LSB should strengthen oversight to safeguard consumers, Law Society says
The Legal Services Board (LSB) should continue to strengthen its oversight of regulators’ performance to avoid consumer harm and prevent collapses such as Axiom Ince and SSB Group from happening again, the Law Society of England and Wales says. The comments were made in the Law Society’s response to the LSB’s 2026/2027 business plan consultation, […]
Court of Appeal upholds finding that £38m trust was a sham
The Court of Appeal has endorsed the approach of the High Court to go beyond appearances when analysing finances and making financial remedy orders. In a decision handed down in December, the court heard the appeal of Mario Michael against a final financial remedy order made by the High Court on 1 July 2025, which […]
LawCare supported record numbers in 2025
In 2025, the legal sector mental health charity LawCare supported 753 people – more than any previous year, including during the pandemic. The charity’s online chat function – which is offered alongside a telephone helpline – also saw an increase in users, up 13% on the previous year. “The need for trusted, accessible and sector-specific […]
PM Law Update: ‘Urgent’ clients contacted and compensation fund claims being processed
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has published a further statement on action it has taken in the wake of PM Law’s closure last week. The Sheffield-based firm and subsidiaries suddenly closed on Monday 2nd February, with notices appearing on the front doors stating the firm was no longer able to trade “due to regulatory matters”. An […]
Legal Ombudsman complaints data shows record levels of demand
The Legal Ombudsman (LeO) has published its complaint data for Q3 of 2025/26 which reveals “a sustained and accelerating demand” for help and the highest complaint volumes for any previous quarter on record. The number of new complaints received by the LeO increased by 29.8% in the reporting period, which covers 1 October to 31 […]
Government launches consultation on child-focused Victims’ Code reforms
The Ministry of Justice has launched a consultation to gather feedback on proposed revisions to the Victims’ Code, including the creation of a child-specific version written in age appropriate language. The proposed changes seek to introduce 12 fundamental principles covering victims’ entitlements throughout the criminal justice process. The ministry plans to collaborate with young people […]
Client account proposals ‘an unfair tax on clients and cannot proceed’, Law Society says
The Ministry of Justice’s proposed scheme for Interest on Lawyers’ Client Accounts (ILCA) is fundamentally flawed, lacks adequate evidence and is a crude sector-specific tax on clients of legal services, the Law Society of England and Wales has warned. Commenting on the release of its response to the government consultation on ILCA, The Law Society said […]
Government announces review of the Legal Services Board
The government has launched a review of the Legal Services Board (LSB) to ensure current regulatory arrangements are effective and do not duplicate initiatives of frontline regulators. The review was announced by Sarah Sackman, minister of state for justice (pictured), in a written statement on Tuesday. “It is best practice for departments to regularly review […]
Banker loses £4m prenup case after ‘deplorable’ behaviour
A high court judge has reduced the amount due to a husband as part of a prenuptial agreement by over £4 million, after finding his behaviour to be “deplorable” throughout the marriage and proceedings. Sitting in the Royal Courts of Justice, Mr Justice Cusworth said Ardal Loh-Gronager (pictured) had sought to “undermine the integrity of […]
Legal cashier barred for £200,000 theft
A legal cashier who is currently serving 26 months for fraud has been barred from working again in a solicitors firm. Liverpool Legal, previously known as E. Rex Makin and Co. Solicitors, uncovered that Rachel Wilson had transferred almost £200,000 from its office account to her own bank accounts between 1 April 2020 and 12 […]
New tech platform aims to help legal clients navigate cost and retainer terms
A legal technology platform has been launched to help law firms ensure clients understand legal costs and retainer terms. The Legal Lexi has been created by a regulated and experienced fellow costs lawyer in response to the rising number of fee-related disputes between solicitors and clients, including complaints to the Legal Ombudsman. Under the Consumer […]
Law firm celebrates 300th anniversary with £30,000 hospice donation
Law firm Furley Page has celebrated its 300th anniversary with a £30,000 donation to Pilgrims Hospices, after the firm’s staff spent the milestone year staging a range of fundraising activities. The firm was founded in Canterbury in 1725, making it one of the oldest law firms in the world. Throughout the anniversary year, Furley page […]
Legal sector not embracing remote roles, study finds
Only 4.8% of the 6,323 new legal job listings in 2025 were fully remote, according to data shared by equity management platform Vestd. And while the legal sector sits marginally above the national industry average of 4.75% – coming in at 12th place in Vestd’s ranking of 29 industries – job seekers cited remote working […]
Family arbitration use doubles as court delays mount
Family arbitrations in England and Wales have doubled in the last two years, according to figures from the Institute of Family Law Arbitrators. In 2025 there were 178 arbitrations, up from 89 in 2023, with the option becoming more popular as the family court system continues to face significant resource pressures. The surge follows the […]
SRA takes action on PM Law closure
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has confirmed it has formally intervened in the closure of PM Law and its subsidiary firms in a statement published yesterday on its website. After calls for clarity from the regulator in the days following the closure of the Sheffield-based firm, a statement confirms the SRA launched an investigation on […]
Client account consultation deadline extended
The deadline to have your say on the Ministry of Justice’s plans to use lawyer’s client account interest to fund access to justice has been extended by four weeks to 9th March, from 9th February. The MoJ has signalled it could target interest on client accounts in its recent client money consultations, describing the potential […]
Silence from Sheffield firm following widespread office closures
A Sheffield law firm and its subsidiaries appear to have ceased trading, with notices placed on office doors and former employees taking to social media to advise of their availability for work. In a widely shared image on social media, Butterworths Solicitors in Carlisle placed a notice on its front door on the morning of […]
Family court grants journalist’s application for psychologist’s reports to ‘advance open justice’
A judge has granted a journalist permission to see reports by a psychologist in four private family law cases, having concluded that to do so would “advance open justice”. The expert reports will be strictly anonymised and the scope of reporting limited to protect the children involved. However, the request by a journalist has wider […]
High Court finds Hounslow Council unlawfully failed to treat a child as looked after
The High Court has ruled that Hounslow Council unlawfully failed to recognise a child as looked after and provide him with adequate accommodation and support under the Children Act 1989, in a successful judicial review initiated by Coram Children’s Legal Centre (CCLC). The claimant, CLT, was represented by Finnian Clarke of Doughty Street Chambers, instructed […]
Family mediators warn of ‘cliff edge’ for families as Mediation Voucher Scheme set to end
National Family Mediation (NFM), the country’s largest provider of mediation services, has expressed concern that the Family Mediation Voucher Scheme is due to end in March, with no extension in place. The vouchers give separating couples up to £500 for mediation, which they can use to resolve disputes over finances, children and housing. Despite previously […]