header-logo header-logo

28 March 2025
Issue: 8110 / Categories: Legal News , Charities , Family , Divorce , Pro Bono , Expert Witness
printer mail-detail

NLJ this week: Friends in the Courtney library & making expert connections

212891
An innovative law library and a scheme to match pro bono lawyers with experts both feature in this week’s NLJ, in a charity and pro bono double-bill. First up, Team Courtney explain how Courtney Legal works and how it can benefit early-career lawyers as well as members of the public.

Courtney Legal is an online audio-visual service that makes legal information easy to understand for anyone who is contemplating or going through a divorce. It was launched in January at a panel event attended by Baroness Hale.  

The authors write: ‘If Courtney is to consumers the equivalent of having a lawyer best friend, it is to new practitioners the equivalent of an educative “watercooler” experience.’

Next, Emily Sherratt, project director at the National Pro Bono Centre, covers the benefits of the Pro Bono Expert Support Scheme. This scheme connects pro bono lawyers with a network of volunteer experts, for example, medical or engineering specialists. As Sherratt explains, the expert help given includes translation services, communications advice and investigative work.

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
back-to-top-scroll