Private client’s encouraged to have their say on mental health and wellbeing to inform future practice
Legal sector charity LawCare’s Life in the Law 2025 survey closes today with individuals and firms encouraged to share their experiences to inform future practice. Previously run in 2020/21, this year’s survey is split into two; one for individuals and one for firms. Speaking on the Today’s Wills and Probate Podcast earlier this month LawCare […]
High Court Judge requirement dropped from assisted dying bill in favour of new review panel
The requirement for a High Court judge to approve assisted dying applications has been removed by the committee reviewing the bill. The clause had been seen as a key safeguard, making the proposed legislation the strictest of its kind. However, concerns were raised by the Ministry of Justice and senior judges about the impact on […]
Farage pledges to abolish IHT as Reform UK tops polls
Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK and Member of Parliament for Clacton, has vowed to abolish inheritance tax if his party wins the next general election, as reported by The Telegraph. His announcement follows a surge in support for Reform UK, which has overtaken Labour in national polling for the first time. According to LOESS […]
96% of leaders are confident in their firm’s ability to comply with evolving AML regulations – report
96% of leaders are confident in their firm’s ability to comply with evolving anti-money laundering (AML) regulations but acknowledge staying up to date, ensuring staff are trained, and property completing client due diligence remain key compliance pain points. Despite a raft of firms being fines in recent weeks the inaugural UK Midsize Law Firm Priorities […]
Private equity firms have invested over £1.18bn into UK law firms since 2019
Since 2019, private equity firms have invested over £1.18 billion into UK law firms, with a record £534 million injected in 2024 alone, according to research by Acquira Professional Services. Traditionally resistant to external ownership, many firms are now reconsidering their stance, enticed by the potential for growth, digital transformation, and strategic expansion. The research […]
Rising fraudulent wills threaten heirs as authorities fail to act – Fraser and Fraser
Fraser and Fraser are raising the alarm over a concerning rise in fraudulent wills – an emerging threat that is systematically depriving rightful heirs of their inheritances. While will forgery is not new, the frequency and sophistication of these cases are reaching alarming levels, compromising the integrity of the English and Welsh probate system and […]
International Women’s Day: More new female solictors attained partner equivalent positions compared to their male counterparts
This International Women’s Day (8th March 2025), the Law Society of England and Wales encourages the profession to continue supporting women’s progress to senior levels. In 2023, more new female solicitors (832) attained partner equivalent positions compared to their male counterparts (522). Despite advancements, female solicitors still represent only 34% of partners or partner equivalents, […]
New regulatory proposals to strengthen lawyers’ ethical standards
New regulatory measures to strengthen ethical standards in the legal sector have been proposed today, to initiate a significant shift in how lawyers’ ethics are taught, overseen and supported in workplaces. The Legal Services Board (LSB) is seeking views on how regulators support lawyers to fully understand and uphold their ethical duties throughout their careers. […]
Legal sector continues to grow despite rising costs – The Law Society
Law firms saw steady growth in 2024, according to the Law Society’s new Financial Benchmarking Survey. The research shows that the legal sector remains resilient even in uncertain times, providing stability and contributing to the UK economy and overall prosperity. Law firms’ average earnings grew by 6.1% last year. While earnings are still growing, the […]
Retirees could deplete pension pots a decade too soon, due to lottery effect
Retirees could be at risk of emptying their pension pots a decade early, as they take large cash lump sums and withdraw too much in monthly income, according to new research from Legal & General (L&G). With the average life expectancy of a current 60-year-old in the UK sitting at 86, some retirees could be […]
Industry weigh in on the Law Commission’s upcoming reform
The Law Commission is set to publish its final report on will reform in April 2025, accompanied by a draft bill that aims to modernise the legal framework governing wills. This long-overdue review follows an initial consultation in 2017 and a supplementary consultation in 2023, which focused on two key areas: the introduction of electronic […]
Probate waiting times halved due to Government push
The data published shows that the average wait times in December 2024 is just over four weeks. This compares to twelve weeks at the end of 2023 and over eight weeks at the end of June 2024. The improvement is a result of decisive Government action to reduce the backlog of cases which built up […]
Lawyers impatient for firms to invest in technology and innovation – report
LexisNexis® Legal & Professional released a new report – Innovating the client experience: Law firms can offer much more than legal expertise – which reveals a sharp demand from lawyers for greater tech investment. The survey of 800+ UK legal professionals found in-house legal counsel will need their external counsel to be cost-effective (74%), responsive […]
The Show Must Go On: TWP Festival Launch
Today’s Media, the publishers of Today’s Wills and Probate and organisers of The British Wills and Probate Awards, has formally launched TWP Festival; dubbed private client’s answer to the classic music festival. Mythe Barn and Sheepy Meadow in Warwickshire play host to TWP Festival which will see a line up of Artists, alongside the Headline […]
Online wills more likely to include a charitable gift, research reveals
Legacy Futures’ latest Digital Legacy Insights research highlights the growing role of online wills, with nearly one in ten wills now created digitally – a number expected to rise in the coming years. Key findings show that online will makers are more likely to include charitable gifts, and they tend to be younger, have higher […]
‘Delegate Now to Supercharge Your Profits’ – read our third and final exclusive extract
In a series of short excerpts from a new book, Dan Warburton shares his insight on how law firm owners and senior managers can increase their profits by being better at delegating their workload. In the first extract Dan explains how he has developed his methodology, before outlining how firms might approach management and what […]
Safeguards needed if Bill on assisted dying is to become law – The Law Society
If the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill is to become law, it needs robust safeguards and must be able to work in practice, warns the Law Society of England and Wales. The Bill would allow terminally ill adults who have six months to live to request assistance to end their life. It provides […]
Costly will-writing error denies charities £1m bequest
A simple witnessing error on a will has resulted in leading charities losing a £1 million inheritance, while a director of the will-writing service involved received half of the wealth, as reported by The Times. Rosemary Hill, a retired doctor, used Legal Love Letters to draft a new will just days before her death, intending […]
LSB set out strategic priorities for 2025/26 amid budget concerns
The Legal Services Board (LSB) is consulting on the content of its business plan and budget for 2025/26, highlighting five key priorities for the super-regulator. In its final board meeting on 2024 it reaffirmed its commitment to the Reshaping Legal Services strategy, aimed at achieving fairer outcomes, stronger confidence, and better services across the legal […]
SRA clamps down on AML failings with fines totalling £66,000
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has flexed its regulatory muscles with a series of fines levied on firms and individuals for failure to comply with money laundering regulations. Fines totalling over £66,000 have been levied since the beginning of February alone. These cases serve as a stark reminder to legal practitioners of the importance of […]
