Report maps out route to sustainable growth for law firms
A new report from legal software specialist, Access Legal, has identified three key priorities law firms need to consider to achieve commercial success post-pandemic. Whether law firms look to grow or consolidate their position in the market, Access Legal’s report, How Can Firms Achieve Commercial Success in the Post-Pandemic World?, provides insights around sustainable costs […]
Online Divorce – an update
In July HMCTS confirmed that the use of its online divorce portal will be made mandatory for legal representatives from 13 September 2021 (although it will remain possible for some types of application to be made on paper). This follows from it becoming mandatory last August to file financial remedy applications for consent orders online […]
Future of Legal Ombudsman hangs in balance
Meetings between the Government and regulators are set to discuss potential changes to the current redress structure, if the performance of Legal Ombudsman services does not improve. The LSB will hear initial feedback on whether the failing Legal Ombudsman has made efforts to improve its performance next month. This comes following a 13% budget increase […]
Family Court fees to increase this month
Following a consultation into court costs earlier this year, fees will increase from the end of this month. The costs of some Family Court applications are set to increase, in line with inflation, following the introduction of the Court Fees (Miscellaneous Amendment) Order on 30 September 2021. For divorce and financial proceedings such as a […]
MoJ to investigate standardisation of e-signatures
An Industry Working Group of experts has been formed to improve standards, reliability and security in electronic signatures. The Ministry of Justice has published details of a newly-formed Industry Working Group of experts that aims to improve standards, reliability and security in electronic signatures and other means of legally executing documents. The group was created […]
Flexible working to way forward as we return to the office
After a year and half of homeworking, the shift in guidance on 19 July 2021 recommending a return to the office has left many members of the legal profession facing a dilemma. While some will be overjoyed at the prospect of meeting colleagues and clients face-to-face, others will have misgivings. Reservations might be rooted in […]
Work to be done on supervision of AML regime
The Office for Professional Body Anti-Money Laundering Supervision (OPBAS) has released its latest report on progress made in tackling money laundering by regulators over the past year. While this year’s report acknowledges that professional body supervisors (PBSs) within the accountancy and legal sectors have improved, it highlights differing levels of achievement and “significant weaknesses in […]
Family profession should welcome the modernisation of divorce
As of 13 September, all new divorce applications must be made via the MyHMCTS portal. Paper applications will no longer be accepted. I welcome this change, provided the portal is up to the task. Over the past few years, we have seen the transfer of divorce applications away from our local courts to regional divorce […]
Prince Philip’s will to be sealed for 90 years to protect “dignity” of the Queen
The will of HRH Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh is to be sealed for 90 years following an order of the president of the family division. Sir Andrew McFarlane, president of the family division revealed that he is the custodian of a safe which holds the wills of 30 deceased senior royals. The decision […]
National Paralegal Awards 2021 Goes Hybrid
The National Paralegal Awards, hosted by the PPR is taking place on Thursday 23rd September 2021. This event is a virtual award show and is free to attend by registering here This year there are 20 hotly contested categories with trophies up for grabs. The winners and sponsors will then join together for a winner’s […]
Data protection breaches have resulted in 1580% ICO fine increase
A report conducted by law firm RPC has revealed that fines for data protection breaches issued by The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) in the latest financial year have increased by 1580% compared to the previous year. The record £42 million in fines in the year 2020/21 represent those issued for data protection breaches and were mainly comprised […]
Government announces increases to emergency cost limit for civil legal aid work
Cost limit increases for emergency civil legal aid certificates came in to effect on 13 September 2021, but certificates for investigative representations are excluded. The government has increased the cost limit for emergency civil legal aid certificates affecting the work areas of full representation and family help (higher). Emergency civil legal aid certificates will now […]
Leading family set 4PB moves to new home
Leading family set 4PB is moving to a new address – St Martin’s Court, Paternoster Row. The move comes as the set found it increasingly needed a more modern and accessible space with far better facilities. 4PB’s new offices include bespoke conference and meeting rooms, suitable for remote court hearings and meetings and an open-plan […]
Vulnerable families to benefit from £20 million Government support package
The Department for Education has announced a £20 million support package to help low-income and vulnerable families in England by improving access to early education, health and care services. The £20 million package will include £10 million for the Family Hubs “Transformation Fund”, which will support local authorities to open family hubs in approximately 10 […]
Cafcass August figures show open cases increasing despite a slow in new cases
The latest Cafcass figures for August indicate a decrease in new cases, both year-to-date and compared with July’s demand, but the number of open outstanding cases remains high. The number of new Cafcass cases recorded in August reveal that demand has decreased by 11.2% since July and 9.6% since last August. This equates to an […]
The post-Brexit reality for divorce
At the beginning of 2021 the law changed concerning how international couples divorce. At the time, there was a lot of worry that the changes in law would lead to divorces involving international couples becoming more complicated, with some individuals left worse off under the new rules. Eight months on, what are the realities – […]
Robert Buckland replaced as Justice Minister
Robert Buckland has been replaced as Justice Minister by Dominic Raab in Prime Minster Boris Johnson’s latest cabinet reshuffle. Buckland, who is MP for South Swindon, is the eighth Justice Secretary since 2010 when the Conservative government came to power. A lawyer and former judge, he has served for just over 2 years. Responding on […]
Access Legal drives customer-first strategy with significant new appointment
Law technology specialist Access Legal is continuing to champion customer centricity in the legal market, announcing the appointment of a new Head of Customer Success. Bishu Solomon Girma joins Access Legal with over a decade’s international experience in the legal industry, working across the UK and Canada. Beginning her career in law practice articling at […]
LSB to set out plans for greater transparency for consumers
Today, the Legal Services Board (LSB) launched a consultation on a draft statutory statement of policy on empowering consumers. Developed following engagement with the legal services regulators and others across the sector, it outlines how the regulators should ensure that people and small businesses who need legal advice have the information they need to shop […]
Law firms outperform pandemic expectations
Most law firms made it through the pandemic unscathed. Around three quarters of responding firms said their revenues and profits were level with or higher than their projections for 2020-21. Despite national restrictions and market uncertainty, 31% of firms were able to outperform their revenue expectations. And while firms are bullish about the future with […]