The True Cost of a DIY Divorce
Following the 2012 legal aid cuts and the recent launch of an online application system, the number of individuals undertaking so called ‘DIY divorces’ is on the rise, but is this the best approach? Whilst a DIY divorce may seem attractive, the true cost, both financial and emotional, may be far greater than expected. Making […]
Sir Andrew McFarlane : A View from the President’s Chambers
The President of the Family Division, Sir Andrew McFarlane puts pen to paper and writes down his key thoughts for the family industry. His latest edition of ‘A View from the President’s Chambers’ covers a number of key words that are prominent in his mind. The key headings are: Pride Wellbeing Gratitude Remote Hearings Coping […]
A Covid Christmas – how to survive as a separated family
Two weeks ago the government set out its plans for what a Covid Christmas will look like. Christmas is already a difficult time of year for many. Even under “normal” circumstances, the intensity of the festivities – with overspending on presents and too much time spent with the in-laws causing disagreements – can place a […]
Take part in Lawcare’s ground-breaking research study
Legal mental health charity, Lawcare is urging legal professionals to join over 1,350 fellow colleagues to make their voice heard and tell their story in a ground-breaking research study. Only four weeks to go until the deadline of 31st December, LawCare is urging legal professionals to take part in their study ‘Life in the Law’ […]
FAQ’s for supervised remote contact with children
Due to COVID-19 restrictions there is now a requirement to facilitate contact between children and non-resident family members remotely allowing families to retain relationships. If you require an Independent Social Worker for supervised remote contact provisions and reporting, please see our FAQ’s below and get in touch if you need any more information. Which platform […]
Diversity is still a problem in the legal sector
Further calls for the legal sector to embrace further diversity have had a spot light shone on them in the Financial Times, as their legal correspondent Kate Beioley focused on the issue in one of her latest articles. In her article Kate points out: “Ten years after the regulator was set up, the LSB (Legal Service […]
Price Transparency; about as clear as mud
Following the SRA’s recent announcement that it is back on the case with pricing transparency Today’s Family Lawyer caught up with pricing expert Nigel Haddon to talk about the do’s and don’ts of pricing, and what you need to know about the SRA’s Price Transparency regulations. The frustration from my point of view is the […]
Guidance for paper-based divorces
Her Majesty’s Court and Tribunal Service (HMCTS) have released some guidance for practitioners with regards to completing and filing paper-based divorces. HHJ Roberts, the National Lead on Divorce, has asked that when dealing with paper-based divorces, issued out of the Regional Divorce Centres (RDC) that we communicate with them by DX/letter wherever possible. Whilst HMCTS […]
Will 2021 see a surge in demand for family legal services?
Family Law experts discuss whether the industry will see a surge in demand for legal services in 2021 following the latest peak in divorce rates in England and Wales. The latest divorce rate figures released by Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveal the highest recorded figure for 5 years, standing at more than 100,000 divorces […]
Covid-19 means Cafcass are prioritising workload in areas
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, staffing issues and a growing number of open active cases, Cafcass have made the hard decision to allocate only the highest priority cases in South Yorkshire and the Humber. The backlogs in the courts and unprecedented demand that the global pandemic already put on busy family law practitioners has meant […]
Technology protects the vulnerable in court cases
New technology has now been implemented in every Crown Court in England and Wales to reduce the trauma vulnerable victims and witnesses experience as a result of going to court. The technology enables children or those who live with a debilitating condition to have their cross-examination video-recorded and played during the trial. This recording is […]
Digital family justice – reflections on the recent experiences of automating family law proceedings
Digital spaces now hold an important place in our democratic societies. “Access to justice” in this context is much discussed issue, however it is not always seen as quite complex as it ought to be, as it includes issues of both ways of accessing the law and access to dispute settlement procedures. However, not everything […]
Report highlights importance of family support during separation
Family Solutions Group published their report “What about me? Reframing Support for Families following Parental Separation” outlining ways in which the current situation could be altered to achieve better outcomes for all of those involved. In the foreword of the report, Mr Justice Cobb, Chair of the Private Law Working Group, who Family Solutions Group (FSG) […]
Call for early legal advice to soften blow of divorce
A national family justice body has today urged the government to improve access to early legal advice for divorcing couples, as a new poll reveals the shocking impact of divorce. The Resolution-commissioned YouGov survey of more than 1,000 divorcees found that 41% of those who divorced within the last five years suffered mental health episodes […]
Practitioners support Good Divorce Week
On 30 November 2020 family law practitioners across the UK will support ‘Good Divorce Week’. Good Divorce Week aims to highlight the importance of reducing conflict upon separation, of taking early advice so that options are better understood and of putting the interests of children first. Working in this way means that separating parents are […]
Family Online Mediation and Arbitration Service (FOMAS) wins Innovation Award
Integrated Disputed Resolution (IDR) is pleased to have won the ‘Innovation of the Year’ award for their subsidiary company; Family Online Mediation and Arbitration Service (FOMAS) at the prestigious Lexis Nexis Family Law Awards 2020 on the 25 November. IDR’s subsidiary, FOMAS, was set up in 2019 and makes alternative dispute resolution (ADR) in family […]
Legal Eye Launches Risk and Compliance Hub
Risk and compliance consultancy Legal Eye is launching an online resource centre for law firms. The hub provides a comprehensive bank of resources to help COLPs, COFAs, partners, directors and managers to manage risk. It includes precedent policy and procedure documents and templates, access to online training on a range of risk and compliance topics, […]
LSB plans to galvanise efforts to reshape legal services
A new report by the Legal Services Board (LSB) gives an in-depth review of the legal services sector following ten years of independent regulation. The State of Legal Services 2020 report is informed by data, evidence and conversations with a wide range of individuals and organisations over the last six months and research by the […]
England to be in the two toughest tier levels after lockdown
Health Secretary Matt Hancock sets out tougher rules for England’s new coronavirus tier system. As we come out of the second lockdown in a bid to protect vital services in the fight against the virus, Hancock confirmed that most of England will now be in the two toughest levels of measures when lockdown ends. After […]
Nigel Shepherd shares his views on the industry
Today’s Family Lawyer talk to Nigel Shepherd, twice former chair of Resolution, consultant and financial arbitrator at national law firm Mills & Reeve and now an adviser in the family law litigation funding sector where he is currently working with Ampla Finance. Is it more difficult to get litigation funding in the current climate? The […]