What do 250,000 wills tell us about private practice in 2026?

CILEX CEO Interview: "I was in the job for 16 days before Mazur..."

After a baptism of fire when just 16 days into her new role as CEO of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEX) Jennifer Coupland was thrust into one of the biggest crises legal services has faced since the Legal Services Act with the Mazur ruling and subsequent appeal. In a wide ranging discussion on the Today's Wills and Probate Podcast, Coupland discusses how she handled the immediate aftermath of the decision, the appeal, and how she plans to shape the organisation going forward after plans to bring CILEX under SRA regulation were shelved. She leads CILEX after a successful period running the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education, transforming the perception of apprenticeships into a respected and sought-after career route. She sees strong parallels with CILEX’s model of “earning while learning,” which she believes is vital for improving diversity and accessibility in the legal profession. Although CILEX was ultimately successful in its Mazur appeal, the ordeal was a "really, really tough 10 months for some of our members" says Coupland who adds the case exposed outdated aspects of the Legal Services Act 2007 and advocates for a sector-wide review to modernise legislation. Through the course of the podcast she also highlights the need to improve consumer understanding of legal services, particularly awareness of specialist providers and the importance of quality, regulation, and affordability. Internally, Coupland has navigated challenges around potential regulatory alignment with bodies like the SRA, ultimately pausing plans but maintaining a commitment to reducing duplication and complexity. Looking ahead, CILEX’s five-year strategy focuses on growth, education, influencing legal reform, and raising the organisation’s profile, with member engagement seen as crucial to its future direction.  The Today's Wills and Probate podcast is available on your preferred podcast provider, and at www.todayswillsandprobate.co.uk [https://todayswillsandprobate.co.uk/todays-wills-and-probate-podcast/]. Subscribe today to hear all the latest news and views across the wills and probate sector. Thank you to our podcast sponsors LEAP Estates, Estate Research, Property Ladder Group and Finders International.

A highly unusual way to scatter loves ones' ashes

When we think about scattering a loved ones' ashes we might picture a favourite spot or peaceful place that holds an important part in our lives.  Not many of us would think about releasing them from a drone; but that's exactly what Matt Young thought about with Aerial Ashes; a service which scatter ashes using a unique slow‑release mechanism that created a gentle, symbolic plume in the sky The Today's Wills and Probate podcast welcomes Matt to discuss the origins of the business, the symbolism of the process, and the practicalities of wind speed, moisture, altitude and aerodynamics which all play a factor in the controlled, elegant release of ashes which creates a 100m wide plume and a sense of awe and wonder.  The drone is just half the story says Young. What resonates most is the emotional impact. Families families who had kept ashes for years, unsure what to do; others who feared the mess and distress of scattering by hand. One widow, unable to leave the UK because she “couldn’t leave her husband behind”, finally found closure when his ashes were released over their favourite spot in Brighton. With a documented rise in secular celebrations of life over traditional church funerals what emerges from the conversation is not a novelty service, but a thoughtful, highly specialised way of helping families honour their loved ones - with dignity, symbolism and a sense of place. The Today's Wills and Probate podcast is available on your preferred podcast provider, and at www.todayswillsandprobate.co.uk [https://todayswillsandprobate.co.uk/todays-wills-and-probate-podcast/]. Subscribe today to hear all the latest news and views across the wills and probate sector. Thank you to our podcast sponsors LEAP Estates, Estate Research, Property Ladder Group and Finders International.

The "motherhood penalty" and the legal profession

The latest Today’s Wills and Probate Podcast turns its attention to one of the profession’s most persistent, and least openly discussed, challenges: the impact of maternity leave on women’s careers in law.  While the legal sector is not alone in perpetuating the motherhood penalty, the measurable career disadvantage experienced by women after having children, the podcast explores the unique pressure the legal sector presents around billable hours, PQE structures and the absence of traditional line management which compound the issue.  Returning mothers must “claw back” work, visibility and confidence say Sara Lyons and Hannah Bradshaw, former employment lawyers and co‑founders of Blue Sky; both of whom have personally experienced the issue and who now coach hundreds of female lawyers going through similar experiences.  Lyons and Bradshaw are clear; this is not a theoretical concept, nor a “woke invention”, but an economic and structural reality that continues to shape women’s progression in the legal sector. 78% of women on their programme report experiencing the motherhood penalty, while 77.8% worry about the impact of maternity leave on their long‑term career prospects. These figures, they argue, should be a wake‑up call for firms that still consider themselves “equal opportunities employers” while operating within systems that are anything but gender‑neutral. There is a cultural discomfort that surrounds maternity‑related discussions in law firms they say. Silence is damaging; women want clarity, support and honest dialogue about career progression, not well‑meaning but vague reassurances. “You can have it all... just not all at the same time" is the mantra firms and employees need to adopt.  The Today's Wills and Probate podcast is available on your preferred podcast provider, and at www.todayswillsandprobate.co.uk [https://todayswillsandprobate.co.uk/todays-wills-and-probate-podcast/]. Subscribe today to hear all the latest news and views across the wills and probate sector. Thank you to our podcast sponsors LEAP Estates, Estate Research, Property Ladder Group and Finders International.

What do 250,000 wills tell us about private practice in 2026?

The latest Today’s Wills & Probate Podcast looks at what can be understood from analysis of over 250,000 Wills and what clients really want.  The data is drawn from LEAP Estates' comprehensive 2026 Private Client Industry Report which also looks at close to 200,000 LPAs to inform a profession responding to shifting demographics and rising complexity. Joining host David Opie is Andy Hitchon, Head of Private Client at LEAP Legal Software and a former private client lawyer himself for a "been there, done that" conversation.  One of the key takeaways from the report is people are planning earlier, living longer and forming more blended families, creating a surge in trusts, protective structures and repeat planning cycles. Hitchon points to the growing normalisation of later‑life relationships, recalling an 83‑year‑old client preparing to remarry as evidence of how social change is reshaping estate planning needs. Regulation and tax policy are adding further pressure. With thresholds frozen and property values rising, more estates are drifting into the IHT net, increasing both the need for proactive planning and the likelihood of future disputes. Hitchon warns that the sector must be ready for this shift, particularly as HMRC tightens expectations around tax advice. What emerges from the conversation is a sector in transition: more technical, more holistic and more exposed to risk than ever before. Hitchon’s message is clear; the profession must adapt, and quickly. The Today's Wills and Probate podcast is available on your preferred podcast provider, and at www.todayswillsandprobate.co.uk [https://todayswillsandprobate.co.uk/todays-wills-and-probate-podcast/]. Subscribe today to hear all the latest news and views across the wills and probate sector. Thank you to our podcast sponsors LEAP Estates, Estate Research, Property Ladder Group and Finders International.

Tackling the funding gap in estate administration

Founded in 2020 Provira is one of a handful of FCA-regulated organisations offering inheritance and estate lending services to cover inheritance tax and estate costs.  In this latest Today's Wills and Probate Podcast episode host David Opie speaks with John Sanderson, Director of Partnerships at Provira, about the growing role of inheritance and estate lending in the probate process, exploring the reasons for increasing demand and how they work in practice both for consumers and probate professionals.  Although still in its infancy as a sector, inheritance and estate lending has rapidly become a recognised solution to the cashflow problems that frequently arise during estate administration, with lenders like Provira offering beneficiaries access to up to 50% of their expected inheritance either before or after probate is granted. These funds can be released within days and can be used for almost any purpose, from clearing debts to meeting living or care costs. Another option is to borrow against the estate to meet estate liabilities, most commonly inheritance tax, but also other administration costs such as legal fees, surveyors’ fees or property renovation to enhance sale value. Rising house prices combined with the long‑term freeze of the inheritance tax nil‑rate band have led to more estates incurring tax liabilities. At the same time, many estates are asset‑rich but cash‑poor, with value tied up in property and investments that cannot easily be accessed before probate. This creates a funding gap at a critical moment, particularly given the timing of IHT payments, which is driving interest and demand for lending services explains Sanderson.  The Today's Wills and Probate podcast is available on your preferred podcast provider, and at www.todayswillsandprobate.co.uk [https://todayswillsandprobate.co.uk/todays-wills-and-probate-podcast/]. Subscribe today to hear all the latest news and views across the wills and probate sector. Thank you to our podcast sponsors LEAP Estates, Estate Research, Property Ladder Group and Finders International.