CILEX calls for more opportunities to diversify access to the legal profession
Legal regulators are not doing enough to open up the flexible pathways into a legal career that are needed to improve diversity in the sector, said the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEX) in its response to the Legal Services Board’s (LSB) consultation on its draft policy statement on encouraging a diverse legal profession. In […]
Domestic abuse crisis ‘hiding in plain sight’ – Refuge
New data from Refuge shows that more than half of UK adults (57%) questioned by the charity acknowledge that the home is where women are most at risk of abuse, even though 85% believe most people feel safe in their own home. The figures suggest “a domestic abuse crisis happening in plain sight”, Refuge said. […]
Government’s SEND consultation facing legal challenge
The government’s reforms of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) provision are facing a legal challenge. Specialist public law firm, Rook Irwin Sweeney, is contesting the lawfulness of the government’s consultation document and has sent a letter before claim to education secretary, Bridget Phillipson. The solicitor leading the claim said the proposals will “significantly weaken […]
Mother fabricated abuse claims, court finds in Hague Convention application
In F v M, a fact-finding hearing within an application by a father for access to his son under article 21 of the Hague Convention, the court found that the mother’s allegations of abuse against the father were not proved and that the mother had exaggerated and fabricated details to intentionally obstruct the child’s paternal […]
SRA formally censured for failures over SSB Group
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has been formally censured by the Legal Services Board (LSB) over its failure to protect consumers affected by the failure of SSB Group. The LSB’s report into the SRA’s handling of SSB Group identified “prolonged delays in identifying and responding to clear warning signs” at the firm, with the decision […]
Government commits £126m to kinship care pilot across seven local authority areas
The Department for Education (DfE) has committed £126 million to fund a pilot financial allowance for kinship carers across seven designated local authority areas in England. The department hopes the scheme will reach around 5,000 children over a programme lasting up to three and a half years. An estimated 130,000 children currently live in kinship […]
President of Family Division sets aside alienating behaviour findings and limits use of expert evidence
In a significant judgment on expert evidence and alleged alienating behaviour, the president of the Family Division reaffirmed that expert evidence cannot substitute judicial fact-finding. The Rt Hon Sir Andrew McFarlane handed down judgment in Y (Experts and Alienating Behaviour: The Modern Approach) in February at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, following a […]
New guidance released on preparing court bundles for litigants in person in family proceedings
The Office of the President of the Family Division has published new guidance on preparing court bundles for litigants in person in family proceedings. The guidance accompanies practice direction 27A – Family Proceedings: Court Bundles, which came into effect on Monday, and applies to court cases in England and Wales which are being heard in […]
Risk of future domestic abuse not sufficient to justify removal, court finds
In contested proceedings under Part IV of the Children Act 1989, His Honour Judge Willans has concluded two children should remain with their father under a supervision order, preferring “good enough” parental care over a safer but more interventionist placement. The decision was handed down at the Family Court in West London following a January […]
High Court weighs faith, medicine and a child’s best interests in life-sustaining treatment case
The High Court has published a deeply sensitive judgment concerning the withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment for a young child with a severe and progressive genetic condition. In Cardiff and Vale University Local Health Board v SR & Ors [2026] EWHC 348 (Fam), the court was asked to determine whether it was lawful and in the […]
Domestic adoption order refused due to safeguarding and trafficking concerns
A High Court judge has refused a domestic adoption order application, citing significant procedural and safeguarding issues. In D v London Borough of Bromley and Ors (Special Restrictions – Refusal of Adoption Order) the application was heard by Mr Justice McDonald in December 2025, with the decision handed down in February. The application was brought […]
Law Society backs LSB’s EDI plans but warns of burden on small firms
The Law Society of England and Wales has responded to the Legal Services Board’s (LSB) draft statement of policy on equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI), broadly supporting a strengthened regulatory approach but raising concerns about the potential impact of universal EDI reporting requirements on smaller firms. The LSB published its draft policy statement, Encouraging a […]
Government launches consultation on children’s digital wellbeing
The government has launched a public consultation on children’s digital wellbeing and is seeking feedback on measures to protect children on social media, gaming platforms and in the use of AI chatbots. The consultation, announced jointly by technology secretary Liz Kendall and education secretary Bridget Phillipson on Monday, covers platform features associated with children’s prolonged […]
Legal group AIIC passes 1,000 consultants as platform business continues to grow
AIIC Group, the legal platform business behind law firms Taylor Rose, FDR Law and Kingsley Wood, had 1,009 fee-earning legal consultants operating across its brands at the end of 2025, according to figures released by the company. The total number of individuals working under AIIC’s consultancy programme stood at 1,485 at the end of 2025, […]
LSB announces preferred candidate for OLC chair
The Legal Services Board (LSB) has announced Richard Blakeway as its preferred candidate for the post of chair of the Office for Legal Complaints (OLC). The LSB’s recommendation, which came about after an open competition, has been approved by the minister of state for justice, Sarah Sackman KC MP. Blakeway was appointed as housing ombudsman […]
Child arrangements and domestic abuse applications must be filed online in five family courts
All child arrangements and domestic abuse applications must now be submitted online at family courts in Kingston upon Hull, Grimsby, Swansea, Wolverhampton and Chelmsford. All C100 applications must be filed through the MyHMCTS Private Family Law digital service, unless an exception applies under practice direction 36ZD. Any paper C100 applications submitted from yesterday (Sunday) will […]
Ward Hadaway strengthens team with 44 new appointments
Top 100 UK law firm Ward Hadaway has appointed 44 new legal specialists across the north of England over the last five months. The new starters include partners, directors, managing associates, trainee solicitors and paralegals, which the firm says is “strengthening teams at multiple levels of the business and supporting sustained client demand across core […]
Birketts hosts first CILEX Connect and Grow events ahead of national roll-out
Legal professionals got the chance to share experiences and discuss the sector with experts in the first of a series of networking events taking place across the UK this year. The first two CILEX Connect and Grow events were organised by Birketts LLP, one of the UK’s oldest law firms, at its offices in Ipswich […]
New legal definition of ‘honour’ abuse introduced, along with widened CPS guidance
A legal definition of ‘honour’-based abuse will be brought into the government’s Crime and Policing Bill, alongside a power to issue statutory guidance for authorities, the Home Office has announced. The Crown Prosecution Service has also introduced new guidance to include spiritual abuse, immigration abuse, forced marriage and a widening range of harmful practices. The […]
Family lawyer questions effectiveness of domestic abuse legislation
The effectiveness of new government legislation meant to protect domestic abuse victims has been called into question by a family lawyer, who says the new orders are simply a “rehash” of previous legislation which police officers are not trained to use properly. Richard Port MBE, partner at mfg Solicitors with expertise in providing advise to […]