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17 September 2025
Issue: 8131 / Categories: Legal News , Technology , Damages , Divorce , Wills & Probate , Family , Public
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Digital reform a 'mixed experience' so far

The Ministry of Justice has published its first evaluation of digital services introduced under HM Courts and Tribunals Service’s Reform programme

It covered seven areas—damages, divorce, probate, family public law, financial remedy, social security and child support, and civil money claims.

It concluded last week that legal professionals had a ‘mixed’ experience. Judges felt the services had increased their administrative burden while lawyers were deterred if they could not complete the case journey end-to-end digitally.

Law Society president Richard Atkinson called for investment to be sustained to overcome any gaps in functionality.

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Clarke Willmott—Matthew Roach

Clarke Willmott—Matthew Roach

Partner joins commercial property team in Taunton office

Farrer & Co—Richard Lane

Farrer & Co—Richard Lane

Londstanding London firm appoints new senior partner

Bird & Bird—Sue McLean

Bird & Bird—Sue McLean

Commercial team in London welcomes technology specialist as partner

NEWS
What safeguards apply when trust corporations are appointed as deputy by the Court of Protection? 
Disputing parties are expected to take part in alternative dispute resolution (ADR), where this is suitable for their case. At what point, however, does refusing to participate cross the threshold of ‘unreasonable’ and attract adverse costs consequences?
When it comes to free legal advice, demand massively outweighs supply. 'Millions of people are excluded from access to justice as they don’t have anywhere to turn for free advice—or don’t know that they can ask for help,' Bhavini Bhatt, development director at the Access to Justice Foundation, writes in this week's NLJ
When an ex-couple is deciding who gets what in the divorce or civil partnership dissolution, when is it appropriate for a third party to intervene? David Burrows, NLJ columnist and solicitor advocate, considers this thorny issue in this week’s NLJ
NLJ's latest Charities Appeals Supplement has been published in this week’s issue
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