LSCP urges regulators to act on unbundling as Tracker Survey finds numbers at record high
More people than ever are ‘unbundling’ legal services, with one in five consumers dividing the tasks that need to be carried with their solicitors. The highest incidences of the practice were found in probate, trademarks, employment and immigration law, where more than a third of consumers took on some of the legal work. The figures […]
New chair of the Association of Lifetime Lawyers appointed
The new chair for the Association of Lifetime Lawyers (ALL) has been appointed after Michael Culver stepped down in June after six years in the role. Jade Gani has been confirmed as the new of chair of the organisation which serves private clients professionals. Gani is founder and CEO of Circe Law and has been […]
Modernisation now in the hands of the profession – Law Commission
The modernisation of wills law is in the hands of the profession who should build on the momentum of the Law Commission’s report to ensure the proposals make their way into statute. In a presentation at TWP Festival the Law Commission’s Elizabeth Welch said that, if the profession agreed with the Law Commission’s bill and […]
LSB Chief steps down after just 12 months in the role
Super-regulator, The Legal Services Board (LSB), has announced Chief Executive Craig Westwood will leave the organisation after just a year in the role having tendered his resignation citing personal reasons this week. Westwood was appointed in May 2024 and took on the role of Chief Executive having previous been Director of Communications, Policy and Research […]
FCA launches ‘targeted support’ in ‘once in a generation’ reform to financial advice
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) have announced what it describes as ‘once in a generation’ reforms to the advice firms are able to provide around pensions, investments, and savings. In an effort to tackle the ‘advice gap’, the FCA have announced proposals which would allow firms to offer a new type of help called ‘targeted […]
Judicial review sought for IHT changes to Agricultural and Business Property Reliefs
Farmers and business owners have instructed law firm Collyer Bristow to serve proceeding on the Chancellor of the Exchequer and HMRC for a Judicial Review of the government’s decision not to consult on the planned Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief (BPR) changes; proceedings were served on 23 June 2025. The APR/BPR changes […]
MPs vote in favour of historic assisted dying bill
MPs have voted in favour of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill which would in certain circumstances legalise assisted dying in England and Wales. After some last minute concerns by those in favour of the cause, the bill passed with a majority of just 23 votes with 314 MPs voted for the bill […]
IHT changes to drive growth in demand as 6 in 10 report rise in requests for estate and tax planning advice
Inheritance tax (IHT) changes are driving demand for tax and estate planning advice as six in ten professional advisors report an increase in demand for their services. Nine in ten professionals believe estate and tax planning will become even more important following IHT changes, and 65% said they believe charitable tax incentives will become even […]
Red line for firms who make themselves executors of wills in new ratings system
A consumer awareness and comparison website has launched what is describes as independent ratings for online will writing services to tackle ‘growing concerns that the rise in DIY wills could lead to future disputes or even render wills invalid;’ levelling criticism at industry practices including Fairer Finance has launched a new set of product ratings for […]
Michael Culver steps down after six-years as Chair of The Association of Lifetime Lawyers
After six years, Michael Culver is stepping down from his position as Chair at The Association of Lifetime Lawyers (ALL) with a new chair set to be announced in July. The Association of Lifetime Lawyers, which was previously Solicitors for the Elderly, is a membership group for private client lawyers. The rebrand in June 2023 […]
New funerary methods to be reviewed by Law Commission
A new consultation by the Law Commission is to review new funerary methods as part of its wider work on Burial, Cremation and New Funerary Methods in its 13th programme of law reform. The consultation, which closes on 4th September, is asking for views on new funerary methods, acknowledging the only existing methods are burial, […]
Later life lending up 43% year on year
The value of later life lending in the first quarter of 2025 increased by 43% year on year with nearly 40,000 new loans advanced to older borrowers; identified as those over the age of 55. The latest UK Finance Later Life Lending Update covering Q1 2025 shows there were 38,510 new loans advanced to older […]
70% of the population denied access to Legal Aid
More than 42 million people in England and Wales, equating to nearly 70% of the population, do not have a community legal aid provider in their area according to research conducted by The Law Society. As part of the launch of its civil legal aid campaign the Law Society will publish a ‘legal aid desert’ […]
Court has no role in rewarding ‘meritorious conduct’ in inheritance dispute case
Central London County Court has rejected the claims of a sister who said her hyper-sensitivities prevented her from being able to move out of her mother’s house and split the inheritance equally between the other two sisters. The case centred on the claims of Sharon Duggan who claimed she was entitled to a greater share […]
Former journalist appointed as new Law Society deputy vice president
Former journalist Dana Denis-Smith OBE has been elected as the new deputy vice president of the Law Society of England and Wales, taking office from October 2025. Denis-Smith OBE spent a decade as a journalist before qualifying as a solicitor with Linklaters and is currently CEO of Obelisk Support, a legal services provider offering flexible legal solutions. She is […]
Charitable estates make up 16% of all estates at probate
The number of estates leaving legacies has risen by 22% year on year, contributing to a 9% overall growth in the legacy market which is now valued at £4.5bn according to the first Legacy Giving Report. Published through a partnership between Smee & Ford and Legacy Futures, the inaugural report provide ‘the most comprehensive legacy data […]
Communication is key when dealing with delays, says Legal Ombudsman in new guidance
The Legal Ombudsman (LeO) has set out its expectations for service providers when dealing with third-party delays, which stress the importance of effective communication. The LeO says almost half of the complaints it receives are about communication and delays, with a ‘common feature’ being whether the delay could have been caused or influenced by a […]
‘Complex’ tax affairs of wealthy makes HMRC’s job even more difficult – NAO
The ‘complex’ tax affairs of wealthy individual makes it difficult for HMRC to identify the tax they owe; but the agency says it has doubled the tax revenues it has collected over the past 12 months, from £2.2 billion in 2019-20 to £5.2 billion in 2023-24. HMRC defines ‘wealthy individuals’ as those earning more than […]
Consultant model ‘a fundamental part of the UK legal fabric’
Alternative legal platform providers, otherwise known as consultant-model law firms, continue to demonstrate ‘importance that lawyers are placing on autonomy, work-life balance, and the ability to build a practice supported by strong infrastructure’ say the authors of a report into the size and structure of the market. The sector hit over 4,000 practitioner last year, […]
Only 15% of parents discuss inheritance with their children
A survey has identified just 15% of parents discuss inheritance with their children, leading to warning of even more litigation in the future. A survey conducted by Irwin Mitchell suggests one in six parents over the age of 55 discuss inheritance with their children; although women (19%) are twice as likely as men (10%) to […]
