Call for evidence to avoid “Unnecessary” litigation
A major call for evidence has been launched by the Government seeking views on the best ways to settle family, business and other civil disputes away from the court room. The Responses will shape future reforms to civil, family and administrative justice, with Ministers determined to help more people resolve their issues without the stress […]
Remote hearings in the Family Courts to remain after the pandemic?
A report investigating the feasibility of post-pandemic remote hearings in the family courts has been published by Nuffield Family Justice Observatory. Commissioned by the President of the Family Division in anticipation of the easing of social distancing restrictions, the report sets out the findings of a consultation that will inform the post-pandemic recovery plans of […]
Fraud and computer misuse crimes rise by more than a third
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) Crime Survey for England and Wales showed that there were an estimated 4.6 million fraud offences in the year ending March 2021, a 24% increase compared with 2020 figures. The survey also revealed that fraud and computer misuse offences have risen by more than a third in England and […]
Family courts uncovered by Channel 4 Dispatches investigation
Channel 4’s “Dispatches” has revealed how family courts can order the police to forcibly remove children, who are not in danger, from loving homes. The programme showed disturbing and never before seen footage of police forcibly removing children from their mother at midnight, to be taken to go and live with their father. Presently there […]
Hybrid working to offer greater social mobility
Professional jobs are on the up, but the lack of diversity is stalling progression in professional services. Hybrid and flexible working could provide an opportunity to change the current status quo in the legal profession, according to the Law Society of England and Wales. The Social Mobility Commission’s state of the nation report 2021 found […]
Bishop & Sewell appoints Access Legal to unlock firm’s potential
Central London law firm Bishop & Sewell has appointed law technology specialist Access Legal, a division of The Access Group, as it continues to focus on its three key principles – Purpose, People and Pathway. The 110-strong firm has ambitions to not only be an independent top 100 law firm, but to also be ranked […]
Technical Corner: Here Comes the Sun!
Our ‘Technical Corner’ brings you information that will help you to continue to grow and develop in your career. This month’s technical corner article comes from Amy Bell, Director at Teal Compliance If you have any questions for our panel of experts, please submit them to press@todaysfamilylawyer.co.uk. We will publish the questions and answers where […]
Law firms in SRA firing line over AML failures
The fines levied by the SRA on 13 firms in recent weeks continue to demonstrate a fundamental lack of understanding around responsibilities when it comes to the money laundering regulations. The firms in question had failed to comply with their procedural responsibilities to provide their firm-wide AML risk assessment and delayed their AML declarations. In […]
Record delays in family courts – what other options are there?
The latest statistics from the Ministry of Justice show that disputes regarding the arrangements for children following their parents’ separation are now taking an average of 40 weeks to resolve; a startling rise of 35% compared to the same period 12 months ago (29.9 weeks for cases issued in Q1 2020). It is easy to […]
Report on the future of Legal Aid released
The House of Commons Justice Committee has published published its latest report on the Future of Legal Aid In its latest report, the Justice Committee discusses the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPO) removal of private family law from the scope of legal aid and highlights the importance of early legal […]
1/3rd of firms introduced new technology in the last 12 months
A major independent study into innovation in the legal sector has revealed that while the majority of law firms are making increasing use of day-to-day technology, the development of bespoke legal technology is largely focussed on advances which will benefit larger corporate clients. The research carried out by the University of Oxford on behalf of […]
1 in 5 spy on partner during divorce
Whilst complex and sophisticated cybercrime stories continue to make all the headlines on personal data theft, experts warn that the risks to our personal privacy are often much closer to home. In fact, right inside our home. The risk of becoming a victim of covert eavesdropping increases at certain times too, particularly when timely information […]
CMA to get new powers of enforcement
Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng has announced a major shake-up of the Competition and Markets Authority’s powers. The CMA has been instrumental in the drive toward greater pricing transparency for consumers and more recently has intervened in the leasehold ground rents scandal that has resulted in Aviva and Persimmon Homes announcing they would remove certain terms […]
23% increase in solicitors over the last 10 years
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has published its annual reports on its operational work during 2019/20. The reports cover areas such as its regulatory role, preventing money laundering, and enforcement. Key facts highlighted within these reports include: 23% increase in the number of solicitors who hold a practicing certificate in the last decade £10.4 million […]
Improve information for consumers says LSB
The Legal Services Board has published a response to the submissions it received to its discussion paper on quality indicators. Published in February 2021, the paper prompted a wide-ranging debate over what quality means in the legal services market and how best to convey this to consumers. The response document concludes that there is still […]
CMA probes Amazon and Google over fake reviews
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched formal enforcement cases against Amazon and Google in relation to possible breaches of consumer protection law. The CMA has concerns that Amazon and Google have not been doing enough to tackle fake reviews on their sites. This comes following an initial CMA investigation in May 2020 to […]
Seven more firms fined for AML failures
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has issued fines to seven practices that have failed to comply with anti-money laundering (AML) requirements. The firms affected are Manchester practice Law Together LLP, Telford-based Picasso Legal Limited, Smooth Law Limited in St Helens, Manchester practice AB Corporate LLP, Devon firm Hole & Pugsley, Crawford & Company Legal Services Limited […]
ADR the solution in “Doing Divorce Differently” report
Over three-quarters of people found their divorce stressful while a quarter wished they’d chosen another way to end their marriage, a new report has found as part of Irwin Mitchell’s campaign to do divorce differently. The survey by OnePoll polled 1,000 divorcees about their experience getting divorced, and whether their relationship ending had been an […]
New guidance for courts post “Freedom Day”
The government has confirmed that the legal requirement for social distancing in England will be removed from Monday 19 July 2021, as well as the detail of which other aspects of step 4 on the roadmap will be adopted. In Wales, meanwhile, it is hoped most restrictions will be lifted on 7 August 2021. In […]
£320m funding for bereaved families announced
Draft plans brought forward have proposed that co-habiting couples with children could become eligible for bereavement support in the event of their spouse’s death. Department for Work and Pensions minister, Baroness Stedman-Scott will set out plans to extend bereavement support to cohabiting couples with children. Widowed Parent’s Allowance and Bereavement Support Payments will be extended […]