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08 January 2015 / Geraldine Morris
Issue: 7635 / Categories: Features , Family
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An avalanche of reform

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Geraldine Morris reviews the family law changes in 2014 & makes predictions for the year ahead

This time last year I referred to a “plethora” of changes in relation to the family justice system planned for 2014 (“All change (again)”, 164 NLJ 7591, p 11). If I could go back in time I would change “plethora” to “avalanche”: it’s been an incredible programme of reform, rightly described by the President of the Family Division, Sir James Munby, as the “largest reform of the family justice system any of us have seen or will see in our professional lifetimes”. However, while some aspects of the reforms are working well, in a number of areas there’s still widespread confusion, and there’s lots more reform ahead in 2015. The following sets out just some of the changes/trends expected in 2015.

Financial provision

FRWG proposals

One of the most significant areas of reform in 2015 will be in relation to financial cases. The Financial Remedies Working Group (FRWG), led by Mr Justice Mostyn, published its interim report in August 2014 with a deadline for views

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NEWS
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NLJ this week: No such thing as a ‘Welsh seat’
Talk of a reserved ‘Welsh seat’ on the Supreme Court is misplaced. In NLJ this week, Professor Graham Zellick KC explains that the Constitutional Reform Act treats ‘England and Wales’ as one jurisdiction, with no statutory Welsh slot
NLJ this week: Jury reform risks justice for efficiency’s sake
The government’s plan to curb jury trials has sparked ‘jury furore’. Writing in NLJ this week, David Locke, partner at Hill Dickinson, says the rationale is ‘grossly inadequate’
NLJ this week: Crypto fightback offers ‘new frontier for law’
A year after the $1.5bn Bybit heist, crypto fraud is booming—but so is recovery. Writing in NLJ this week, Neil Holloway, founder and CEO of M2 Recovery, warns that scams hit at least $14bn in 2025, fuelled by ‘pig butchering’ cons and AI deepfakes
NLJ this week: Time to revive the duty to report crime?
After Woodcock confirmed no general duty to warn, debate turns to the criminal law. Writing in NLJ this week, Charles Davey of The Barrister Group urges revival of misprision or a modern equivalent
NLJ this week: When are experts truly ‘necessary’?
Family courts are tightening control of expert evidence. Writing in NLJ this week, Dr Chris Pamplin says there is ‘no automatic right’ to call experts; attendance must be ‘necessary in the interests of justice’ under FPR Pt 25
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