The Role of the Law Commission
The Law Commission is an independent body, but one which has statutory powers in terms of the law in this country. It was founded following the Law Commissions Act of 1965, with the overarching aim of providing continuous review and reform of the laws of England and Wales.
The Law Commission itself states that it has four primary objectives in terms of how it carries out its role. It aims to make sure that the law is:
• Fair
• Simple
• Modern
• Cost effective
What Does the Law Commission Do, and How Is It Independent?
In this age of technological advances and reliance on social media, the topics that we see frequently grabbing the headlines are the problems that unwanted photographs or information online can cause unsuspecting individuals. Take, for example, unflattering or embarrassing photos or references to personal situations that happened long ago finding their way into the hands of someone’s prospective employer. Another example is the malicious spreading, in an act of revenge, of personal or even incriminating evidence about somebody. 
This month, we will consider the Law Commissions’ consultation on how Wills are made in England and Wales. Some of the key issues that are under review include:
When you consider that the vast majority of the law connected with Wills comes from an Act of Parliament that received Royal Assent at the very start of the Victorian era (the Wills Act 1837) and the capacity issue for writing a Will comes from a case precedent in 1870, it will not come as a surprise to any of us that the Law Commission has been evaluating the possibility of reform in this area. The Commission feels that the current legal age of 18 should be lowered to 16.
With the general election coming up in a few short days, many questions have arisen regarding how it will affect already proposed laws. While a good majority of those that were in question have since been passed (all of which will be discussed briefly below), there are still a few that have not been as successful. But what does that all mean in terms of the nearing election on June 8? 
This month we are considering a form of land ownership, leasehold, that has been described as a “murky corner of residential property”, and perhaps more worryingly if you own one, “a national scandal which dwarfs PPI”. With recent stories about homeowners having ground rents that double every 10 years and an all-party Parliamentary Group reporting on reforms in April 2017, even stronger language has been used by MPs describing leasehold houses as a “national con”. 
This month we are examining the impact of a recent Court of Appeal decision on the divorce petition of Mrs Tini Owens. The Court of Appeal have, in refusing Mrs Owens’ divorce petition, buried the possibility of a couple divorcing on a no fault basis.
If you are currently studying the 
Rent charges have existed since the 13th century and have traditionally provided an income for landowners who allowed their land to be developed. It would be fair to say that in recent years, rent charges have not been a major feature of any conveyancing transaction, but that may be set to change. There have been a number of cases recently where private investment companies have been imposing heavy financial penalties on homeowners for non-payment. These fines have far exceeded the rent that was due, and in this article we will highlight what steps Property Lawyers should take to warn clients when a rent charge appears on a title report. 
Modern technology has simplified many aspects of our lives, both personally and commercially. It has been possible to shop or take out contracts and arrange finance electronically for some years now. However, the conveyancing industry has been slow to adapt to, or to adopt, the new technologies available.