LSB should strengthen oversight to safeguard consumers, Law Society says
The Legal Services Board (LSB) should continue to strengthen its oversight of regulators’ performance to avoid consumer harm and prevent collapses such as Axiom Ince and SSB Group from happening again, the Law Society of England and Wales says. The comments were made in the Law Society’s response to the LSB’s 2026/2027 business plan consultation, […]
Legal Ombudsman complaints data shows record levels of demand
The Legal Ombudsman (LeO) has published its complaint data for Q3 of 2025/26 which reveals “a sustained and accelerating demand” for help and the highest complaint volumes for any previous quarter on record. The number of new complaints received by the LeO increased by 29.8% in the reporting period, which covers 1 October to 31 […]
SRA takes action on PM Law closure
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has confirmed it has formally intervened in the closure of PM Law and its subsidiary firms in a statement published yesterday on its website. After calls for clarity from the regulator in the days following the closure of the Sheffield-based firm, a statement confirms the SRA launched an investigation on […]
Client account consultation deadline extended
The deadline to have your say on the Ministry of Justice’s plans to use lawyer’s client account interest to fund access to justice has been extended by four weeks to 9th March, from 9th February. The MoJ has signalled it could target interest on client accounts in its recent client money consultations, describing the potential […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Sentencing Act becomes law
A more joined up approach to dealing with perpetrators of domestic abuse which will allow criminal justice agencies to identify domestic abusers and ensure they are better monitored to protect victims is to come into effect over the next two years, with the passing of new legislation. The Sentencing Act has received Royal Assent 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, […]
Restricting jury trials would save just 2% of crown court time, IfG says
A report from the Institute for Government (IfG) on the potential impact of government plans to restrict jury trials reveals the changes would “unlock only relatively modest reductions in demand”. Instead, the IfG says, the government should focus on reversing the decline in productivity seen in the crown courts since 2016. The proposals to reduce […]
MoJ to give victims free access to Crown Court sentencing remarks
All victims going through the Crown Court will have free access to judges’ sentencing remarks in their case, the Ministry of Justice has announced. The move is the latest measure to improve transparency and victims’ experiences in the courts, consistent with the recommendations of the Leveson Review. Victims typically have to pay £40 to access […]
Online Procedure Rules positive first step for a digital justice system, Law Society says
The Law Society of England and Wales has backed the Online Procedure Rule Committee’s (OPRC) first Online Procedure Rules, as the consultation to seek views on the draft rules draws to a close today (Thursday). The rules, which were published with the consultation at the beginning of December, will apply to online procedures in family, […]
Non-molestation orders guidance comes into effect
The president of the Family Division, Sir Andrew McFarlane’s, Guidance 2026: Non-Molestation Orders under the Family Law Act 1996, which was published in December and replaces the 2023 Practice Guidance, came into effect yesterday. The revised guidance includes an updated template for a non-molestation order under Section 42 of the Family Law Act 1996, and […]
MoJ sets out plans to fund justice system with interest on client accounts
The government has set out proposals to use interest on lawyers’ client accounts as “a crucial source of funding” to support and enhance services in the justice system. Funds would be directed to “areas of greatest need”, the Ministry of Justice said in a statement. The Interest on Lawyers’ Clients Accounts Scheme (ILCA) will see […]
Law Society urges government to support families with more funding for civil legal aid
The Law Society of England and Wales has highlighted how civil legal aid helps level the playing field for families, in oral evidence presented to the Justice Committee on access to justice and legal aid this week. “Civil legal aid is a vital public service that supports our communities and reduces the strain on other […]
Law Society asks government to clarify rules regarding use of AI in legal sector
The Law Society of England Wales has asked the government to clarify how AI can be used in legal services while upholding professional standards and public trust. Writing in response to a call for evidence from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) in relation to its proposed AI Growth Lab, The Law Society […]
Families facing custody battles will benefit from £20m government legal fund
The government has pledged nearly £20 million in legal support for people facing debt, house repossession and custody battles, which will be delivered over the next three years. The grant, which will run from October 2026 to March 2029, will improve access to social welfare and family legal support for those who need help. “It […]
Govt launches recruitment drive for ‘ordinary people’ to become magistrates
The government is calling for “thousands of ordinary people from all walks of life” to help deliver justice by becoming magistrates. The Ministry of Justice said it is looking for “everyday heroes from all backgrounds” to deliver justice in local communities across the country. Over 2,000 extra magistrates have been trained since 2022 and the government intends the latest […]
Govt unveils plans for national Child Protection Authority to protect children from predators and abuse
The Department for Education has announced plans to “significantly strengthen” reforms to protect children from abuse, through the creation of a new Child Protection Authority. The proposals for a new public body, which are the subject of a 12-week consultation, will strengthen England’s child protection system by providing national oversight, ensuring that vulnerable children are not failed by the […]
Home secretary confirms national inquiry into grooming gangs
The home secretary has given an oral statement to Parliament on the independent inquiry into grooming gangs, promising it will be completed within three years and supported by a £65 million budget. The inquiry will focus specifically on child sexual abuse committed by grooming gangs, and will explicitly consider the background of offenders, including their […]