Use of AI is ‘affecting judgement of junior lawyers’
The use of AI in legal work is increasing the speed at which junior lawyers work, but has “significant implications” on how they learn and develop legal judgement, new research suggests. The findings from LexisNexis Legal & Professional reveal more than half (58%) of the 863 legal professionals surveyed who use AI tools said they […]
Stowe Family Law partners with Australian firm in first international deal
Stowe Family Law has completed an investment in Unified Lawyers (Unified), a specialist family law practice with offices in Sydney, Melbourne and Queensland. This agreement marks the first investment outside the UK for the technology focused firm, which was founded in Yorkshire in 1984 and has expanded into a national platform with over 90 offices and more […]
Regional firms expand family teams
Family Law Partners has expanded its Ascot-based family team with a new senior associate, while Newcastle firm Mincoffs has built its family capacity with the appointment of a new solicitor. Georgia Meyer (pictured above) will assist Mincoff’s clients with divorce and financial settlements, and has experience in cases of varying complexity, including those involving high‑net‑worth […]
Female lawyers form network to ‘overcome challenges and help next generation’
Four law firm leaders have come together to form a network which aims to bring ambitious women together to connect, share insight and support each other. Female Leaders Network has been described by its co-founders as “not another networking group where business cards are swapped and masks stay on”. Instead, the fledgling group is designed […]
Napthens strengthens family team with Islamic divorce expert
Shakeela Bi has joined Lancashire firm Napthens as legal director, where she will provide advice to the members of the Muslim community going through divorce. Recognised as an expert in Islamic divorces, Bi (pictured right) is one of only a small number of solicitors in the country able to provide advice to divorcing couples relating […]
Claire Gordon appointed head of family at Farrer & Co
Claire Gordon has been appointed head of family at London law firm Farrer & Co, following a period of sustained growth for the eight-partner practice, which was founded in 1701. Gordon completed her training at the firm and was made partner in 2007. She has extensive experience of complex, cross-border matters involving trusts, corporate structures […]
New family partner joins Knights’ growing Reading team
Owen Reynolds has joined the family team at Knights in Reading, where he becomes partner in the growing firm. A family law specialist, Reynolds (pictured right) brings three decades of experience to the role, including divorce matters, division of matrimonial finances, cohabitee disputes, domestic violence injunctions, private law children matters, and high-net-worth pre and post-nuptial […]
LawCare’s free webinar will share tips on dealing with anxiety
This Thursday, LawCare, the mental health charity for the legal sector, is running a free webinar offering practical ways to cope with anxiety. The webinar is being staged as part of Time to Talk Day on 5 February, which encourages legal professionals to talk openly and honestly about mental health in the workplace. Anxiety remains […]
LSB interim report criticises regulators for ‘varied clarity and detail’ in Mazur advice
The Legal Services Board (LSB) has criticised the response of regulators to the questions raised by Mazur v Charles Russell Speechlys LLP, and the potential impact of the case on litigation work conducted by unqualified professionals. In an interim report published this week following the LSB’s review, announced in October, the super-regulator said the response […]
Law Society ‘disappointed’ at lack of solicitors among 96 new KCs
Following the announcement that 96 barristers have been appointed as new King’s Council (KC) in England and Wales, the Law Society of England and Wales says it is “extremely disappointed” that no solicitors have been awarded the accolade. Monisha Shah, chair of the King’s Council selection panel, said the panel seeks to ensure the selection […]
As part of Family Mediation Week, legal practitioners share their thoughts on its benefits
Mid-way through Family Mediation Week, Today’s Family Lawyer readers have shared their thoughts on the benefits of mediation and the supporting role it plays in legal practice. With plenty of events still available to attend in person and online, Helen Anthony, chief executive of the Family Mediation Council, says it’s not too late to get […]
Publicly funded mediation down 60% since 2013
Publicly funded mediation has seen a substantial decline since 2013, with a 60% drop in assessments over 12 years and a halving of successful agreements, data from Nuffield Family Justice Observatory reveals. The fall is frequently attributed to the removal of legal aid for most private law cases, as families were most often signposted to […]
Financial remedy transparency pilot extended
The Transparency Reporting Pilot For Financial Remedy Proceedings launched in January 2024 has been extended to 29 January this year and will now encompass all financial remedy proceedings taking place in courts in England and Wales. Following the end of the current scheme, it will be extended for a further year, from 30 January 2026 […]
Family mediator celebrates 90th birthday as practising solicitor
The founder of Essex and London law firm Rainer Hughes is celebrating his 90th birthday during Family Mediation Week – with the milestone also marking over 30 years since practising solicitor Brian Hughes qualified as a family mediator. Hughes qualified as a solicitor in 1965 and founded the firm that would later become Rainer Hughes. […]
Half of 18-44 year-olds ‘want prenups to protect digital assets’
A new survey from Irwin Mitchell suggests a lack of clarity and legal transparency over digital assets is leading young people to seek protection through pre-nuptial agreements. The survey of 1,000 UK asset holders aged between 18 and 44 revealed 67% of participants don’t believe the law has kept up with the growth of digital […]
Nightingale Courts to become permanent fixtures – but family lawyer says ‘it’s a sticking plaster on a dire reality’
Former court buildings in Fleetwood, Telford, Chichester and Cirencester – used as Nightingale Courts since the pandemic – will now become permanent fixtures, the Ministry of Justice has announced. The move will secure 11 additional courtrooms across the country where capacity is most needed, the MoJ said, to help tackle the backlog of family, civil […]
Fledgeling family law podcast looks beyond the job
A new podcast presented by two family law partners celebrates the importance of staying connected for wellbeing. According to its co-founders, Family Law Friends focuses “less on the letter of the law and more on the challenges and rewards of the job and how to strike a balance between work and home life.” Co-hosts and […]
Quarter of new law firms don’t make it past five years, research finds
An analysis of Companies House data has revealed a quarter of new businesses in the legal services sector fail to make it past their first five years. Witan Solicitors examined the number of businesses in the legal industry incorporated between January 2021 and December 2025 and compared it to the number that have since entered […]
Court of Appeal reiterates need for ‘anxious scrutiny’ in interim separation cases
The Court of Appeal has found that when refusing a local authority’s application for separation of an eight month old baby girl from her parents, the circuit judge had not undertaken the necessary “anxious scrutiny”. The decision in C (A child) (Interim Separation: Residential Care) [2025] EWCA Civ 1618 underscores the importance of balanced and […]
LeO shares early resolution advice to cut ‘unnecessary escalation’
The latest Spotlight article from the Legal Ombudsman (LeO) focuses on early resolution, with practical steps for legal service providers to follow to resolve complaints at first tier. Clear communication, timely responses and proportionate remedies will all help resolve complaints before they escalate unnecessarily, the LeO says, leading to faster outcomes for customers. In 2024/25, […]