Family
SRA to probe competence of family law and landlord and tenant solicitors
The SRA is to examine how family law and landlord and tenant law specialists maintain their competence amid increasing reports about their practices.
Litigation funder stymied as divorcing couple drop proceedings
Financial remedy proceedings to which the Court of Appeal said a litigation funder could be a party so as to protect the £1m it was owed by the wife have now been dropped with the money still owing.
Solicitor rebuked for leaving client unrepresented at hearing
A solicitor who withdrew from a Family Court hearing over a fee dispute so late that he left his client no chance to find a replacement has been rebuked by the SRA.
“No vision” on use of AI by family justice system
There is currently “not a vision” for how people in the family justice system, clients and professionals, can “safely harness” the benefits of artificial intelligence, research has argued.
Judge uses new power to “encourage” ADR in absence of agreement
The High Court has used new powers to “encourage” the use of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) in family proceedings in the absence of agreement between the parties.
Charitable family law ABS encourages model for other practice areas
A not-for-profit family law alternative business structure is looking at other sectors where it could help vulnerable and under-represented people are not eligible for legal aid.
Online portal fault allowed couples to divorce too early
A fault in the digital divorce system allowed 67 members of the public to apply for their divorces earlier than they were allowed to by law, it emerged last week.
Family legal aid “loss-making for half of providers”
Family legal aid is loss-making for almost half of providers, research has found, with those handling private, rather than public, law matters struggling the most.
Value of family law market hits £2bn
The annual value of the family law market hit £2bn for the first time last year, as it rose by 4.5%, researchers have found, with ancillary services boosting the opportunities for firms.
Online employment law specialist targets divorce and conveyancing
The founder of an online employment law firm which specialises in settlement agreements has said he is planning to launch two similar ABSs – one for no-fault divorce and the other for conveyancing.
Blog
How ELD NextGen will improve employers’ liability tracing
The Employers’ Liability Tracing Office is continuing work towards the launch of ELD NextGen, the next generation of the employers’ liability database, in early 2027.
Fifteen years on: Lessons from ABS reform
Fifteen years ago this month saw the very first alternative business structure. At the time, the prospect of non-lawyers owning law firms was dubbed ‘Tesco Law’.
Hybrid working and client money controls – be aware of the risks
For legal finance teams, remote working has changed how information moves, how approvals are obtained and how colleagues communicate.
Reports
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