As ‘distinguished board member’s’ decade with The Solicitors’ Charity ends, the wellbeing work continues
As a trustee for The Solicitors Charity has bowed out of her ten year term a a board member, she reflects on the non profit’s progression and growth as her term of office ends. Kirsty McEwen, TEP, Partner and Head of Charity and Not for Profit for Higgs LLP, has served as a Trustee for […]
How does hair sample testing work?
Reporting Manager at Lextox Donna Muldoon joins host David Opie in the latest Today’s Family Lawyer Podcast to discuss the practicalities of drug and alcohol testing on hair samples. If you ever wanted to understand how the drug and alcohol tests family practitioners instruct happen, this is the podcast to listen to. At the outset […]
SRA consumer protection review: Client accounts vital for legal services
Firms should continue to be able to operate client accounts, as they are vital for the effective delivery of many legal services, the Law Society of England and Wales said in response to the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s (SRA) consumer protection review discussion paper. Law Society president Nick Emmerson said that the SRA is considering whether […]
‘Imperative to shed light on birth trauma’ says medical negligence solicitor
Welcoming a new baby should be an exciting time for most families, but unfortunately the joyous occasion of childbirth can be marred by avoidable birth trauma due to poor care from the doctors and midwives involved. A recent parliamentary report <https://www.theo-clarke.org.uk/birth-trauma> has highlighted the impact that birth trauma can have and the postcode lottery of […]
What happens to frozen embryos in a divorce in the UK?
According to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, the number of IVF cycles in the UK has increased tenfold since 1992, and success rates have tripled in the last 20 years. In 2022, the UK Government extended the storage limit for frozen embryos and gametes (sperm) from 10 years to 55 years. Increasingly, couples choose […]
Labour say they will simplify ‘undignified’ gender transition process, rubbishing two-year cooling off period as ‘nonsense’
The Labour party have promised to remove the ‘intrusive’ law that states those who wish to transition their gender will have to live as their preferred gender for two years. In a move for trans rights, the Labour party have promised that they will simplify the gender transition process for those wishing to transition, The […]
Police have warned of increase in domestic violence during Euros Tournament after England V Slovenia match saw fans throwing cups
The police have issued warnings of a potential increase in domestic violence amid the excitement of the Euros this summer. The England team has topped Group C after goalless finish against Slovenia, and have reached the knockout stage of the tournament. Rowdy fans were seen throwing cups at the game – after police have alerted […]
Labour manifesto must ‘keep promises’ made to 3.6m cohabiting couples
Ahead of the launch of the Labour manifesto, Kate Daly, co-founder of amicable – the online divorce service for couples – has urged the party to keep its promise to give separating cohabiting couples greater rights. There are 3.6m cohabiting couples in England and Wales, the fastest growing type of family unit. Kate Daly, co-founder […]
A look at selected political party manifestos from the family law angle
Tony Roe, Partner & Family Law Arbitrator, Dexter Montague LLP takes a look at family law issues for the next UK Government What do the various political party manifestos hold when it comes to family law issues? At its conference in October 2023, Shadow Attorney General, Emily Thornberry, announced that a Labour government would reform […]
NCDR and the new Financial Remedies Pre-Action Protocol – is there scope for further judicial clarification?
On 29 April 2024, revisions to Parts 3 and 28 of the Family Procedure Rules allowed the court to stay proceedings on its own initiative, to encourage parties to engage in non-court dispute resolution (NCDR) including mediation, arbitration, and other methods. On 29 May 2024, new pre-action protocols for financial remedy proceedings were introduced, prescribing […]
Missed opportunities in identifying learning disabilities among parents in care proceedings, study reveals
A new study suggests that parents with learning disabilities or learning difficulties whose babies are involved in care proceedings are often missing the chance to access and meaningfully engage in pre-birth services that might help them to develop or prove their parenting abilities. Their disabilities or difficulties are often not being identified until cases reach […]
Employment Judge Iman shares how she plans to celebrate Eid-al–Adha
An Employment Judge has spoken about how she will celebrate Eid-al-Adha, and her full interview can be read on HM Courts and Tribunals where she reveals how the depth of tradition has been blended with modern day influences. She is also the Diversity and Inclusion Lead for the London East Employment Tribunal alongside her work […]
Law society comments on ‘lack of accountability for the killing of lawyers in the Philippines’ after young female prosecutor shot to death
Accountability has been called into question as 61 lawyers have met an untimely death since the premiership of President Rodrigo Duterte in the Philippines after the killing of Prosecutor Eleanor “Ning” Dela Peña on the afternoon of June 10. The Law Society has expressed grave concern about the ‘culture of impunity’ after data revealed that […]
Wellbeing week: 24th – 30th June 2024
The Department of Health & Social Care define wellbeing as “feeling good and functioning well and comprises an individual’s experience of their life, and a comparison of life circumstances with social norms and values”. I’ve always said that the moment a family lawyer has something happening in their personal life, their day-to-day role becomes even […]
What is ‘Resolution Together?’
Lisa Payne is an Associate at Wilsons Solicitors and joins the latest Today’s Family Lawyer podcast to discuss ‘Resolution Together.’ Also know as one lawyer, two clients, Wilsons have introduced the service in their firm with Lisa taking a leading role in championing it amongst the team and clients. In this podcast Lisa discusses the […]
Stowe Family Law announces the acquisition of Hawkins Family Law
A growing London law firm has announced another acquisition as it bolsters it’s ranks with the addition of a Buckinghamshire based boutique firm. Stowe Family Law announced earlier this week that it has acquired Hawkins Family Law, a boutique family law firm based in Buckinghamshire with offices across greater London and the southern counties which […]
Is an overhaul of limitation law overdue when it comes to civil child sex abuse cases?
The Limitation Act 1980 (‘the Act’) consolidated the evolution of limitation law between 1939 and 1980, a period of 41 years. It is now 44 years since the Act came into force. Following a recent recommendation from the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) that the limitation period should be removed in civil child […]
Grey Divorce – How family lawyers should approach the unique challenges of later-life divorce clients
The recent announcement from TV presenters Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford that they are getting divorced after 14 years of marriage has sparked interest from different corners. However, for family lawyers, our focus is on what factors are different, or particularly challenging about divorcing later in life. There are several names for divorcing later in […]
Double Gold for consultant law firm
Consultant-style law firm Setfords are one of just 25 companies globally to achieve double gold accreditations as part of its Investors in People assessment; and the only law firm to have achieved the landmark. Investors in People is a recognised accreditation setting industry standards for people management and leadership. Following their silver accreditations for “We […]
Embracing Non-Court Dispute Resolution in Family Law: New Rules and Their Impact
Introduction As of 29 April 2024, wide-reaching changes have been introduced to the Family Procedure Rules (FPR) regarding non-court dispute resolution (NCDR). These changes are designed to encourage early resolution of private children law and financial remedy cases through methods such as mediation, arbitration, evaluation by a neutral third party such as a private FDR, […]