4PB announces new Joint Heads of Chambers
4PB has announced Barbara Mills KC and Charles Hale KC as new Joint Heads of Chambers. Charles and Barbara will be taking over from Alex Verdan KC, who has been in the role for over 10 years. In his time as Head of Chambers, Verdan has overseen the continued expansion of 4PB which now has […]
QualitySolicitors announces change of hands
National legal network QualitySolicitors (Quality Solicitors Organisation Limited) has announced a management buy-out (MBO) from previous owners Metamorph Group Limited. Victoria Browning and Paul Rawson head up the new management structure and suggest they have “already embarked on a companywide review of its activities” to strengthen the service it delivers to over 40 legal firm […]
Domestic abuse: Prosecutions fall despite rise in recorded crimes
New data released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has revealed that, in spite of domestic abuse-related recorded crimes rising, the number of resulting prosecutions fell. This fall in prosecutions continues the decreasing trend which has been seen since 2017. Specifically, the number of domestic abuse-related CPS prosecutions in England and Wales has decreased […]
Refuge: Social media companies failing to protect women and girls
New research from specialist domestic abuse organisation Refuge has revealed over half of online domestic abuse survivors have not received a response to their reports from social media companies. 53% of survivors interviewed by Refuge said they received no response from social media platforms after reporting abuse and harassment taking place on their sites. 41% […]
Miscarriage Leave Bill set for second reading in Parliament
The Miscarriage Leave Bill is set to receive a second reading in Parliament on Friday as women around the country move one step closer to enhanced statutory protections in the event that they lose their baby. The current rules mean that employees only have the right to take statutory parental Bereavement leave on the death […]
Family lawyer tells BBC R4: Cohabitation law “completely unfit for purpose”
Discussing cohabitation law reform on BBC Radio 4, a leading family lawyer has described the current laws surrounding cohabitation as “completely unfit for purpose”. Graeme Fraser, Partner in the family law team at BBS Law, appeared on Joshua Rozenberg’s Law in Action programme in light of the government’s recent rejection of much of the Women […]
LawCare: Why men in law don’t speak up about mental health
Legal mental health charity LawCare has today released the findings of its all-male focus group to understand the needs of men in law in relation to mental health support in the workplace. The aim of the focus group, a diverse range of barristers, partners, mid-level and junior associates, in-house lawyers as well as those in […]
Government must improve grasp of issues facing vulnerable adolescents – report
A report from the National Audit Office (NAO) has called for an improved understanding of the complex issues facing adolescents in England across the board in order to reduce their vulnerability to harm. The report, “Support for vulnerable adolescents,” looked at the c. 7.3 million 9- to 19-year-olds in England, all of whom are at […]
Autumn Statement: Biggest ever boost to adult social care funding announced
Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt has announced the biggest ever increase to adult social care funding as part of his Autumn Statement, aiming for “stability, growth, and public services”. Specifically, there will be additional funding for adult social care of £1 billion next year and up to £1.7 billion the year after, providing 200,000 […]
Firm bucks trend for office downsizing by opening new Cornwall office
As part of ongoing expansion plans The Family Law Company has opened its first office in Cornwall in the heart of Truro. This is the fourth office for the firm, which has two longstanding offices in Exeter and one in Plymouth. The decision underpins a strong commitment to providing a dedicated family law service in […]
Save lives by putting domestic abuse at top of agenda, Chancellor told
Domestic Abuse Commissioner Nicole Jacobs has written to the new Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt calling for urgent and immediate action on the “national emergency” that is domestic abuse – or risk a “devastating impact” on survivors and victims. Jacobs said that the recent political inactivity had had a disastrous knock-on impact for victims. […]
Couples’ finances “at risk” due to no-fault divorces
Analysis shows decline in financial order applications, despite record divorce applications Family court statistics released earlier this year by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) have shown that 31% fewer financial order applications have been made, despite the rise in divorce applications. Family court statistics from April to June 2022 show that there has been a […]
Lords Committee calls for publication of government’s plans to help vulnerable children
The Public Services Committee in the House of Lords has called on the government to urgently publish implementation strategy to address plight of vulnerable children. In a letter sent on the 27th October to the Minister for Schools and Childhood, Kelly Tolhurst MP, the House of Lords Public Services Committee has urged the Government to […]
Christmas and New Year courts and tribunals opening times 2022
Our courts and tribunals will temporarily close on various dates over the Christmas period. The closure dates for this year are: Monday 26 December 2022 Tuesday 27 December 2022 Wednesday 28 December 2022 Monday 2 January 2023 Some magistrates’ courts will be open on 26 and 27 December 2022 and 2 January 2023, but for […]
National family law firm expands further with three new recruits
Hall Brown hires new solicitor and two new paralegals Hall Brown Family Law has further increased the size of their Family Law team by recruiting three new members of staff. Hannah Pilling has joined as a Solicitor from JMW Solicitors, while paralegals Hannah Durkin and Alexandra Marshall have moved from Stewarts and Bennett Griffin respectively. […]
London Family Law firm announces four new senior hires
Lawrence Stephens expands Family team with four senior hires Lawrence Stephens law firm has announced a considerable expansion to its Private Client division, with four senior hires within the Family Practice area. A new Head of department, as well as two Directors and an Associate Solicitor, will join Lawrence Stephens Family Practice from Tuesday 1st […]
Metamorph firms facing fresh winding-up petition amidst reports of director departure
Two of the firms within the Metamorph legal consortium – MLL Limited and Beaumont ABS Limited – are said to be facing a new winding-up petition amidst claims that executive chairman Tony Stockdale has ended his directorship. This comes as several social media posts have been made by Metamorph staff claiming that they have not […]
Appointment of new Lady Justice of Appeal confirmed
His Majesty The King has approved the appointment of Mrs Justice Falk as a Lady Justice of Appeal in the Court of Appeal, the Ministry of Justice has announced. Such appointments are made by His Majesty The King on the advice of the Prime Minister and the Lord Chancellor following the recommendation of an independent […]
New “Junior Solicitors Network” launched by Law Society
The Law Society of England and Wales has launched a new Junior Solicitors Network (JSN) in an effort to “engage and support junior solicitors, talk about the pressing issues they face, and provide easy access to information and resources in order to support their careers”. This includes the launch of a Juniors Web Hub which […]
Upcoming events with UKLTA
All you need to know on upcoming events with the UK Legaltech Association (UKLTA). Wednesday 16th November 12-1pm Join Sanaz Javadi Farahzadi, Legal Network Manager at Legamart to discuss ‘Raising Women’s voices in Legal Tech’. LegaMart and its Women’s Initiative is proud to announce Women in Tech, to highlight a community of women in science, […]