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NLJ this week: Five decades of ambitions for one-parent families

04 July 2024
Issue: 8078 / Categories: Legal News , Procedure & practice , Family , Mediation , Child law
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It’s 50 years since the 1974 Finer Report of the Committee on One-Parent Families, so what has been achieved?

In this week’s NLJ, solicitor-advocate David Burrows considers a half-century of reforms.

One big change has been the role of mediation. But in many aspects, life has not improved enough. Burrows looks at the areas of finance, housing, employment and day care, family law and a unified family court. He writes: ‘In the 50 years since the report, things for single parents and their children have mostly gone backwards.’

So, what has been done and what is still to do? Burrows covers developments and setbacks.

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Birketts—trainee cohort

Birketts—trainee cohort

Firm welcomes new cohort of 29 trainee solicitors for 2025

Keoghs—four appointments

Keoghs—four appointments

Four partner hires expand legal expertise in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Real estate team in Yorkshire welcomes new partner

NEWS
Robert Taylor of 360 Law Services warns in this week's NLJ that adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) risks entrenching disadvantage for SME law firms, unless tools are tailored to their needs
From oligarchs to cosmetic clinics, strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) target journalists, activists and ordinary citizens with intimidating legal tactics. Writing in NLJ this week, Sadie Whittam of Lancaster University explores the weaponisation of litigation to silence critics
Delays and dysfunction continue to mount in the county court, as revealed in a scathing Justice Committee report and under discussion this week by NLJ columnist Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School. Bulk claims—especially from private parking firms—are overwhelming the system, with 8,000 cases filed weekly
Writing in NLJ this week, Thomas Rothwell and Kavish Shah of Falcon Chambers unpack the surprise inclusion of a ban on upwards-only rent reviews in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill
Charles Pigott of Mills & Reeve charts the turbulent progress of the Employment Rights Bill through the House of Lords, in this week's NLJ
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