Chambers launches breast-feeding policy to support mothers returning to work
A family law barrister chambers has launched what it says is the Bar’s first ever Breastfeeding Policy to support mothers returning to work. The policy not only sets out practical and proactive solutions for breastfeeding mothers, but also encourages better understanding across the organisation on how to support breastfeeding colleagues. 4PB say mothers remain stigmatised […]
Decision to remove automatic assumption of parental involvement ‘momentous’ say campaigners
Campaigners have described the decision to remove the legal presumption of parental involvement in child contact cases in family courts as ‘momentous’ after amendments proposals to repeal presumption of parental involvement from the Children Act 1989 The decision to remove the presumption comes after the Government’s own Harm Panel found that it was not fit […]
Survivors face ‘uphill struggle for justice’ – Law Society responds to Domestic Abuse Commissioner’s report
The Law Society of England and Wales has responded to the Domestic Abuse Commissioner’s report into the way domestic abuse is dealt with in the family justice system. ‘Everyday business: Addressing domestic abuse and continuing harm through a family court review and reporting mechanism’ takes aim at the legal profession, saying outdated and ‘antiquated’ views […]
Co-habitation trends strengthens the case for reform say family lawyers
Population trend figures published the Office for National Statistics only serve to strengthen the case for cohabitation reform say family lawyers, with declining marriage and divorce rates and an increase in the proportion of couples co-habiting. The latest figures show 60.5% of the population in England and Wales in 2024 aged 16 or over are […]
New tools to encourage family disputes to avoid courts launched by MoJ
A public/private partnership has developed an online tool to support changing attitudes toward ‘destructive legal battles’ and encourage families to resolve their issues earlier and outside of court, where it is appropriate and safe to do so. The Accelerated Capability Environment (ACE), part of the Home Office, seeks to solve ‘public safety and security challenges […]
Government consider move to regulate officiants rather than buildings in weddings shake up
Changes to the regulation of weddings away from buildings and onto individuals and officiants running the ceremony could be introduced in what the government is describing as the ‘biggest overhaul to marriage law since the 19th century.’ The proposals are based on the work of the Law Commission, whose report ‘Celebrating Marriage: A New Weddings […]
Social media firms could be fined up to 10% of worldwide revenue if they do not tackle cyber-flashing
Cyber-flashing could become a “priority offence” under the Online Safety Act with social media platforms and dating apps to be required to take proactive steps to prevent users from seeing unsolicited nude images Cyber-flashing joins doctored sexually explicit images of adults called ‘deepfakes’, and encouraging or assisting serious self-harm as ‘priority offences’ in updates to […]
Criminal court sitting days to hit record levels to tackle up to four year wait
The justice system is to benefit from an additional 1,250 Crown Court sitting days as part of plans to tackle the courts backlog. The additional capacity means the Crown Court will be able to sit for a total of 111,250 days this year; up by 5,000 compared to last year and reaching the highest levels […]
50% reduction in number of legal aid funded family mediators
There has been a 50% fall in the number of family mediators offering legal aid since 2018 meaning it is ‘increasingly difficult for the public to access legal aid for family mediation’ according to a new report from the Family Mediation Council published as part of its 10th anniversary celebrations. The report goes on to […]
At least one person unrepresented in 80% of private family law proceedings
The continued impact of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012, which resulted in the removal of eligibility for legal aid for the majority of private law cases in April 2013, has been laid bare by research from the Nuffield Family Justice Observatory (NFJO) which shows in 80% of cases at least […]
“Shambolic” courts infrastructure laid bare in Law Society report
Solicitors have heavily criticised the courts infrastructure in a damning new report by the Law Society of England and Wales describing the condition of court buildings as ‘shambolic’ with many in poor states of repair, technology which regularly fails, and inadequate facilities, particularly for disabled users. Asbestos, mould, dilapidated toilets, and issues with Reinforced Autoclaved […]
Covert tracking leads to court intervention in children’s foster care case
Two parents were told they were damaging their own efforts to have their children returned to them after planting covert tracking devices into their children’s bag and toys while they were in foster care. The case of RE BM (Children: Tracking Devices) centred on the discovery of tracking devices hidden inside a bag and toys […]
Reduced private law sitting days creates ‘uncertainty’ as opportunities for FDR cut
Family professionals have been left ‘extremely concerned’ by the news there will be significant cuts to the number sitting days in the London Financial Remedies Court, reducing the number of opportunities for financial remedies proceedings. Speaking this week, the president of the family division, Sir Andrew McFarlane said judicial resources will be cut due to […]
SILAS user registration and get started guides launched
The Legal Aid Agency (LAA) has begun publishing user guides and frequently asked questions for its new portal ‘Signing into Legal Aid Services’ (SILAS) developed in the wake of the cyber attack which rendered the agency’s portal unusable. A new ‘LAA SILAS Help and Information‘ has been published on gov.uk which currently hosts the information. […]
No change without ‘comprehensive investment’ – Reaction to Public Accounts Committee report into family courts
There will be no improvements to family court services without ‘comprehensive investment’ said Bar Council Chair Barbara Mills KC in response to the Public Accounts Committee’s (PAC) report ‘Improving family court services for children.’ Published last week, the report said children and families were being ‘let down’ by what were described as ‘unacceptably long’ delays […]
Bullying report a ‘moment of reckoning’ for the Bar
The report in to bullying and harassment within the Bar has concluded 36 recommendations to tackle what is described as a ‘culture of impunity’ by Baroness Harriet Harman KC, the report’s author. The review was commissioned in October 2024 in the wake of research data from the Bar Council’s biennial survey of the profession, Barristers’ […]
Child abduction case a reminder of courts’ adherence to Hague Convention
UK courts will adhere ‘strictly’ to the Hague Convention in abduction cases warns a family solicitor after an unusual case saw a child returned to a country in which the parents only had temporary residence under a visa. YM v ML [2025] EWHC 2219 (Fam) involved British nationals who had secured work in Australia and […]
39% of lawyers say not engaging with AI could harm their future careers
Nearly two thirds of lawyers are now using artificial intelligence to support the in their roles; but appear to be doing it off their own back with 17% of lawyers saying their firm has a ‘fully embedded’ AI strategy and operation, and two-thirds reporting their organisation’s AI culture is slow or non-existent. Adoption is up […]
Vulnerable the target of fake scams – FCA
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has warned scammers continue to target those most vulnerable in society and those over the age of 56 according to recently released numbers from the regulator. The warning comes as almost 5,000 fake FCA scams have been reported in the first half of 2025; with scenarios seeing fraudsters impersonate the […]
New measures to tackle ‘honour-based’ abuse
New statutory guidance and a legal definition of ‘honour’-based abuse is to be introduced to provide greater protection for victims say the government. 2,755 ‘honour’-based abuse related offences were recorded by the police in England and Wales according to recently published statistics; including ‘honour’-motivated killings, female genital mutilation (FGM) and forced marriage. A new definition […]