Record investment in legal tech and artificial intelligence solutions
Investment in UK legal tech rose to record levels in 2025, with backing for companies specialising in artificial intelligence (AI) “surging”, according to figures published today by LawtechUK. The newly published figures from the Ministry of Justice backed initiative, which provides funding and incubation for law tech start-ups, suggest a 35% increase in legal technology […]
UK legal services sector grew by 6.1% last year, with family law worth £3.6bn
The UK legal services sector grew by 6.1% last year, according to the latest legal services market report from IRN Legal Reports. The total estimated value of the market last year was £55.5 billion, with family law accounting for £3.6 billion – the third largest sector. The largest segment in the consumer legal services market […]
Separating compliance roles ‘complex and impractical’ Law Society says in client money consultation response
Proposals which would insist on separate post holders for roles of Compliance Office for Legal Practice (COLP), Compliance Officer for Finance and Administration (COFA), Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO), Senior Reporting Officer (SRO) amongst other compliance-related roles in law firms are ‘complex and impractical’, the Law Society says in its response to the Solicitors Regulation […]
Family Executive Team launches consultation on short notice application guidance
A consultation has been launched to gather feedback on the guidance for short notice applications in the family courts, published by the Family Executive Team (FET). The FET is consulting on five documents aimed at reducing the number of short notice applications, which have been drafted by the Short Notice Applications Working Group. Short notice […]
CILEX opens submissions at Mazur appeal
The Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEX) has opened submissions at the Court of Appeal in its appeal against the ruling in Mazur v Charles Russell Speechlys, which limited the extent to which legal executives and paralegals can conduct litigation. Nick Bacon KC outlined the arguments from CILEX before Master of the Rolls Sir Geoffrey […]
Referral scheme aims to put clients in touch with non-UK legal professionals
A new referral scheme aims to provide lawyers with access to vetted expertise in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. The scheme – known as J-Law – has been launched by Judicare Law International, a UK-based, SRA-regulated law firm. The model is similar to that used by Connect2Law, the popular referral scheme launched by Simon […]
Valentine’s day sees huge spike in divorce searches
A law firm has analysed Google trend data in the days after Valentine’s Day and identified a sizeable spike in searches for ‘divorce’. Mills & Reeve looked at data for 16th February 2026 which showed an increase in search interest for ‘divorce’, mirroring February 2025 figures which recorded 27,110 UK searches during the month. The […]
Court refuses application to return children to Türkiye after planned abduction
A High Court judge has denied a father’s application under the Child Abduction and Custody Act 1985 to return his children to Türkiye following their mother’s planned abduction, prioritising the welfare of the girls who are said to be “basking in the stability” of their UK home. Mr Justice Hayden, sitting in the Family Division […]
New 24-hour tech law ‘will protect women and girls from intimate image abuse’
Tech companies will be ordered to take down intimate images shared without a victim’s consent within 48 hours, under new laws to protect women and girls. Through an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill, companies will be legally required to remove the content no more than 48 hours after being made aware of it. […]
Financial services firms ‘not asking right questions about abuse’
Financial services firms are failing to identify customers experiencing domestic and economic abuse and leaving many without appropriate support, vulnerability specialist and support services provider MorganAsh has warned. New data from the MorganAsh Resilience System (MARS), a tool which helps financial sector workers assess, measure and manage consumer characteristics, reveals that only 22% of customer […]
High Court rules section 83 requirements do not apply to step-parent adoption
The High Court has ruled the strict restrictions on bringing children to the UK for adoption in Section 83 of the Adoption and Children Act 2002 do not apply to step-parent adoption. The judgment was handed down by Mr Justice McDonald, sitting in the Family Division at the Royal Courts of Justice, following an application […]
Fertility patients win battle to save embryos after clinics failed to gain consent for storage
The High Court has ruled the embryos or gametes of 14 fertility patients cannot be destroyed, after clinics failed to gain the consent required for storage within the 10-year period required by law. Fifteen applicants had asked the court to declare it was lawful for gametes or embryos to continue to be stored and to […]
SRA confirms ‘potential fraud and missing client money’ at PM Law
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has formally confirmed it is investigating “potential fraud, including the misappropriation of client money” at the Sheffield-based law firm PM Law after it unexpectedly closed on Monday 2nd February. In a statement published on the SRA website, Jonathan Peddie, executive director of legal and enforcement, confirmed the regulator is looking into […]
Government to increase funding as part of expanded support for adopted children
The government has set out its vision for reforming adoption support and has launched a consultation to gather feedback on the proposals. The increased Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund (ASGSF) forms part of a wider reform agenda, with the Department for Education aiming to strengthen adoption support by 2028 through earlier intervention and more […]
Government ‘has the right approach’ to online safety, family lawyers say
The government’s campaign to help parents to discuss the impact of harmful online content is “welcome news” and “the right approach”, family lawyers say. Last week, the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology (DSIT) launched the You Won’t Know until You Ask campaign, which provides parents with practical support to aid conversations with their children about […]
Family court orders adoption without parental consent due to delays ‘causing real and significant emotional harm’
A judge has ruled “with a heavy heart” that a three-year-old child must be adopted following a series of delays in proceedings, which had lasted 73 weeks at the time of the January hearing. His Honour Judge Willans, sitting at West London Family Court, said he would make care and placement orders without parental consent […]
Law Society seeks applications for Diversity Access Scheme
Talented aspiring solicitors are invited to apply for a place on the profession’s Diversity Access Scheme (DAS), as the Law Society of England and Wales opens recruitment for the 2026 cohort. The DAS aims to promote social mobility and increase diversity within the legal profession by supporting individuals who face social, educational, financial or personal […]
SRA ‘will profile law firms’ to identify warning signs of collapse
The Solicitors Regulation Authority will profile law firms to help identify those at risk of collapse, chief executive Sarah Rapson (pictured) has said. Speaking to the Law Society Gazette this week, Rapson said the SRA will prioritise proactive action and “getting ahead of the risks” in the wake of high-profile failures at Axiom Ince, SSB […]
Without notice Part III applications must be rare and ‘exceptional’, Family Court reiterates
The Family Court has emphasised without notice Part III applications for leave should not be listed without notice “unless there is an exceptional reason”. The recap on procedure was included in the judgment of Mr Justice Peel, sitting in the Family Court at the Royal Courts of Justice, following an application under s13 of Part […]
Local authority criticised for ‘substantial and dogged’ resistance to post-adoption sibling contact
East London Family Court has determined a post-adoption contact order is necessary to facilitate and safeguard meaningful sibling contact, following “substantial and dogged resistance within the local authority to promoting and advocating for such contact”. Her Honour Judge Reardon made the order for contact between two sets of adopted siblings under s.51 Adoption and Children […]