Knowledge and resources

Welcome to your December 2024 edition of the Legal Aid newsletter from Resolution.

Welcome to your November 2024 edition of the Legal Aid newsletter from Resolution.

Resolution’s response to the Duxbury Working Party.

Welcome to your October 2024 edition of the Legal Aid newsletter from Resolution.

Resolution has responded to proposed changes to PD27A.

Welcome to your September 2024 edition of the Legal Aid newsletter from Resolution.

Client care is an essential part of a lawyer’s role and is the very first topic dealt with in the SRA Code of Conduct. It is subject to regulatory control due to the importance of the relationship for the client, who may not have had any reason to consult a lawyer in the past.

Resolution's Litigants in Person (LiPs) Committee has produced these top tips for members who are working with LiPs covering communication, court proceedings and managing client expectations.

With the reforms to family justice, cutbacks on legal aid and changes in behaviour in relation to the ways in which people approach family relationship breakdown, there has been a significant increase in the number of litigants in person and you should consider how your dealings with litigants in person will differ from those with another lawyer.

Welcome to your August 2024 edition of the Legal Aid newsletter from Resolution.

This guidance note provides an overview of working within the Code of Practice when faced with complex and sensitive issues involving Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).

Welcome to your July 2024 edition of the Legal Aid newsletter from Resolution.

This good practice guide provides guidance about safeguarding children and young people for Resolution's members, their Compliance Officers for Legal Practice (COLPs), and others responsible for risk and compliance.

Issues regarding fertility law have increased significantly in the last few years and members are now likely to encounter such issues on a more frequent basis. There are family lawyers who have a particular specialism in fertility law, but it is an area in which we should all be able to give advice and assistance when requested. This guide aims to assist our members on best practice in this area.

The family is not just heteronormative (straight) couples who have their own children; it likely never was. The prevalence of 'alternative' or 'modern' families is more mainstream and accounts for more than 5% of the population. There will be locations in the UK, eg Brighton, Manchester and London where that percentage is much higher. This Guidance Note is a resource for members to help increase the understanding around language and culture but you are encouraged to do your own research.

Non-married cohabiting relationships continue to increase year on year, so advising clients embarking on cohabitation, those already living together wanting to understand their ‘rights’ and those whose cohabiting relationship has broken down, will continue to form an increasing part of the workload of family lawyers. This guide aims to assist Resolution members and their conveyancing lawyer and private client colleagues to manage these cases effectively, in accordance with our Code of Practice.

Surrogacy is an area of family law that is on the rise and many practitioners all over the country are being asked to give advice. While there are surrogacy lawyers who specialise in this work, all of us should be equipped to deal with a surrogacy enquiry and to refer on where necessary.
In particular, it is important to note that the Law Commission of England and Wales, jointly with the Law Commission of Scotland, prepared a report (dated 29 March 2023) and draft legislation to outline a proposed reform to the current regulatory regime.

Welcome to your June 2024 edition of the Legal Aid newsletter from Resolution.

Family proceedings (whether through NCDR or court-based) should be conducted cost effectively without compromising the quality of advice that clients crave and deserve, balancing the benefits of any steps taken against the likely costs – financial or emotional. Many family cases are now concluded without the involvement of barristers. However, certain clients will benefit from representation by an effective team of lawyer and barrister in order to achieve an appropriate balance between cost and quality. This guidance note offers advice on best practice for family law professionals when working with a barrister.

Welcome to your May 2024 edition of the Legal Aid newsletter from Resolution.