“Delegate Now to Supercharge Your Profits”
The Today’s Wills and Probate Podcast welcomes back Dan Warburton, a law firm consultant and trainer who specialises in helping individuals delegate work more effectively; in the process junior staff are elevated, the individual has a happier work/life balance, and ultimately the firm can be more profitable. It’s a soapbox Dan has jumped on before […]
Movement towards mandatory ADR or alternative dispute resolution gathering pace
The movement towards mandatory alternative dispute resolution (ADR) is gathering pace. Back in 2023 we had Churchill v Merthyr Tydfil [2023] what was then a recent decision whereby the Court of Appeal had ordered the parties to a dispute to engage in a mediation: The case followed an earlier decision in 2019 in the same […]
Find out how much UK law firms spending on marketing activity
The Professional Services Marketing Survey, conducted annually by the Law Firm Marketing Club, aims to collect valuable insights directly from law firms about their marketing and business development (BD) activities, ensuring an accurate, firsthand perspective instead of relying on guesswork. We ask firms to share key information on their marketing budgets, the size and influence […]
‘Tech is only as good as the data you put in it’
In the second episode of the fourth series of the Today’s Wills and Probate Podcast, host David Opie sat down with Taz Khalid, CEO, and Jean Ward, COO of My Probate Solicitor (MPS), to discuss the launch of the new business and the introduction of ZENA – an AI-powered “warrior princess” designed to streamline probate […]
13% increase in support calls to mental health helpline
Mental health and wellbeing charity LawCare says it experienced a 13% increase in support requests last year compared to 2023, with 2024’s number its highest on record. Stress and anxiety (39%) were the most common reasons people contacted the charity, followed by career concerns (15%) and workplace bullying and harassment (10%). In it’s recently published […]
Contesting a will with willclaim solicitors no win no fee specialists – The benefits of mediation
Will claim Solicitors, specialist no win no fee will dispute and will contest Solicitors, discuss the benefits of mediation What is Mediation? Mediation is a negotiation utilising the services of a trained Mediator (who may or may not be legally qualified) within a structured environment to help the parties to a dispute, in this instance […]
Your voice matters – help improve mental health in the legal sector
Be part of Life in the Law 2025 By Niamh Warnock and Trish McLellan The legal sector is known for its high-pressure environment, long hours, and demanding workloads, all of which can take a toll on mental health and wellbeing. In 2021, LawCare’s first Life in the Law survey provided groundbreaking insight into these issues. More than 1,700 legal […]
Tackling the ‘yawning gap’ between professional and care sectors
In the first episode of the fourth series of the Today’s Wills and Probate Podcast, host David Opie is joined by Alison Hesketh of TimeFinders; a service best described as providing later life admin support. Filling the “yawning gap” between the legal and financial professions, and the care sector, TimeFinders was set up in 2010 […]
Why Paralegals are Essential to the Legal Sector
Paralegals are no longer thought of just as graduates wanting to gain experience before moving on to qualify as solicitors. People currently entering the sector, whether they are graduates or career changers, are choosing to become professional paralegal practitioners, meaning that their ambition is not to qualify as a solicitor, but instead, to specialise in […]
How will the latest inheritance tax changes impact farming businesses for the next generation?
In her first Budget as Labour Chancellor, Rachel Reeves announced the government’s plan to impose inheritance tax (IHT) on farmers. News the government would introduce a cap on IHT relief for agricultural assets made big headlines. Special treatment for farmers in relation to IHT has been consistently given by successive governments of both the main […]
The good, the bad and the awkward: What clients say about their first impressions of law firms
First impressions are critical, especially for law firms. Clients often approach with high-stakes concerns, looking for more than just expertise – they want empathy, professionalism and reassurance. The Law Firm Marketing Club’s What Clients Want 2024 research posed a key question: “How did you first contact the law firm, and what was your first impression?” Respondents […]
Reader Survey: What risks might sink your ship in 2025?
Ahead of the launch of an exciting new initiative in 2025 related to Risk Management within legal services firms, Today’s Media is surveying law firms on which risks to their business most concerns them; what firms see as important issues in 2025 and beyond; and how well equipped they feel to tackle them. The results […]
Going ‘native’ must never mean losing sight of the customer
Digital processes are very much in demand but need to be easy for a non-digitally native generation to use. It was the American writer and technologist Marc Prensky who first coined the term ‘digital native’ to describe an individual who grew up in the information age and is therefore naturally conversant with computers, mobile phones […]
Celebrating Women in Wills in 2024
2024 has been a year of growth and development for Today’s Wills and Probate networking group Women in Wills. Women in Wills was set up in 2017 by Karen Babington to provide Collaboration, Insight and Support for women working in the private client sector. This year’s event programme has brought these objectives to life which has allowed […]
A Year in Review: The best of the Today’s Wills and Probate podcast’s in 2024
Since its launch in February 2022, the Today’s Wills and Probate Podcast has become a must-listen for professionals in the wills and probate sector. With over 50 episodes and 7,500+ downloads, it continues to deliver insights from industry experts and explore pressing issues in estate planning, probate, client experience, and beyond. Here’s a look back […]
What is proprietary estoppel?
Anjali Narshi, contentious probate specialist at law firm Lodders, explains what proprietary estoppel is and shares some recent cases regarding this legal doctrine. What is proprietary estoppel? Proprietary estoppel is a legal remedy that can be used to stop a person from going back on earlier verbal promises to transfer property or land to another person. […]
Using web-based technology to your advantage
Using web-based technology can be a great way to streamline your client data input processes, control formatting, and manage data cleansing, all for a relatively low cost. Over the past two years, we have worked closely with James Hadley of KingsGuard Legal, to utilise web-based technology to deliver clean, simple solutions to assist with different […]
Statutory interest on pecuniary legacies within Wills
As a general rule, interest (not compound) is payable on a pecuniary legacy (the gift of a specific sum of money) in a Will starting on the date the legacy is due to be paid. If the legacy in question is an immediate legacy which the deceased testator wanted to be paid to the legatee […]
Diary of a Private Client Practitioner
People have often commented about how dry and technical private client law is, and it is often viewed as being ‘dull’ and ‘boring’. Even at university when I was sitting in my trust’s lectures, I had no idea (and hadn’t even thought of it as a possibility) that it was an area in which I […]
IHT and the 2024 Budgets
The two Budgets in 2024 have together brought about some sizeable changes for Private Client practitioners, with much detail still to follow. Here are the main changes we know so far. Farms and businesses Headlines were made with the proposed changes to Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief from 6 April 2026 – changing […]
