Tougher UK Passenger Checks from 25 February 2026
From 25 February 2026, travelling to the UK carries new practical risks for individuals who rely on UK immigration permission. Stricter carrier checks mean immigration status is now being verified before travel begins, rather than on arrival at the UK border. For many travellers, this represents a significant change in how problems arise and how […]
Report Sets out Proposals to Cut Criminal Court Backlogs
A senior judicial review has called for sweeping reforms to the criminal courts in England and Wales, warning that the justice system is struggling under record delays and growing backlogs. The report, entitled Independent Review of the Criminal Courts: Part 1, was led by former senior judge Sir Brian Leveson, says urgent action is required […]
Earned Settlement: UK ILR Reforms Set to Proceed
The Government has confirmed that it plans to proceed, in principle, with reforms to Indefinite Leave to Remain based on an earned settlement approach. This position was set out during a Westminster Hall debate on 2 February 2026, which followed two public petitions that triggered parliamentary scrutiny of the proposals. The Minister for Migration and […]
Earned Settlement: UK Consults on ILR Changes with 10-Year Default
The Home Office has launched a consultation on a new, contribution-based ‘Earned Settlement system that would replace the long-standing five-year route to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) for most migrants. The Home Secretary’s ‘command paper’ sets out what could be a fundamental shift in UK ILR rules: settlement would no longer be presented as a predictable […]
UK to Reform Asylum & Returns System
The UK’s proposed new asylum and returns policy marks a decisive change in how the UK treats people who seek protection and those whose claims fail. Through a series of asylum reforms, the existing model of relatively secure refugee leave is set to be replaced with a more conditional system where status, support and long […]
Transparency in the Family Courts: What’s Changing in 2025 and Why It Matters
The family courts in England and Wales have long operated behind closed doors, primarily to protect the privacy of children and vulnerable adults. But this protective approach has often led to criticism—especially around a perceived lack of accountability, inconsistency in decisions, and public misunderstanding of how the system works. In response to mounting pressure from […]
Family Law in the Digital Age: Remote Hearings and Online Justice in 2025
The digital transformation of the UK’s family court system—accelerated by necessity during the COVID-19 pandemic—continues to evolve in 2025. With court backlogs, limited resources, and changing expectations about accessibility, the judiciary is increasingly embracing technology as a long-term solution rather than a temporary fix. Remote hearings, digital case management tools, and online filing systems are […]
No-Fault Divorce in 2025: How the Landscape of Separation is Changing in the UK
Divorce in England and Wales has undergone a quiet but transformative shift since the introduction of the no-fault divorce regime. Although the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 came into effect on 6 April 2022, its practical consequences are only now being fully felt by the legal system and the families who pass through it. […]
Family Law Developments in 2025: Responding to Social and Technological Change
As society continues to evolve, so too does the legal framework that governs family life in the UK. In 2025, family law is undergoing important developments shaped by shifting social norms, digital innovation, and increasing pressure on courts to modernise. From the growing use of technology in family proceedings to the recognition of diverse family […]
2023 Logbook Pilot Challenges Assumptions
During the summer of 2023, conveyancing solicitors in a working group questioned the belief that introducing a property logbook would streamline the conveyancing aspect of purchasing a home. In response, the Home Buying & Selling Group’s (HBSG) Logbook Working Group decided to initiate a new pilot to address the concerns raised by lawyers and conveyancers […]
Inflation Dips as Mortgage Market Recovers
The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) indicate that the inflation rate for March was 3.2%, a slight decrease from February’s 3.4%. This update comes after the Bank of England’s (BoE) decision to maintain the interest rate at 5.25%. With inflation showing a downward trend, there is less pressure on the BoE […]
2024 BASPI Update: Enhancing Property Information
Trade and representative organisations from the conveyancing, legal, surveying, estate agency, and property management industries, including the Conveyancing Association, unveiled the latest version of the BASPI—Buyer’s and Seller’s Property Information form on March 28th, 2024. The BASPI is crafted by the upfront information working group within the Home Buyers and Sellers Group (HBSG) and acts […]
Revised TA6 Form Boosts Clarity
The Law Society of England and Wales has introduced a revised TA6 Property Information Form, aligning with the National Trading Standards’ guidelines on essential property information. This updated form includes details recommended by the National Trading Standards Estate and Letting Agency Team (NTSELAT) for property listings, urging sellers to involve their solicitors early in the […]
UK Inquiry into Conveyancers and Sales Practices
Parliamentarians are set to scrutinise the roles of conveyancers, the provision of upfront information, and referral fees in a comprehensive examination of the property transaction process. The House of Commons’ Levelling Up, Housing, and Communities Committee has called for submissions, seeking insights into various facets of property buying and selling mechanics, information availability and delivery, […]
Employment Tribunal Compensation Limits Increasing
Individuals bringing employment tribunal claims in the UK will see a notable increase in the maximum compensation they can be awarded. Under the Employment Rights (Increase of Limits) Order 2024, the following limits will apply from 6 April 2024: Maximum compensatory award The maximum compensatory award rises from £105,707 to £115,115, allowing individuals to potentially […]
Child Maintenance Service Application Fee to be Waived
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is to scrap the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) application fee from 26 February 2024. Anyone with children under 16 (or under 20 if they are still in full-time education) can use the government’s CMS to arrange child maintenance payments if a financial arrangement cannot be made by the […]
New Ban on Disposable Vapes
Disposable vapes are to be banned in the UK, under new laws proposed by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. It is already illegal to sell any vape to anyone under 18, but the government said disposable vapes – often sold in smaller, more colourful packaging than refillable ones – are a “key driver behind the alarming […]
Immigration Health Surcharge to Increase No Earlier Than 16 January 2024
Following publication of the Immigration (Health Charge) (Amendment) Order 2023, it has been confirmed that the UK’s Immigration Health Surcharge will increase no earlier than 16 January 2024. The Immigration (Health Charge) (Amendment) Order 2023 is the draft legislation that will implement the fee changes. According to the draft, the increases will take effect between 16 January 2024 and […]
New Smoking Law to Create Smoke-Free Generation
The UK government will create a “smoke-free generation” by ending cigarette sales to those born on or after 1 January 2009. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has revealed plans to introduce a new law to stop children who turn 14 this year or younger from ever legally being sold cigarettes in England. In a statement on […]
Costs Cap on Lower-Value Medical Negligence Claims from April 2024
Legal costs will be capped in lower damages clinical negligence claims from April 2024, the Department of Health has announced. The new system of fixed recoverable costs will limit the amount claimant solicitors can charge when advising on clinical negligence cases of £25,000 or less. In a statement announcing the new rules, Minister for Health, […]