HMCTS publishes case study on digital divorce
Recognising the need for modernisation, HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) launched a digital divorce service, revolutionising the way couples apply for divorce. Since its digital transformation, the divorce application process has significantly improved. Over 511,000 applications have been made online, streamlining the experience for both the public and legal professionals. Key benefits include: Calls […]
Firm celebrates 50 years with 50 act of kindness
East of England law firm, Hegarty, has celebrated its 50th year in business with 50 acts of kindness, raising £16,000 for four local charities. The firm, which provides conveyancing, private client and family services, and corporate legal services from its offices in Market Deeping, Stamford, Oakham, Peterborough, and Bourne, set themselves the target of raising […]
Domestic Abuse Commissioner warns UK justice system is failing survivors
The UK Government has published its initial response to Shifting the Scales, a report by the Domestic Abuse Commissioner for England and Wales, which exposed critical failings in the criminal justice system’s handling of domestic abuse cases. However, the Commissioner has raised serious concerns over the government’s approach, warning that a lack of urgency and […]
SRA says no final decision on scrapping client accounts has been made
A senior executive at the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has reassured solicitors that no firm decision has been made regarding the potential removal of client accounts, as reported by The Law Society Gazette. The recent SRA consultation, which closed at the end of February, raised the spectre of the end of client accounts and solicitors […]
Billionaire Michael Fuchs loses legal battle over divorce settlement
Michael Fuchs, the billionaire property tycoon who once held a stake in Manhattan’s iconic Chrysler Building, has suffered a significant legal setback in his prolonged divorce dispute, as reported by The Times. The latest ruling from the High Court found that Fuchs attempted to avoid paying his former wife, Alvina Collardeau-Fuchs, by setting up a […]
Study finds wives’ poor health increases divorce risk
A new study examining divorce among older couples has found that when wives experience poor health, marriages are significantly more likely to break down – whereas husbands’ health struggles have little impact on the likelihood of divorce, as reported by The Times. The study tracked more than 25,000 heterosexual couples aged 50 and older across […]
Ofcom launches investigation into social media firms over child abuse failures
Social media companies, including Elon Musk’s X, are set to be investigated by Ofcom for their failure to prevent the spread of child sexual abuse material online, as reported by The Telegraph. The UK regulator will announce on Monday that it is prioritising enforcement action against online child sexual abuse, examining how social media platforms […]
Government reactivates emergency prison measures amid overcrowding crisis
The Government has reintroduced emergency measures to address prison overcrowding, despite an early release scheme aimed at easing pressure on the system, as reported by The Telegraph. Labour’s Justice Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, has reactivated Operation Safeguard, requiring police stations to set aside cells for prisoners due to a surge in jail numbers over the past […]
Oxford most searched area for divorce and family lawyers, research reveals
New research has revealed the UK areas searching for divorce lawyers the most, with Oxford coming out on top. The study by family law firm Reiss Edwards analysed data from Google on over 350 keywords relating to divorce lawyers and solicitors and measured this against populations of UK towns and cities to see which had […]
Celebrating 200 years of the Law Society in Bristol
As the Law Society of England and Wales celebrates its bicentenary in Bristol on 13th March, they reflect on the significant impact solicitors in the Southwest region have had on the legal landscape, the local economy and community. The legal profession in the Southwest grosses over £1.5 billion annually, demonstrating the importance of the sector […]
Membership body rejects proposed changes to client money
SME law firm membership body LawNet has defended the model of law firms holding client monies and says it believes there are no ‘credible alternatives’ to the client account model in its submission to the SRA consultation which closed at the end of February. Indeed the mutual goes as far as suggesting some of the […]
Solicitors fined over £47k for failing AML checks
Four law firms have been fined a combined total of £47,666 by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) for failures in complying with anti-money laundering (AML) regulations. The breaches, spanning several years, included inadequate risk assessments, failure to maintain proper policies, and lapses that could have facilitated illicit financial activities. The largest fine, £23,596, was imposed […]
Prosperity Law strengthens family law team with appointment of Daniel Jones
Prosperity Law has welcomed Daniel Jones as a Partner in their Family Law team. His appointment reflects the firm’s commitment to “expanding its expertise and delivering exceptional legal services” to clients across England, Wales and those based Internationally. Daniel joins from a large national firm and is based in Liverpool and London. He regularly advises […]
Keystone Law welcomes new Family partner to its ranks
Keystone Law has welcomed partner David Thompson to its experienced team of Family & Matrimonial lawyers. He joins the firm from Seddons Solicitors, where he was a partner. David has over 25 years’ experience in all aspects of family law. He is a specialist adviser on complex financial divorces as well as intractable disputes involving […]
Taylor Rose parent AIIC Group named among the fastest growing in Europe for third-year running
The parent of consultant style firms Taylor Rose, FDR Law and KingsleyWood has been listed in Financial Times 1000 list of Europe’s fastest-growing companies for the third consecutive year. AIIC Group reported compound annual growth rate of 45% with annual revenues of £83.6m in the year ended 30th September 2023. The company’s growth has continued this year, […]
Cohabitation law reform moves forward as government plans consultation
The long-anticipated reform of cohabitation law could arrive sooner than expected, as the government has confirmed plans to launch a consultation on the issue this year. Labour’s 2024 manifesto pledged to strengthen legal rights and protections for women in cohabiting relationships. Responding to questions from the House of Commons justice select committee, Lord Ponsonby of […]
One in ten children in couple families affected by parental conflict, data reveals
Official statistics were released by the Department for Work & Pensions on the proportion of children affected by parental conflict in families. The figures showed that 10% of children in couple-parent families had at least one parent who reported relationship distress in the 2021 to 2022 survey period. 10% of children in couple-parent families had […]
Swifter justice for victims as courts sit at record level
The Lord Chancellor, Shabana Mahmood, has confirmed that Crown Court judges will sit for a collective 110,000 days in the next financial year – 4,000 more than was initially allocated the previous year. The increase will mean more hearings at the Crown Court in the coming year, helping victims see justice faster than they otherwise […]
Government pledges to protect more women from violence
This International Women’s Day, as statistics show that a woman is killed on average every 3 days in the UK, the government has reiterated its commitment to halving violence against women and girls in a decade. For the past 10 years, Jess Phillips has read the names of women suspected of being killed by men […]
Prison expanded to create UK’s largest jail and keep public safe
The three new, four-storey houseblocks at HMP Highpoint will boost its capacity by more than 50% – and is the latest step in Government action to create safer streets. The houseblocks will include innovative workshops and teaching facilities to train prisoners with skills to secure a job on release and turn their backs on crime […]