Diary Of A Legal Aid Lawyer: Client Communication
Is it time to reimagine your new client communication? It is nearly three years since we created our new client call team, transforming the way new clients connect with our family lawyers. Changing our approach was about enhancing client experience whilst at the same time adding to our conversion rates and, ultimately, our bottom line. […]
Cohabitation: A Contentious Probate Perspective
The legal implications of cohabitation have been making headlines recently, with a number of changes to the entitlement of cohabitees to bring them more in line with married couples and civil partners. In 2017, we saw the Supreme Court disapply the requirement for pension nomination forms to be completed for cohabitees to benefit. The following […]
Addiction and coparenting
Addiction and coparenting – how to arrange drug and alcohol testing in the context of childcare disputes and other legal proceedings involving children. Concerns surrounding a parent’s substance abuse are a common safeguarding issue raised in children proceedings before the family court. Understandably, all involved in decisions as to the arrangements for a child’s care […]
The Common Objections and Barriers to ADR and How Family Lawyers can Overcome Them
As family lawyers we all understand the benefits of using Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) to help our clients reach solutions, but unfortunately ADR methods can often be misunderstood, meaning we often face barriers when talking to clients about ADR. Some of the more common objections include cost concerns, lack of understanding and a general worry […]
Marketing Your Law Firm in 2024: Strategies for Standing out in 2024
With 11,500 law firms in the UK differentiation can be a constant challenge. When it come to legal services marketing, law firms in 2024 must adopt innovative marketing strategies to distinguish themselves. Legal Growth, a marketing agency specialising in law firms, highlights key approaches to ensure your firm not only competes but excels in this […]
No more ‘Old Skool’
Those of us who have represented children often in the Family courts are used to the phrase “gillick competent , which of course refers to any under 16 year-old who has the capacity to make a relevant decision (‘subject matter competence’). Children of course (not just adults) have Article 8 ECHR Human Rights ( a […]
IVF Hurdles
The advancement of science and technology has created options with IVF treatment enabling more couples than ever to start a family. However, there are issues with accessing this treatment. There are additional hurdles and costs for those in a same-sex couple to overcome. These hurdles have created an inequality between same-sex and heterosexual couples, making […]
Tackling predatory marriages – a game of whack-a-mole
‘Look how far you’ve come’ is the cutting barb thrown by Marcia Roy, wife of media mogul Logan, at Willa, girlfriend of Connor Roy, in HBO’s Succession. Willa’s retort of ‘Well look at us both, right’, is a wry acknowledgment of their shared status in the family as ‘gold diggers’. While Logan and Connor are […]
The impact of the housing crisis on divorcing couples
The housing crisis has been dominating the news for months. High mortgage rates, extortionate rental prices and generally a lack of affordable housing have been building to a peak and having an impact on millions of people in the UK. For separating and divorcing couples, the housing crisis is quickly becoming one of the primary […]
Thank you and Happy Holidays
Thank you to all our Today’s Family Lawyer readers, subscribers and contributors for your support in 2023. It has been another busy year in the family law world with too many stories to mention. We look forward to continuing to bring you the very latest news, views, insight, and best practice from across the profession […]
The benefits of collaboration in family law matters
There are lots of people we can bring into family matters that will add value and help the solicitor along the way; and potentially save the client time and money. To discuss the topic of collaborative family law Stacey St. Clair a partner in the family team at Debenhams Ottaway joins Today’s Family Lawyer host […]
What’s new in the world of modern family law and fertility?
There’s been a lot going on in the world of fertility and modern families in the last few months and even more exciting developments are on the horizon. Partner and head of Burgess Mee’s Modern Families’ Department, Natalie Sutherland, considers those developments. What’s new in the world of modern family law and fertility? Donor conception […]
Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas: a case study on the power of mediation
Mediation has been around in the family law world since the mid 1980’s. As it is not a new concept, it is surprising it has taken almost 40 years to really hit headlines following its use by high profile figures, most recently Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas. Mediation has numerous benefits, which should really make […]
Supporting clients with ADHD
In 2023, ‘Neurodiversity’ is a vastly used ‘buzz word’. One internet search will bring up thousands of results and resources. This can leave people feeling overwhelmed with information. In this confusing tangle of information, how can legal professionals simplify this very complex topic and become allies to our neurodivergent clients and co-workers? This article will […]
National Fertility Awareness Week | In the Club?
In this National Fertility Awareness Week (30 Oct – 5 Nov 2023) Connie Atkinson, partner in the Family & Divorce team at law firm Kingsley Napley LLP, discusses the challenges of ‘trying to conceive’ that she has experienced first hand and from supporting her clients. Statistics show that 1 in 6 people are affected by […]
The global rise of AI: opportunities and challenges
At the start of November, the government will host the first global summit on artificial intelligence (AI), with a focus on the safe use of AI. The AI Safety Summit will be at Bletchley Park, a venue representing innovation and pioneering, and once the top-secret home of WW2 codebreakers. The Summit will focus on the […]
The Body – are you in breach of contract?
Imagine you have a contract with your body – “The Body”. You are obliged to take care of it, and feed, water and rest it. The Body is required to be resilient, stay healthy and in workable (preferably good!) condition. The agreed outcome is that you can function on a day-to-day basis with relationships, work, […]
Survivor proposes ‘P.E.A.C.H’ alert system to combat domestic abuse
A survivor of domestic abuse from Northampton is appealing to the public to support her new “life-saving” alert system by signing an online petition. Eve Mason, aged 37, was a victim of stalking by her abusive former partner, and it took her two years to safely leave that relationship. Her abuser was later convicted for […]
Family courts: A broken system
To try and better manage the rising numbers (27% increase) of private children law applications and cope with understaffing, the family courts in London have reintroduced prioritisation protocols used during the pandemic. Private children law proceedings are those involving private individuals: parents, grandparents, step-parents. In conjunction with Cafcass (the body that provides social workers to […]
The Body – are you in breach of contract?
Imagine you have a contract with your body – “The Body”. You are obliged to take care of it, and feed, water and rest it. The Body is required to be resilient, stay healthy and in workable (preferably good!) condition. The agreed outcome is that you can function on a day-to-day basis with relationships, work, […]