‘No-fault’ divorce: Two years on
Today’s Family Lawyer reports that the Ministry of Justice has announced a number of changes to court and tribunal fees, however, divorce fees will remain at the same rate of £593, after a proposed 10% increase after being told higher fees ‘could force couples to remain in unhappy or abusive relationships’.
The article covers our response to the MoJ keeping divorce fees the same for now, despite rising them in other areas. The Law Society of England and Wales president Nick Emmerson said:
“We welcome that the MoJ has recognised the feedback provided to its consultation.
“In our response, the Law Society made it clear we did not agree with the proposed increase to the divorce application fee, stating that the divorce process has been simplified and is now an almost entirely digital online experience, meaning less scrutiny is required and less resource from the court service is needed.
“It’s positive, therefore, that they have taken account of the concerns raised and decided not to increase this fee.”
PC fee
Legal Futures reports the Law Society’s consultation about raising practising fees. The article says that the Law Society wants solicitors to pay £1.76m more towards its operations next year, taking the amount the profession contributes to nearly £37m.
The article goes on to say that the consultation follows the now-former chief executive of the Legal Services Board last week questioning why solicitors and others are forced to pay towards the work of their representative bodies through fees intended primarily for regulation.
The Law Society said the increase would help it “continue to better support the profession”. When setting out its plan in 2022, the society polled solicitors for their views. It received 1,461 responses, both directly and through focus groups, with 57% agreeing to the increases over the period.
Find out more about our PC fee consultation
Conveyancers
In the FT (£) questions from readers, an expert answers a question about finding a conveyancer and mentions that the Law Society monitors the standards of conveyancers and will endorse a good conveyancer by awarding the firm with a Conveyancing Quality Scheme accreditation.
Also worth a read:
- The Post Office inquiry into the Horizon IT scandal returns on Tuesday with a blockbuster witness list including Alan Bates, Paula Vennells and Sir Ed Davey. – The Times
- Kevin Hollinrake has told BBC Breakfast (from 2:01:03) that the process of financial redress needs to be simplified for Post Office victims. Also covered in BBC News.
- Last year a Kigali estate in Rwanda was approved by Suella Braverman as home secretary. Now 70 per cent of its properties, once set to house asylum seekers, are taken – The Times
- The poor work-life balance is putting the new generation of associates off partnership, according to a new survey by LexisNexis. – City A.M.
- A cross-party group of MPs is proposing to decriminalise abortion up to 24 weeks – The Guardian
- Many fear a focus on social media is drawing attention from those the Scottish hate crime law aims to protect – The Guardian
- The FT reports that the Rt Hon Clare Short, the former UK international development secretary, has called for Britain’s legal advice on the Israel-Gaza war to be published.
- Two former Supreme Court justices have joined over 1,000 lawyers in signing an open letter urging Rishi Sunak to resist calls for an arms embargo on Israel. – Legal Cheek
- Sky News reports that flexible working is now a legal right for all works from the first day they start their job. Also covered by the Guardian, ITV News and the Mirror.