Are applicants still abusing ex parte non-molestation order applications after DS v AC?
Tom Gilchrist from 42BR Barristers examines the legal landscape following DS v AC [2023] EWFC 46, and asks if applicants are still abusing ex parte non-molestation order applications. Non-molestation orders made under section 42 the Family Law Act 1996 are seen as draconian orders, as they can criminalise conduct that is not usually, in of […]
Operational drag: The hidden barrier between law firms and sustainable growth
Damian Reed, head of brand and marketing at QualitySolicitors, explains how firms can use AI as an administration asset to improve margins and enhance reputation, rather than view the technology as a problem to be dealt with. There is a peculiar tension sitting at the heart of many independent law firms right now. Revenue […]
Why education is the key to improving access to arbitration – Sir Jonathan Cohen
Sir Jonathan Cohen, barrister and a former High Court judge, explains the importance of arbitration in family law disputes and asks why this valuable resource remains under-utilised. A new campaign by the Family Lawyers Arbitrators Group (FLAG) aims to improve public understanding and awareness of family arbitration as an effective alternative to court litigation […]
The ‘motherhood penalty’ and the legal profession
The latest Today’s Family Lawyer Podcast turns its attention to one of the profession’s most persistent, and least openly discussed, challenges: the impact of maternity leave on women’s careers in law. While the legal sector is not alone in perpetuating the motherhood penalty, the measurable career disadvantage experienced by women after having children, the podcast […]
The myth of the amicable divorce
Sana Saddique, managing director of Collective Law Solicitors, explains why amicable divorce is anything but, and asks why family lawyers are often the scapegoats in acrimonious splits. Few phrases have become more commercially appealing within modern family law than the idea of the amicable divorce. Clients ask for it at initial consultations. Social media […]
Where the solicitor’s role ends: The value of divorce coaching
During Mental Health Week, Stowe Family Law divorce coach Kate Nestor explains how professional divorce coaching complements the role of the solicitor in family law, freeing up each expert to offer the support couples need. Family lawyers are often the first professionals people turn to when a relationship breaks down. But while clients arrive […]
Book review: Children’s Rights to Identity, Selfhood and International Family Law
The Today’s Family Lawyer Podcast welcomes two expert guests on to discuss a new book focused on children’s right to identity within international family law, using Article 8 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) as a foundational framework. Children’s Rights to Identity, Selfhood and International Family Law is edited […]
Brand came 13th: What 1,000 consumers actually told us about how the choose a law firm
Sam Borrett, founder of Legmark, ran a survey of 1,000 UK adults to find out how people really pick a law firm and what’s important to them when choosing. The results are uncomfortable reading for anyone whose marketing strategy leans on heritage, awards or a sleek brand, and quietly hopeful for everyone else. I’ve spent […]
Are you invisible to AI? What law firms need to know about the new client journey
AI results have replaced the front page of Google in the quest for online visibility. Damian Reed, head of brand and marketing at QualitySolicitors, explains how to get noticed. Something is changing in the way people find a solicitor and most firms haven’t noticed yet. Not long ago, a potential client looking for legal […]
‘Consultancy model enabled G&G Law to hit the ground running’
In this latest Today’s Family Lawyer Podcast, founders Natasha Grande and Neil Graham explain how newly launched G&G Law came about and what their motivations were behind leaving their secure and successful positions, and striking out on their own. With decades of experience between them, Graham specialises in prenuptial agreements to complex financial settlements at […]
What’s changing in family law and why awareness matters more than ever
Best-selling author and award-winning coach Sara Davison explains how to identify signs of trauma and domestic abuse in family law practice. This article contains an affiliate link to a course created by the author and launched in conjunction with Today’s Media. Family law has always required a high level of skill, judgement and resilience. […]
The science behind family law
Charlotte Haskayne, Business Manager at Northgene, joins the Today’s Family Lawyer Podcast to lift the lid on the realities of legal DNA testing and its growing role in modern family law. Where is DNA evidence crucial? What role does it play in the courts? Haskayne discusses her experience with court‑ordered paternity disputes to the rapidly […]
A view from the president of the Family Division’s chambers
This View, written a short time before my retirement on 13 April, does not find me looking in my rear-view mirror. Whilst there is much to see from that angle, I wish to look forward. Child focused courts The big news, now and for years to come, is that the Government has committed some £82 […]
Mazur overturned: Legal sector reacts
Law firms and practitioners have responded to the Court of Appeal’s decision to overturn the decision in Mazur v Charles Russell Speechlys, which limited the extent to which legal executives and paralegals can conduct litigation. Following the Court of Appeal’s judgment, CILEx Regulation said its priority would be to support those who had been affected […]
Online culture and family law: an emerging challenge for practitioners
Online narratives are increasingly shaping how individuals approach family law disputes. Digital culture, including misogynistic and polarised content, is influencing client behaviour, litigation conduct and expectations. Fotoulla Menikou considers the practical implications for family law practitioners navigating an evolving landscape. The influence of online culture is increasingly visible within family law practice. Practitioners are […]
Why the Children’s Commissioner’s letter to separating parents needs a more nuanced approach
Rachel Frost-Smith, head of children at Birketts, cautions against sharing a ‘one size fits all’ letter with separating parents before conducting proper screening for the risk of abuse. Dame Rachel de Souza, the Children’s Commissioner for England, has recently written a letter to separating parents. She hopes that this letter may be shared with […]
Why timing is (almost) everything in Mei-Lin v Gudmundsson
Collyer Bristow partner Philippa Dolan, family and divorce expert, explores the circumstances surrounding the court’s decision in Mei-Lin v Gudmundsson, and explains why the timing of messages, not the means of communication, was central to the outcome. A decision was reported last month in a case that has been in and out of the […]
Make time to talk about anxiety with LawCare
This Time to Talk Day, on 5 February, let’s make time to talk about mental health at work, so no one feels they have to cope with anxiety or other challenges alone. Talking openly and honestly about mental health in the workplace can help reduce stigma, ensure people feel less isolated, and make it easier […]
Gender-based pension inequality calls for a joined-up strategy
Research by Now Pensions and the Pension Policy Institute (PPI) has found that divorced women typically have around £400,000 less in pension savings than divorced men, holding just 29% of men’s pension wealth. Although pensions are the second-largest asset in a marriage after property, only 11% of the more than 100,000 divorces in 2024 and […]
VAWG strategy sets ambition, but lacks critical investment
Gemma Sherrington, CEO of domestic abuse charity Refuge, responds to the publication of the government’s Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) strategy. Refuge has long highlighted that for the VAWG Strategy to be truly effective, every government department must play an active, coordinated role. We strongly welcome the cross-government approach to addressing VAWG, which […]