Access Legal research highlights hybrid working compliance gaps
Access Legal has released new research that is encouraging law firms to review gaps in their compliance, given over two thirds plan to switch to a permanent hybrid way of working once restrictions ease. The legal technology division of The Access Group surveyed a substantial number of law firms and found that 85 per cent […]
Cafcass records second highest June figures to date
Cafcass demand has increased significantly resulting in the second highest June figures recorded, but care applications have decreased and open outstanding cases are reducing slowly. Last month, the children and family courts service (Cafcass) received 5,463 new cases, a 2.6% increase from June 2020 and an 11.9% increase from May 2021. Total demand has increased […]
Urgent action needed to challenge continuing lack of diversity in judiciary
Just 1% of England and Wales’s judiciary is Black – a figure that hasn’t shifted since 2014 despite an increasingly diverse pool of applicants, according to official figures. Across all appointment rounds for legal judicial positions in 2018-2021, Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates together constituted 23% of applications but only 12% of recommendations for […]
Driving the value of content
Content marketing is one of the most valuable tools we have under our belts and content articles within the legal sector continue to be a great source of information and engagement when it comes to talking to prospects or existing clients. During the pandemic we have really seen a surge in thought leadership articles, in […]
Legal Ombudsman Publishes Annual Report
The Office for Legal Complaints today published its Annual Report and Accounts for 2020/21 alongside an Annual Review of Complaints. This Annual Report covers the year from April 2020 when the impact of Covid-19 was felt across the sector and the country. The Legal Ombudsman was able to transfer to home working early in the […]
Restrictions to remain in courts for safety
Most of the remaining coronavirus restrictions in England are set to be lifted on Monday (19 July) but some may need to be retained to allow courts to run safely and efficiently, the Law Society has warned. “We are pleased to see that things are getting closer to normal with widespread vaccination allowing for restrictions […]
Wellbeing is a priority for busy legal teams
The negative impact of the pandemic on mental health has been in the headlines since the first lockdown, and official statistics[1] for the first quarter of 2021 show that the incidence of depression in the population has doubled since the pandemic first struck. This has serious implications for wellbeing and performance, affecting individuals and organisations […]
44% decrease in cases handled by Forced Marriage Unit in 2020
Statistics published by the Forced Marriage Unit (FMU) reveal a 44% decrease in the number of cases handled in 2020. Figures show that the FMU handled 759 cases in 2020 and an average of 1359 cases annually between 2011 and 2019, representing a 44% decrease in cases received. Of the 759 cases received in 2020, […]
Should the legal age to marry be increased from 16 to 18 to protect vulnerable children?
Sajid Javid, the former Chancellor, has recently introduced a private member’s Bill to be continued by Pauline Latham MP to Parliament which is set to be debated in November 2021. That Bill proposes to make it illegal for children in England and Wales who are under the age of 18 to marry and comes as […]
Have your say; final reminder for HMCTS communications and engagement survey
HM Courts and Tribunal Service (HMCTS) is seeking feedback about how it communicates and engages with professionals that work in courts and tribunals. The 2021 communications and engagement survey closes this Friday (16th July) can be accessed here and should take around 15 minutes to complete. The survey is asking for professional court and tribunal users […]
Mandatory (alternative) dispute resolution is lawful and should be encouraged
In January 2021, the Master of the Rolls asked the Civil Justice Council to report on the legality and desirability of compulsory ADR. The results have been published in the “Compulsory ADR” report which concludes that mandatory (alternative) dispute resolution is compatible with Article 6 of the European Human Rights Convention and is, therefore, lawful. […]
Consumers happier than ever with legal services
The Legal Services Consumer Panel Tracker Survey reveals a general 4% increase in consumer satisfaction levels in 2021. Despite most legal services currently being provided remotely due to ongoing Covid-19 restrictions, the Legal Services Consumer Panel Tracker Survey reveals that 83% of consumers remain satisfied with the level of service received in 2021, a slight […]
Lawyers should face more regular checks of their skills and abilities
New research commissioned by the Legal Services Board highlights the importance the public places on lawyers having the right knowledge, up to date skills and attributes to provide good quality legal services. However, the research also found a gap between public expectation and what regulation currently requires to ensure lawyers remain competent throughout their careers. In […]
Employers not reaping the full benefits of remote workforces report finds
A white paper on The Future of Working From Home shows that while remote working increases wellbeing and productivity in employees, lack of support from employers may be costing businesses an even more productive workforce. Remote working looks like it is here to stay even after the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic have subsided and […]
1 in 4 Family Law Workers Considering Leaving Profession
A recent report published by Resolution in partnership with LawCare has found that 89% of professionals working in the family justice sector have experienced negative wellbeing issues as a result of their work, with 1 in 4 individuals considering leaving the profession entirely. The survey taken from a cross-section of over 1,200 professionals working in […]
Arbitration in divorce cases on the rise
The number of private hearings and arbitrations for divorce cases has risen by more than a third since January 2020, it has been reported. The Institute of Family Law Arbitrators has revealed that since the scheme began in 2012 there have been 428 divorce arbitration cases with 127 of them taking place between January 2020 […]
Family lawyers should embrace artificial intelligence
For most modern family lawyers, gone are the days of running multiple correspondence clips, retaining hard copies of papers sent to counsel and liaising with other solicitors by post or DX. Family law has arrived in the digital world, with this process being sped up significantly over the last year as a result of enforced […]
Clio launches “game changing” legal client software in the UK
Clio, a leading provider of cloud-based legal technology, has today announced the much-anticipated UK release of Clio Grow, its legal client intake and client relationship management solution already used by thousands of legal professionals in North America. Since 2015, lawyers in the UK have relied on Clio Manage—the world’s leading legal practice management software—to manage […]
Data retention is top privacy concern for businesses
Latest findings from the DPO Centre and the Data Protection World Forum (DPWF) UK Data Protection Index show that data retention is now the biggest privacy concern facing organisations in Q2 of this year. The index, which surveys an extensive panel of over 400 UK Data Protection Officers’ (DPOs) for their opinions on evolving industry […]
Technical Corner: Negative interest rates may be on the horizon
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 Robert Blech, SRA Sector Specialist Director, MHA Macintyre Hudson If you have any questions for our panel of experts, please submit them to press@todaysfamilylawyer.co.uk. We will publish the questions […]