Judicial diversity
On the 9th November I produced an article on legal aid within family law and considered the findings from a recent Council of Europe study which found that the UK is Europe’s legal aid capital and the third highest out of nearly 50 countries analysed. In the article, I focused on how the process of […]
Prenups: a client’s new best friend?
In these strange times, people are taking stock and thinking about what really matters to them. This may lead to decisions being made about their relationship status, i.e. decisions being made to separate, stay together or getting engaged, or due to fewer weddings taking place, postponing marriage until some point in the future ‘when all […]
Deal or No Deal …. Divorce Tourism set to stop?
In the recent Supreme Court case of Villiers v Villiers where a Scottish husband had lodged a writ for divorce in Scotland but his wife, now habitually resident in England, issued a financial claim against him in England and Wales was able to pursue her claim, being so permitted under the current EU law, was […]
Bridging the digital distance for clients
There’s been much debate about clients – in particular those who are parents – having concerns with the way cases are managed in a virtual court set up. A study carried out in September by the Nuffield Family Justice Observatory received more than 1,300 responses, with 88% of parents concerned about how their case was […]
Family Courts and Legal Aid
Recently, a Council of Europe study revealed that the UK is Europe’s legal aid capital and the third highest out of nearly 50 countries analysed. The comparison between other countries is questionable, as Amanda Pinto QC, Chair of the Bar Council in a press release stated in response: ‘“Comparing England and Wales’ spending on legal […]
Family Lawyers: Get Paid Your True Worth!
To say that we have been living through the most extraordinary of times would probably be the under-statement of the century! Certainly, in my conversations with family lawyers over the last few months, it seems that many of you have been extremely busy during this period, although, at the beginning of lockdown, there may have […]
A remote working overhaul could save a firm tens-of-thousands of pounds
The debate continues whether remote working will become more prevalent when the UK is released from the effects of the pandemic. But one thing that is seeming almost set in stone is the regularly moving restrictions are going to remain into 2021 with mass vaccination not likely until the Spring or Summer. In a recent […]
The hybrid work environment
Other articles in this series have concentrated on some of the meeting solutions that are available and on the best way to run online meetings. This article will consider the differences between in-person and online meetings. For most of our existence mankind has traditionally held only face-to-face meetings (yes, even cavemen had committee meetings and […]
White v White: 20 years on from seminal farming divorce case
This blog has been posted on Kinglsey Napley’s website Farming divorces hold a special place in the heart of family lawyers as the landmark divorce case of White v White [2000] was that of a farming family. Twenty years on, this case remains one which fundamentally changed the landscape in which we operate, how we […]
Online meeting software – which is best?
The sudden requirement to use online meeting software was originally met with panic buying. Firms rushed just to get up and running, but now, six months into the pandemic, firms are reconsidering those initial decisions. So, is that software service good for the future? Products There is a plethora of meeting applications out there and […]
The challenges around home working for Family Lawyers
Since the arrival of Covid-19 and lockdown there has been a lot of discussion and articles about home working. Much of this has focused on home working from the viewpoint of the individual – should I use Teams or Zoom, isn’t it nice not having to commute and travel, how do I avoid embarrassing distractions […]
Advice for family lawyers: hosting online meetings
When the UK first went into lockdown during March 2020, a huge emphasis was placed on the importance of online meetings. The business community as a whole had to quickly become comfortable with appearing in front of a camera. Not only that, but we also had to become accustomed to the fact that normal life […]
Something old, something new: the Law Commission’s proposed changes to outdated wedding laws
In 1836 the Marriage Act was enacted. This was the same year that Charles Darwin returned to the UK after his second voyage on HMS Beagle, Dickens’ first novel was published, and the last hangings in the UK for arson and robbery occurred. The Marriage Act 1836 is the source of the main laws which […]
Will Women Be Prejudiced By The Introduction Of ‘No-Fault’ Divorce?
The Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill is expected to come into force in Autumn 2021, doing away with the need to justify the decision to divorce. It would be enough that one party considers that the relationship has irretrievably broken down, known as a ‘no-fault’ divorce. While the Bill has broad cross-party support, some have […]