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18 September 2019
Issue: 7856 / Categories: Legal News , Divorce , Family , Legal services
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Divorcees do it themselves

Nearly one third of individuals involved in a divorce or civil partnership dissolution dealt with the proceedings themselves from start to finish, consumer research shows.

The Family Law Consumer Research Report, published this week by IRN Research (also known as Orchard Reports) is based on responses from 304 adults involved in a divorce/dissolution in the past five years.

One in ten individuals started proceedings themselves but then used a solicitor or law firm to complete the process. The majority paid for their advice under a fixed fee arrangement but only half of these actually paid the fee at the end that they were quoted at the start. Most faced higher fees.

Most people found their legal adviser through recommendations from others, but 21% used search engines to find their lawyer. The overwhelming majority of clients said they found face-to-face contact with a legal adviser important when going through divorce or dissolution proceedings.

Issue: 7856 / Categories: Legal News , Divorce , Family , Legal services
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MOVERS & SHAKERS

NLJ Career Profile: Stephen Ward, The Barrister Group

NLJ Career Profile: Stephen Ward, The Barrister Group

From mowing lawns to life at the Bar: Stephen Ward reflects on an unconventional career

Clarke Willmott—Ben Loosemore

Clarke Willmott—Ben Loosemore

Commercial property partner joins Clarke Willmott in Southampton

Ellisons—Robert Tiffen

Ellisons—Robert Tiffen

Robert Tiffen joins Ellisons as Partner in growing Norwich office

NEWS
The Law Society RFC Festival of Sport returns next month, bringing together legal and financial services professionals for one of the sector’s largest annual sporting events
Legal aid deserts leave almost one in four without adequate access to justice
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has warned solicitors and law firms that using artificial intelligence does not alter their professional obligations, amid concerns over inaccurate legal material and client confidentiality
From forgotten interest claims to case-management appeals, a string of procedural developments offers useful—and occasionally cautionary—lessons for practitioners

Jonathan Fisher KC highlights that it now accounts for around 40% of criminal offences, with roughly 70% involving technology, and argues that the UK cannot simply prosecute its way out of the problem. Detection, investigation and prosecution all require improvement, while different fraud types demand tailored responses.

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