Family
Immigration and civil litigation hit hardest by Covid-19
Immigration and civil litigation were the two areas of legal practice hit hardest by the pandemic last year, with private client and family law “insulated” from the impact, new research has found.
Lawtech start-up outlines big ambitions for family law disputes
A lawtech start-up aiming to improve communication between family lawyers and their clients has explained how its product could in time help identify cases involving coercive control.
Groundbreaking family barrister wins £50,000 innovation award
A barrister who co-founded a groundbreaking business that allows separating couples to obtain advice from a single legal expert at any point in the process, has won a £50,000 Women in Innovation award.
Personal insolvency verses matrimonial law
It is fair to say that there has, for many years, been a “difference of opinion” between the law governing personal insolvency and matrimonial law with each “side” believing that they are right and should take precedence. The principal, sometimes conflicting, legislation is covered in the Insolvency Act 1986 and the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973. However, the differing courts can and will give wide discretion when determining whether and how a married couple’s assets are to be divided.
Solicitor struck off over falsified decree absolute
A solicitor who led a client to believe he was divorced after she falsified a decree absolute has been struck off. She also admitted having the client pay her in cash, rather than pay her firm.
Family courts meet the Covid challenge
While the criminal courts in particular have struggled to cope with the impact of the pandemic, the family system seems to have fared somewhat better.
McFarlane tells family judges to curb out-of-hours hearings
The president of the Family Division has told judges and lawyers to stop the increasing practice of holding virtual hearings outside of normal court hours, citing wellbeing concerns.
Family lawyers “must be forced to follow good practice”
Family lawyers should be forced to follow good practice to protect children from “acrimonious legal representation”, and should embrace multi-disciplinary practice, a major report has concluded.
Exclusive: New ‘corporate’ chambers looks to shake up Bar
A family law barrister, together with the former chief executive of the Lawn Tennis Association, are looking to shake up the Bar by adopting a corporate structure for their new chambers.
Four in ten parents “do not understand remote hearings”
Four in ten parents who have been involved in a remote family hearing say they did not understand it, a major study has discovered. The president of the Family Division said this was “worrying”.
Blog
When AI becomes a line on the client’s bill
On 23 June, Legora changed how it charges. The platform announced that its most capable product was moving away from a flat per-seat licence fee to consumption-based pricing
Which legal AI will still matter in 12 months?
Four years ago, when senior partners asked me which legal AI they should buy, I would have walked them through a vendor comparison. Now I tell them the question is wrong.
Supreme Court redraws line between member and employee in LLPs
For anyone advising professional services firms on LLP structuring, and of course for those in LLPs themselves, last week’s Supreme Court ruling is an essential read.
