published an open letter to the Secretaries of State for Justice, Education and Health and Social Care. The letter urges all three ministers to work together urgently to bring to an […]
More than 100,000 children ‘trapped’ in family courts backlog
New figures published by the Ministry of Justice show that the family courts continue to face backlogs leaving more than 100,000 children, along with their families, at the ‘mercy of a broken justice system’ according to the Law Society. Private children law cases – where families apply for arrangements relating to where their children live […]
Richard Spencer case highlights female on male abuse, after 43 images of bruises inflicted by wife Sheree Spencer handed over in court
After a lengthy investigation by Humberside police a British Mum was sentenced to four years in prison and given a restraining order after pleading guilty to coercive control and three counts of assault against her husband. Nanny cam footage caught the wife and mother brandishing a carving knife at her spouse of 20 years. IT […]
Childline receives nearly 40 contacts per day from children who feel unhappy
Over the past year, Childline has delivered over 14,000 counselling sessions about low mood or unhappiness to children and young people who have contacted the service. Delivering 14,253 counselling sessions last year with children struggling with feelings of low mood or unhappiness, the NSPCC trained Childline counsellors know how vital it is for young people […]
Research shows just one in 10 UK students had received a lesson on the law by the time they reached A-Levels
The Law Society is supporting education charity Young Citizens’ campaign The Big Legal Lesson to introduce the law and justice system to thousands of children and young people across England and Wales. Young Citizens research shows just one in 10 (13%) students had received a lesson on the law by the time they reached A-Levels. […]
Key lessons for family lawyers as relationship landscapes change and rise of ‘no-fault divorces’
The latest divorce statistics for England and Wales provide several key takeaways for family lawyers, as the landscape of contemporary relationships has shifted in recent years. After the introduction of the ‘no-fault’ divorce regime in 2022 there were predictions in the industry that divorce applications would increase. However, headline stats have shown that there was […]
Law firm acts on behalf of husband in spousal maintenance case, reducing cost by £50K
A Law firm acted on behalf of a husband in a spousal maintenance case, saving him £50K over the maintenance term. The outcome of the case shows a significant shift in how the Court handles maintenance disputes, which historically have leaned toward the recipient. Weightman’s, a firm based in Leicester, represented a husband in his […]
Victims given greater access to justice through legal aid reform
Innocent people who have suffered miscarriages of justice, personal harm or injury are among those who will benefit from upcoming changes to legal aid means testing coming into effect this year. Tailored measures will ensure certain compensation types no longer automatically make victims of miscarriage of justice ineligible for legal aid when they seek to […]
White, heterosexual staff still come out on top when it comes pay gap in the UK Legal Sector, findings show
The Law Society of England and Wales has published its pay gap report for 2023 and has shown median pay gaps in favour of white and male staff within the sector. The Law society, in a bid to ‘provide greater transparency’, has published disability, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation /identity and trans identity pay gap figures […]
Law firm advocates for neurodivergent clients with specialist team
A UK law firm has launched specialist training for professionals representing those with neurodivergent conditions such as ADHD, Tourette Syndrome, Autism and the Dyslexic spectrum and child care law. Duncan Lewis Family Law aims to transform legal aid for those who suffer from neurological conditions that can affect behaviour and communication. The firm has constructed […]
Refuge celebrated International Women’s Day by launching survivor-focussed photo mural
Refuge has announced a collaboration with Helen Marshall of The People’s Picture to create a photo mosaic mural celebrating the power of survivors of domestic abuse and other forms of violence against women and girls (VAWG) and the people who support them to speak up and share their stories. The project seeks to empower women […]
Green light for Blackpool Courthouse as developers urged to expedite construction
Blackpool Council’s planning committee approved a proposal for a three-story magistrates court at Devonshire Road and Talbot Road. Developers plan to commence construction by the end of autumn, aiming for completion in early summer 2026. The closure of the existing Bonny Street magistrates courts in November heightened the urgency, prompting councillor Julie Sloman to stress […]
White, heterosexual staff still come out on top when it comes pay gap in the UK Legal Sector, findings show
The Law Society of England and Wales has published its pay gap report for 2023 and has shown median pay gaps in favour of white and male staff within the sector. The Law society, in a bid to ‘provide greater transparency’, has published disability, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation /identity and trans identity pay gap figures […]
French Parliament enshrines abortion into constitution after historical landslide vote to protect ‘women’s freedom’
Parisians saw the Eiffel Tower light up last night as a landslide Versailles vote enshrined abortion rights into the French constitution. A live-streamed joint session was held at the Palace of Versailles yesterday to protect a 1975 French law that decriminalised the termination of a pregnancy. 780 MPs and senators out of 925 of those […]
New statutory says there is ‘no such thing as the rough sex defence’ to dish out harsher punishments after tragic Grace Millane death
A new statutory aggravating factor was brought in for offenders who cause death through abusive, degrading or dangerous sexual behaviour earlier this month. Discounting the so-called ‘rough sex’ defence – which means that judges are handing out harsher sentences than ever before. After the death of British backpacker Grace Millane,22, in New Zealand in 2018, […]
Open: Judicial Assistants in the Court of Appeal
Applications are invited for a number of fixed term posts assisting the Lords and Lady Justices of Appeal. During their period with the Court the judicial assistants will give invaluable help to members of the court by analysis of appeal papers and legal research clarifying issues in advance of an appeal as well as sorting out […]
Boodle Hatfield announces new gender-neutral parental leave policy
Boodle Hatfield have revealed a new equal opportunity parental leave policy. The new policy is available to all employees and Partners across the firm and is believed to be a market first for an independent London law firm. To encourage equality across the business, the firm has decided to alter its approach to what was […]