The value of peer support
We all know the phrases “a problem shared is a problem halved” or “it’s good to talk”, but the benefits in talking about how you are feeling go far beyond this. When we are in a difficult situation we lose our problem-solving abilities. It can be impossible to focus and it can seem overwhelming to […]
Loneliness in the legal sector
Humans are hard-wired to connect – we are tribal and social animals. We are biologically programmed to need other humans, and a feeling of belonging and connection drives our happiness. Despite this, many of us will know what it’s like to be lonely, especially after living through two years of reduced social interaction. Loneliness arises […]
Prenuptial agreements: unromantic or a sensible insurance policy?
Prenuptial agreements are once again in the news thanks to Brooklyn Beckham and his heiress wife, Nicola Peltz, who reportedly signed one prior to their recent wedding. Although David and Victoria have a fortune estimated at £380 million, this is dwarfed by the estimated £1.3 billion wealth of Miss Peltz’s financier father. Although we tend […]
Fairness on divorce: discretion or formula?
At long last, on 6th April we will witness the dawn of a new era: no fault divorce. This long-delayed reform of our Divorce law, which dates back over 50 years to 1969, will arrive with the coming in to force of the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020. Consigned to history will be “adultery” […]
Solicitors have “higher hurdle to jump” than barristers
The process of judicial recruitment has come under fire following the latest episode of BBC Radio 4’s Law In Action in which a solicitor claimed they were told by several senior judges that “solicitors have a higher hurdle to jump than barristers” in securing a judicial appointment. Speaking to Joshua Rozenberg, presenter of the show […]
Divorce law: out with the old and in with the new
Assigning fault or blame between spouses has been at the heart of divorce legislation for centuries. The need to prove fault was expanded at various stages between 1857 and 1973. The Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 provided one ground for divorce; that the marriage had irretrievably broken down. There were five factors to prove this: adultery, […]
Court delays and mediation, arbitration and private FDRs
Long waits for hearings to be listed and cases being adjourned at short notice owing to lack of judicial availability were fairly common issues and occurrences in family law practitioners’ lives long before the pandemic. Covid-19 has only exacerbated these difficulties. In December 2020 HMCTS estimated that it might take three years for the backlog […]
Crypto-assets: an emerging asset forming part of financial settlements
Ownership of crypto-assets – particularly cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin – has rocketed in the past few years. It is, therefore, unsurprising that such assets are increasingly part of financial settlements when relationships have broken down. What is cryptocurrency? Briefly, cryptocurrency is a digital currency. Cryptocurrencies are mainly decentralised, meaning that they are not issued or […]
No fault divorce is finally here – but what do the changes mean for practitioners?
No Fault Divorce is finally here. As of 6th April, divorcing couples no longer need to have either been separated for the requisite period of time, or for one party to blame the other for the breakdown of the marriage. The new rules also apply to civil partnership dissolutions. Under the old law, where a […]
The financial considerations clients should make following a no-fault divorce
The no-fault divorce law landed recently in the UK; as divorce lawyers, we are expected to see an influx of applications now there is no requirement to place the blame on either party. Separating from a partner could have a big impact on your client’s finances, especially if they have relied on their income during […]
Break down the barriers: the barriers to entering the legal profession
Not being able to get work experience whilst in school, attending the wrong university, the inability to afford the necessary qualifications and fierce competition are only some of the barriers to entry into the legal profession. Third year law student, Abby Spalding, discusses the challenges faced by aspiring lawyers today. The popularity of law in […]
No fault divorce is “the start of a journey”
6th April sees the long-awaited Divorce Dissolution and Separation Act (DDSA) 2022 come into force, dispensing with the need to project blame within divorce proceedings or having to wait in excess of 2 years separation before you can otherwise petition. This marks the first major change to divorce legislation for over 50 years with the […]
No Fault Divorce – The wider impact on legal proceedings?
The Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020, which was passed into law on 25 June 2020 but will not come into effect until Spring 2022, will see an end to the blame game on divorce. Currently divorcing couplies cannot bring their marriage to an end unless they wait for two years (by consent) or five […]
This week marks Autism Acceptance Week. But what does this mean for family law?
It is vital for the Family Courts and everyone who is involved in the process to adapt and make reasonable adjustments in order to meet the needs of an autistic person. In this piece, I’ll be focusing on the needs of autistic children in particular. Acceptance is key, and it begins in wider society. There […]
How to deal with pensions during divorce
Innovative divorce firm Fair Result give their advice and shed some light on exactly what happens to pensions during the divorce process and how to deal with them. First and foremost, it is very important to deal with pensions correctly. They can be amongst the most valuable assets in a divorce after the value of […]
Five ways legal professionals can look after their mental health, so they can in turn spot vulnerable clients
Our lives have been under a great deal of pressure over the last few years. With dealing with the impact of Covid at home and within our workplaces, to inflationary pressures and severe energy costs, to seeing the devastation of the Ukrainian crisis, it’s fair to say that our resilience levels have been well and […]
Planning for the future – what is an LPA and why are they important for family clients?
Losing the mental capacity to make sound decisions about aspects of our own lives is not something any of us like to think about happening. But it is important for clients to plan for the future because, should this scenario occur without any guidance, it can be difficult for their loved ones to help. A […]
Today’s Family Lawyer marks second anniversary of first national lockdown
Today marks the two year anniversary since lockdown measures were first introduced in England to help combat the spread of the global covid-19 pandemic. Now that restrictions have lifted, with no further isolation requirements and many businesses returning to office environments, Covid-19 seems to have completely faded away from daily life. Although the world […]
Have your say on how the ICO operates
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is seeking the views of stakeholders and the public on how it regulates the laws it monitors and enforces. With the consultation closing this Thursday, the ICO is seeking feedback on its: Regulatory Action Policy Statutory Guidance on our Regulatory Action; and Statutory Guidance on our PECR Powers. Taken together, […]
Law Society poll reveals UK voters at odds with government refugee policy
A clear majority of people in the UK reject the rationale underpinning the government’s Nationality and Borders Bill which singles out those who have to take a clandestine route to safety, a new poll by the Law Society of England and Wales shows. Under the government’s Nationality and Borders Bill, refugees who make their own […]