IASME Consortium To Be New Cyber Essentials Partner
It has been announced the IASME will take over the full responsibility for Cyber Essentials delivery from 1st April 2020. This announcement has come on the back of the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) conducting an extensive consultation process and making changes to improve the scheme. Having a clearer, more consistent path for customers to […]
HMCTS Stakeholder Audit Reveals Inconsistent Communications
A recent independent stakeholder audit into HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) £1 billion UK Courts and Tribunals Reform Programme reveals some concerning findings. Recent reports by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and the National Audit Office (NAO) highlighted a need for HMCTS to improve their stakeholder engagement. Following the report recommendations HMCTS responded by […]
Bi-Annual Birmingham Law Society Family Law Conference
Friday 18th October saw 3PB Barristers hosting the Bi-Annual Family Law Conference from Birmingham Law Society, with talks from the President of the Family Division, Sir Andrew McFarlane, Sir Michael Keehan and other experts in their fields. This week we will be looking at each speaker and what they brought to the conference regarding the current and future aspects of family law. Sir Andrew […]
6% Of Law Firms Protected Against Email Spoofing
Law firms are failing in their efforts to tackle the rising risk of cyber crime. Even with £millions continuing to be fraudulently redirected, with the associated reputational impact and knock on effect on professional indemnity insurance premiums, most law firms have not implemented even the most basic cyber security measures. The research has been undertaken […]
Mental Well-Being Of Children In Law
October 10th saw World Mental Health Day and LawCare launching their ‘LawCare Champions’ scheme which aims to appoint legal professionals in the UK to act as mental health and well-being advocates within the legal community. However, as any industry professional will have seen, there has been an increase in the need for solicitors to not only support others in the […]
Guidance on VAT Disbursements
The Law Society has issued guidance around VAT treatment of disbursements and expenses following on from a decision made of the First-tier Tax Tribunal in Brabners LLP v The Commissioners for her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) (2017 UKFTT 0666) . Brabners LLP were treating the cost of property searches as disbursements and as a result were not […]
Extra Funding To Help Adoption
Ahead of National Adoption Week, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has announced extra funding to support adopted children and their families. The funding is aimed at helping adopted children overcome past trauma. Building on an investment of £130m that has already benefitted over 40,000 families, the Adoption Support Fund will give access to therapeutic support until […]
The Rules Regarding Divorce And Maintenance In A No-Deal Brexit
Currently England and Wales looks to the Brussels IIa for the rules as to which EU member state can determine divorce and matrimonial matters, as well as other family matters such as resident and parental contact. These rules allow civil judicial co-operation, deciding which county’s law applies, where the case should be held and enforcement of any judgement in another EU member […]
How To Measure Your Call Handling
In the first of a two part blog, Sarah Brocklebank of The Move Exchange invites you to consider how effective your firm’s call handling is. Do you have different call routes for existing customers and new customers? How do you ensure your call handling is positively affecting your client’s and prospect’s behaviours? And do you […]
Welcome News For Family Law In Queen’s Speech
Monday 14th October marked the opening of Parliament and the first Queen’s speech of Boris Johnson’s premiership. Promising to impose tougher sentences and ensuring the continuation of the Domestic Abuse Bill, there was a focus on restoring confidence in the judicial system, alongside the topic of conversation top of the headlines since 2016. Many have […]
Transgender Man Unable To Register As Child’s Father
“We allow individuals a legal route to acquire gender; we must not then fall short when they wish to use those rights” This was the disappointed response to a ruling from the High Court, whereby a transgender man, who delayed his hormone treatment to enable him to carry his own child, could not be registered […]
Nominations Now Open For Modern Law Awards
Nominations are now open for The Eclipse Proclaim Modern Law Awards 2020. The Modern Law Awards recognise and celebrates sparkling talent and success in entrepreneurship, market development, business management and best practice in the modern legal services sector. The Modern Law Awards are the perfect opportunity for the sector to showcase and set the benchmarks […]
Paid Leave For Domestic Abuse Victims
The most dangerous time for a victim of domestic abuse is on leaving the abuser, often when an abuser learns of their victim’s decision to leave they can become more violent. Victims therefore have to plan their escape carefully and secretively, often fearing not only the reaction of their abuser but how they will also […]
Solicitors Urged To Submit Frozen Asset Report
Risk management and compliance consultancy service provider, Legal Eye has urged solicitors to act now if they are holding client money on account that is subject to financial sanctions. Legal professionals have until tomorrow (11th October) to check the latest HM Treasury consolidated list of asset freeze targets to make sure lawyers are not holding monies belonging to a client that is subject to financial sanctions. […]
UK Legal Industry Acknowledges Importance Of Mental Health
It’s World Mental Health Day today, 10th October, and charity organisations, legal professionals and firms across the UK have echoed their sentiments across the community to raise awareness of the importance of good mental health and well-being in the industry. Numerous legal firms and practitioners have taken to social media to show their support and become advocates […]
The Law Society Publishes Guide On LawTech
Aiming to help solicitors increase productivity rather than replace solicitors, LawTech looks to benefit solicitors in meeting their client needs more efficiently. There is no doubt that we are surrounded by technology and despite some resistance to implementing technology, especially in the legal sector, there comes a point where it is becoming essential and practices […]
First Anniversary Celebrations For Stowe Family Law’s Nottingham Office
October marked the 1st anniversary for the Nottingham office of Stowe Family Law, a part of the UK’s largest specialist family law firm and the first office for the firm in the Midlands. Recently ranked in the Legal 500 the branch was praised for its ‘approachable and professional practice that has the client’s interests at […]
Duo Of Appointments To IAFL
St John’s Buildings barristers’ chambers are celebrating after two of their own have been appointed as Fellows of the International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL). Kate Burnell, who was called to the Bar in 1998, specialises in children’s law. She has a particular expertise in cases that involve complex medical issues regarding injuries and allegations […]
Faith Marriage Protection Campaign
Register My Marriage seeks to campaign to amend the Marriage Act 1949 and is committed to raising awareness to the lack of legal protection for unregistered faith marriages. Started in 2104 by Aina Khan OBE, the Register My Marriage campaign looks to change the legislation to ensure all religious marriages are legally registered, with an […]
Divorce Applications Continue Their Decline
Recent statistics have shown a 13% decline in the number of applications for divorce in the last year, continuing the trend of falling divorce applications since 2010. Despite shocking headlines stating 42% of marriages end in divorce, divorce rates in the UK have been steadily declining year on year since the early noughties. When digging […]