Scheme For Court Refunds Now Open
In 2018 a review found that certain proceedings had been unintentionally set above costs leading the Government to announce that people who have been paid too much, are now able to apply for a refund. The refund scheme covers specific fees that the Ministry of Justice has identified as being mischarged, either by the wrong fees being charged or incorrectly applied. The […]
Briefing Paper Published On The Duties To Report Child Abuse Or Neglect
The House of Commons Library has published a briefing paper ‘Child protection: Duties to report concerns’. The paper sets out current requirements regarding reporting known or suspected child neglect or abuse, as well as provide information on the whether a mandatory duty to report abuse or neglect should be introduced in England. At present there […]
Vacation Schemes Being Postponed And Offices Closing
The firm Linklaters has announced that it is postponing its first-year insight scheme due to rising concerns regarding the corona virus outbreak. The firm, described by Legal Cheek as demanding but “top quality” in its training experience, has taken the decision to postpone its first of its two spring insight schemes at its London office, […]
Continued Deterioration Of Court Standards
Despite the HMCTS modernisation programme, the standards of family courts are continuing to deteriorate according to a survey by Resolution. The survey, that took place in the first and final quarters of 2019 revealed that members were finding increased delays in processing and hearing of urgent cases. It was also reported that concerns over the accuracy and […]
Resolution’s Response To Report On Medical Experts in the Family Courts
On the 17th February, Resolution, a community of family justice professionals, gave its response to a draft report from the President of the Family Division’s working group on experts in family law. The response included specific points on legal aid and highlighted the “helpful and collaborative” guidance for experts from the Legal Aid Agency (LAA). It was […]
Vulnerable Children To Benefit From Dedicated School Leaders
Following recommendations made by the Children In Need review, the Department for Education (DoE) and MP Vicky Ford, have published new plans which is set to see every school across the country benefit from a dedicated school leader to help vulnerable children attend and achieve at school. A consultation will look to introduce changes to […]
Further Increases To Private Law Case Applications To Cafcass
Cafcass has released its monthly statistics from April 2019 to January 2020, showing an increase in new cases and the highest demand for the month of January on record. Between April 2019 and January 2020, overall there were 2,243 more cases than was seen in the same period the year previously, an increase of 4.4%. There was a total […]
Less Stressful Application Process for Separated Parents
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunal Service (HMCTS) have announced the launch of a new online service to make it quicker and easier for separated parents to apply to see their children. During a pilot stage over 8,000 parents made applications and around 93% of them were satisfied or very […]
Black, Asian And Minority Ethnic Family Lawyers Under-Represented
Research from a diversity survey done by family lawyer group Resolution, has found that three-quarters of family lawyers are white women, as well as being older than the wider solicitor population. The survey took responses from 3,000 of its 6,500 members and found that only 24% of members were male. Resolution did state that it […]
Researchers Given Access To Rich Cafcass Databases
Researchers now will have access to the Cafcass case file data in a strategy to exchange knowledge and learning with key partners, so as to “gain a greater understanding of family justice issues and the diverse needs of children and families in family court proceedings.” Fully anonymised data on the Cafcass case files have now […]
Law Society And Bar Council Find LeO Budget Increase Unacceptable
Following the announcement from the Legal Ombudsmen (LeO), that there would be a 20% rise in the budget, increasing it from £12.3 million to £14.8 million, the Bar Council has launched an ‘outspoken attack’. The LeO has stated that the increase in budget in the next financial year will “radically” improve the time to deal with complaints and “eliminate […]
Judge’s Sentencing Remarks To Be Televised From Crown Courts
Following draft legislation laid down by the government on 16 January, television cameras will be given the authority to broadcast the sentencing remarks of judges in some high-profile courts throughout England and Wales. Applying to the sentencing from High Court and Senior Circuit judges, including the Old Bailey, the Crown Court (Recording and Broadcasting) Order […]
