Family
Big spike in conveyancing complaints to Legal Ombudsman
The Legal Ombudsman has reported a 41% increase in the number of complaints about conveyancing, driven by delays, poor communication and post-completion problems.
Family Court names expert who only “skimmed” the paperwork
A Family Court judge has decided to name an expert witness who did not want to be identified due to the multiple shortcomings in the evidence he gave about the death of a two-year-old girl.
“Partisan” solicitor gave woman’s contact details to ex-partner
A family solicitor who was “unnecessarily partisan” in acting for a father has been fined for trying to force the mother to reveal where she and her children lived.
Court simplifies ruling for parents with learning difficulties in AI first
A family court has used AI to create a simple version of its judgment so that two parents with severe learning difficulties could understand the legal process.
Family lawyers bid to show that arbitration is “not just for the rich”
A new group promoting family law arbitration says one of the biggest barriers in its way is the public perception that it is designed “for the rich”.
Lawyers granted injunction against harassment from litigant in person
A solicitor and a barrister in a family case have been granted an interim injunction against the litigant in person on the other side accused of harassing them.
Family law market expected to “keep growing by 6%”
The family law market grew by 6.4% last year to £2.3bn and will keep growing by almost 6% a year until it reaches £2.9bn in 2029, new research has predicted.
Barrister self-reports to BSB after citing fake cases in skeleton
A barrister has reported herself to the Bar Standards Board after submitting authorities hallucinated by artificial intelligence (AI) to the High Court.
Legal Ombudsman names eight firms over “serious” service failures
A Liverpool law firm ordered to bear the cost of redeeming a client’s mortgage because of mistakes made in a conveyancing matter is among eight named by the Legal Ombudsman.
Mazur: Court refuses CILEX Fellow exemption to conduct litigation
A circuit judge has refused to grant a highly experienced chartered legal executive an exemption that would allow her to conduct a family law case.
Legal market to grow “in all areas” as PE extends reach
The legal services market will grow across all practice areas in 2026 for the first time since Covid, researchers have predicte, while a growing private equity presence is “a continuing theme”.
Strike off for solicitor who told colleague to lie
A family law solicitor who asked a newly qualified legal executive to lie to a litigant in person, having already lied to him herself, has been struck off.
Family law giant goes international with Australia investment
The largest family law firm in the country is making good on its promise of cross-border expansion by moving into Scotland and Australia.
Estate planning firm becomes ABS and buys family law practice
An established estate planning firm has entered regulation by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and bought a family law practice to expand the services it offers.
PE-backed serious injury firm makes big move into family law
Private equity-backed Fletchers Group has moved outside of injury work for the first time by buying leading family law firm Rayden Solicitors.
Blog
Is the legal profession ready for agentic AI?
An AI agent is difficult to supervise. By design, it works in the background. It means a solicitor can be held responsible for work they had no real means to oversee.
Why firms stall in adopting AI and how to unlock real progress
If your firm is hesitating on AI, it’s almost never the technology that’s in the way. What stalls adoption is everything that surrounds the tool.
Home-buying reform must focus on experience, not just technology
Buyers and sellers don’t judge their experience by the number of digital platforms they use or the technology operating behind the scenes.
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