Explaining the fundamentals of child inclusive mediation and how to use it in your practice
As an experienced psychotherapist, FMC family mediator and accredited Child Inclusive Mediator I am frequently contacted by family lawyers to assist in working with parents or caregivers in contentious or entrenched situations regarding disagreements concerning arrangements for children. In these situations I always suggest I meet with the children in Child Inclusive Mediation (CIM). Child […]
One small decision for the US Supreme Court, one monumental step back for womenkind
On 24th June 2022, the US Supreme Court overturned the landmark decision of Roe v Wade. Previously, this monumental case enshrined a woman’s right to an abortion in the US Constitution. Roe v Wade came about as in 1969, a 25-year-old single woman called Norma McCorvey (using the pseudonym “Jane Roe”), challenged the criminal abortion […]
Financial remedies: splitting the cryptocurrency
What is cryptocurrency? There are thousands of different types of cryptocurrencies, also known as cryptoassets, out there. Cryptocurrency is a digital currency that exists electronically in the virtual world. Well known examples are Bitcoin and Ethereum. They have no physical properties and no intrinsic value. There are no central banks, governing bodies or government agencies […]
The family lawyer’s view: “priority seating”
“Egregiously wrong” and “an abuse of judicial authority”. Of all things, US Supreme Court judge Justice Samuel Alito used this phrasing to describe the Court’s 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling. For just shy of 50 years, Roe v. Wade conferred a right to abortion upon women in the US. Last week, the Supreme Court ruled that […]
No-fault divorce spike and misconceptions
New HMCTS figures have revealed that the number of couples filing for divorce this year has doubled. This follows the introduction of no-fault divorce laws in April. In April 2021, there were 6,674 filings, compared to this year’s April 12,978 filings. We certainly saw this jump in our own practice – in the period April […]
Dealing with menopause in the workplace: 10 top tips
As awareness about Menopause is rising in the public arena, it has highlighted the question of how the menopause should be treated at work and what employers should be doing to support their employees affected by the menopause. Women in the age bracket of 40 to 55 are the fastest-growing demographic in the British workforce […]
Focusing on family law: a conversation with I. Stephanie Boyce
In March 2021, I. Stephanie Boyce made history as the 177th, the sixth female, the first black office holder, the first person of colour and the second in-house solicitor in almost fifty years to become president of the Law Society of England and Wales – the independent professional body for solicitors. She and Lisa Harker, […]
New chief executive for Law Society
The Law Society of England and Wales has appointed Ian Jeffery as chief executive who will take up his position in September. Interim chief executive Gerry Walsh will remain in post until then. Ian Jeffery joined Lewis Silkin in 1990 and qualified as a solicitor in 1992. He has extensive experience in information technology and intellectual […]
73% of lawyers avoid jobs with “toxic” work culture
New research from Culture Shift has found that 73% of legal workers would accepting a job with a firm that has a “toxic” work culture, compared with just 57% of those in the banking industry. 41% of those in the legal industry also would not apply for a firm with poor online reviews, 49% would […]
Legal aid supplier droughts will erode eligibility gains
The UK government must shore up the beleaguered legal aid market if more generous eligibility criteria are to benefit people on lower incomes, solicitors’ leaders have warned. The Law Society of England and Wales today published updated legal aid deserts maps to accompany its response to the Ministry of Justice consultation on changes to the […]
Untangling the concept of parental alienation
Parental alienation is usually seen in court cases where the relationship between parents is particularly acrimonious and often where there has been a breakdown of contact between one parent and the child. But what does parental alienation actually mean? What effect does this have in court proceedings and, most importantly, how does this impact on […]
The Ombudsman’s corner: an introduction to LeO
I am delighted to be writing the first of what will be a monthly column in which I talk about complaints, complaints handling, what we are seeing at the Legal Ombudsman, the way that we work, and how we approach matters that are referred to us. The Legal Ombudsman receive around 7,000 complaints every year […]
Law Society responds to SRA’s 2022/23 business plan
Solicitors’ leaders are concerned about the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s (SRA) plans to increase its fining powers by more than 1,000%, as they respond to the SRA’s 2022/2023 business plan and budget consultation. Law Society of England and Wales president I. Stephanie Boyce offered her support for several key elements of the business plan: “In principle, […]
LSB competence review: “out-of-date” lawyers must go
As the Legal Services Board (LSB) continues its review into continuing competence within the legal profession, the LSB has said that regulators must ensure lawyers do not operate with “out-of-date” skills or knowledge, the Board said within a recent paper titled “Ongoing competence – Emerging themes from consultation”. The LSB consulted on a draft statutory […]
Three-year anniversary of the Women in Law Pledge: a reflection
Law Society of England and Wales president I. Stephanie Boyce reflects on the Women in Law Pledge, which currently has 46 signatories. I am delighted to mark the three-year anniversary of the Women in Law Pledge, which was launched by the Law Society in partnership with the Bar Council and the Chartered Institute of Legal […]
The “scandal” seeing mothers stripped of their children
A new study conducted by the Observer has highlighted a “scandal” in which court-appointed “psychological experts” are costing parents – more often mothers – custody of their children. The Association of Clinical Psychologists UK (ACP-UK) has warned that many of these experts are making decisions on the lives of families and young children based on […]
Rwanda removals raise rule of law questions
Legal challenges to UK government plans to send asylum-seekers to Rwanda raise questions about the foundations of British justice, the Law Society of England and Wales said as the clock ticks down to the first scheduled removals flight on 14 June. “Legal challenges are usually a safety net that ensure government is acting lawfully, following […]
Delays in the Family Court – how they impact on children
When relationships end, arrangements must be made in respect to children. Disputes arise. Some of these end up in the courts. Family courts are required to deal with cases involving children without delay – that is the law. However, a perfect storm has been brewing in the family courts for some years now. COVID-19 was […]
ADR in family law post-COVID-19 pandemic
All the way back on 8th January 2021, Sir Andrew McFarlane released “The Family Court and COVID-19 | The Road Ahead 2021”. During this time, there was a growing consideration in respect of hybrid working and the workloads of judges up and down the country. Practitioners working within family law witnessed first-hand the impact of […]
Retaining women in the workforce: overcoming challenges facing employers
Resignation rates remain high with many root causes for why women may be leaving their employer or workforce altogether – creating an opportunity for employers to help extend women’s careers and retain a wealth of knowledge and experience. One of those factors is the menopause taboo – One in ten women say they haven’t talked […]