Why don’t Lawyers like change?
As I write this blog, I am remembering a lovely quote from Kingsley Amis who said: “If you can’t annoy somebody with what you write, I think there’s little point in writing.” I have spent a lot of hours studying how to get people to change their behaviours and habits. Tech is only as good […]
New fertility provision proposals for LGBTQ+ people and people living with HIV champion equality
The Government laid a statutory instrument before Parliament on 15th May 2024 to update the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990, so that people living with HIV and female same-sex couples will have fewer barriers to building their own families through assisted fertility. If enacted, this change will be an important step towards equal access […]
Religious considerations when couples separate
Never talk about politics or religion… while the latest Today’s Family Lawyer podcast swerves the first, it tackles the second in a fascinating discussion with RWK Goodman’s Clizia Motterle and Farzana Iqbal. Divorce is a legal process not a religious one; however practitioners should be au fait with the cultural and religious background and diversity […]
Not another seminar?
Yes! And plenty more, I say! Whilst the legislation has not changed materially since 1973, except of course for the Divorce Dissolution and Separation Act 2020, in so far as how we deal with financial issues, case law and procedure are constantly changing. We all must keep up. As helpful as they are, all too […]
Navigating AI: How law firms can guide the next generation of tech-savvy lawyers
There’s a lot the legal industry can learn from the next generation, particularly when it comes to AI. Gen Z grew up with technology at their fingertips, and are the first generation of lawyers to enter the sector while it is being digitally transformed. Often dubbed the ‘AI generation’, this new wave of lawyers is […]
Majority of small-medium firms plan growth and invest in tech – report
LexisNexis Legal & Professional have released a new report – Bellwether 2024: Lessons on law firm growth – which reveals nearly two-thirds of small- and medium-sized firms plan to grow in the next five years, and they’re investing in technology to help them get there. The survey of 265 associates and senior leaders at small- […]
How to deal with pensions on divorce
A sometimes overlooked and undervalued element of divorce proceedings is dealing with pensions which can have significant repercussions for those divorcing and places family practitioners in an important position of ensuring that both parties are adequately provided for both now and in the future. To discuss this thorny issue, Natalie Lester, a partner in the […]
Holland Family Law launches Early Neutral Evaluation service
Holland Family Law firm, based in Leicester, has announced the launch of its Early Neutral Evaluation (ENE) service available to anyone in the UK in need of family law advice. The new service is a confidential, flexible, non-biased type of alternative dispute resolution. ENE offers a way of settling family disputes, identifying early on what […]
The complexities associated with formalising kinship care arrangements: Legal solutions to promote children’s best interests
Children who are cared for by relatives other than their parents are often referred to as living in kinship care arrangements. The 2021 census found that there were 121,000 children in England and Wales living in some form of kinship care. Significantly more children live in a kinship care arrangement than are in the care […]
Changes to Family Procedure Rules encourage the use of non-Court dispute resolution
The media has recently reported that mediation is “revolutionising British business and Family Courts … in avoiding litigation and providing mutually agreeable solutions”. It is easy to see how this has come about with Court backlogs and the cost of living crisis, meaning that there is less money available for expensive litigation, and with legislation […]
The case for compulsory mediation in family law cases in Scotland: will it help ease the creaking system, or is it a step too far?
The issue of compulsory mediation is exercising legal minds on both sides of the Border and, as the appetite for change in Scotland increases, the matter of its feasibility or desirability becomes ever more relevant. Mediation is an assisted negotiation, where parties voluntarily attend a neutral venue with a third-party who facilitates communication between them. […]
The case for compulsory mediation in family law cases in Scotland: will it help ease the creaking system, or is it a step too far?
By Molly Somerville The issue of compulsory mediation is exercising legal minds on both sides of the Border and, as the appetite for change in Scotland increases, the matter of its feasibility or desirability becomes ever more relevant. Mediation is an assisted negotiation, where parties voluntarily attend a neutral venue with a third-party who facilitates […]
Designer drugs: the latest worrying trend in substance misuse
Gail Evans, Technical Trainer at AlphaBiolabs, examines the latest trends in illicit drug use as seen in the laboratory, from designer drugs, to ‘unexpected’ substances being detected in a donor’s sample. As a leading provider of drug testing services for family law professionals, social workers and FDACs, we are used to receiving questions regarding trends […]
Creating a Leading Brand in the Legal Sector: A Strategic Guide for Law Firms and Legal Businesses
Establishing a strong brand is not just about being recognised – it’s about being preferred. This means going beyond just offering expert legal advice; it involves embedding your firm’s values into every aspect of your business, developing a coherent content strategy, leveraging personal branding, and aligning with your long-term vision. At Legal Growth, we understand […]
Cohabitation law reform in 2024
By Richard Kershaw of Hunters Law The clamour for reform of “cohabitation law” is a misnomer. Because there isn’t a codified system of law in existence that’s in need of reform; rather there’s a disjointed and unsatisfactory amalgam of legislation which combines to produce an incomprehensible, barely navigable framework. If family law in the widest […]
Industry reacts to new changes to the Family Procedure Rules
The new regulation mandating the majority of separating and divorcing couples to first attempt non-court dispute resolution methods, like mediation, for addressing children arrangements and financial matters, has officially come into effect. Industry commentators have reacted to the changes. The rules are designed to focus on the opportunities for resolution away from the court. They […]
CMA launches draft guidance for online divorce
The CMA has today opened a consultation on draft guidance for unregulated businesses which provide will writing, online divorce, and pre-paid probate services in the UK. The draft guidance is intended to help providers of these services to better understand, and comply with, consumer protection law. The CMA is now seeking views from businesses in […]
Family law market value hits £2bn – Discounted report offer
The value of the family law market in 2023 increased by 5.4% to pass £2bn for the first time. The growth was driven by advice for high net worth individuals, complex cases especially Children Act cases, and increased demand for advice on financial issues after a divorce; in large part attributable for the spike in […]
One expert is better than two
In BR v BR [2024] EWFC 11, Peel J in his role as head of the Financial Remedies Court delivered “a written judgment as one or two points of principle arise” on the use of single joint experts in financial remedy proceedings. This is an important decision for family lawyers on how cases should be […]
Changes to the Family Procedure Rules – non-court dispute resolution is (almost) inescapable
The changes will place additional expectations on parties going through relationship and familial breakdown, family practitioners and the courts themselves to continually consider whether cases are suitable for non-court dispute resolution (NCDR). Background and the ongoing drive for non-court dispute resolution The drive for NCDR is not new. It has been spurred in recent years […]