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Jan 22, 2025 | 
todaysfamilylawyer.co.uk | Katie Johnson
As the Law Society of England and Wales marks two centuries since its inception in 1825, new research reveals public views on the legal profession, the justice system and the use of technology. Public confidence in solicitors remains the cornerstone of the legal sector’s continued success as almost eight in 10 adults in the UK (78%) who have used a solicitor in the last five years report positive experiences.
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Jan 20, 2025 | 
todaysfamilylawyer.co.uk | Katie Johnson
Victims will be given more power to have their cases re-examined, the Home Secretary has announced today, as she unveils a £10 million action plan to tackle grooming gangs and child sexual abuse.
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Jan 17, 2025 | 
todaysfamilylawyer.co.uk | Katie Johnson
Victims of antisocial behaviour (ASB) are to get better information and access to support as the government continues to implement its Plan for Change and cracks down on ASB in local communities. At present when victims of antisocial behaviour believe their case is not being dealt with appropriately by the relevant agencies like councils, police, and housing providers they can ask that their case is reviewed through the ASB case review mechanism.
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Jan 15, 2025 | 
todayswillsandprobate.co.uk | Katie Johnson
The Charity Commission has welcomed the sentencing of Rajbinder Kaur and Khaldip Singh Lehal. Rajbinder Kaur has been jailed for 2 years and 8 months after being convicted of money laundering and six counts of theft, amounting to £50,000. This followed her theft of money that had been donated to Sikh Youth UK.
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Jan 14, 2025 | 
todaysfamilylawyer.co.uk | Katie Johnson
Following the success of the family court reporting pilot, the Family Procedure Rule Committee has approved a proposal to rollout the reporting pilot nationally, through changes to the Family Procedure Rules and new practice directions. The statutory instrument required to make those changes was signed at the end of December 2024. The effect of this is that the new ‘Reporting Provisions’ will apply in all family courts in England and Wales from Monday 27th January 2025.
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Jan 7, 2025 | 
todaysfamilylawyer.co.uk | Katie Johnson
Predators who create sexually explicit ‘deepfakes’ could face prosecution as the Government bears down on vile online abuse as part of its mission to make our streets safer. The proliferation of these hyper-realistic images has grown at an alarming rate, causing devastating harm to victims, particularly women and girls who are often the target.
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Jan 2, 2025 | 
todayswillsandprobate.co.uk | Katie Johnson
Essex-based law firm Birkett Long has announced the promotion of several valued team members across a variety of departments. These recognitions highlight their ongoing commitment to fostering career growth. The following team members have been promoted, effective 1 December 2024:• Sian Taylor – Senior Associate in the Commercial Real Estate team. • Orhan Ismail – Senior Associate in the HR & Learning & Development team. • Elliot Cousins – Associate in the Dispute Resolution team.
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Dec 19, 2024 | 
todayswillsandprobate.co.uk | Katie Johnson
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has conducted a thematic review of how firms and individuals engage with their professional obligations. This review highlights how firms access, understand, and integrate regulatory information, as well as areas for improvement to promote a culture of compliance and competence. The review engaged with 250 individuals through a survey, conducted in-depth interviews at 20 firms, and examined the training records of 20 fee earners.
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Dec 18, 2024 | 
todayswillsandprobate.co.uk | Katie Johnson
An organisation that has helped over 2000 charities to benefit from charitable gifting through wills has reached a landmark moment with over £50m pledged through its platform this year. Freewills, which is an online, solicitor-checked service, allowing people to create their own bespoke, fully legal will, for free, says that this is already up 14% on 2023, with December still to be factored in.
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Dec 10, 2024 | 
todaysfamilylawyer.co.uk | Katie Johnson
Two new statutory aggravating factors for murder sentencing announced will mean judges will have to consider tougher jail terms for murders involving strangulation or when the killing is connected to the end of a relationship. The move will implement two outstanding recommendations from Clare Wade KC’s independent Domestic Homicide Sentencing Review.
