Family Court transparency pilot extends to magistrates cases
By Bianca Castro >> (4 November 2024) Reporting of proceedings in the family courts through the transparency pilots has been extended to include public and private law cases before magistrates. From Friday, the pilot was extended to magistrates in all 19 of the current pilot areas. From today (11 November), the pilot scheme for the reporting […]
More judges to sit alone under employment tribunal reforms
By Bianca Castro >> (31 October 2024) Employment judges will be able to sit alone in cases unless it is not in the interests of justice to do so, according to a new practice direction issued by Sir Keith Lindblom. The senior president of tribunals’ direction means fewer cases will be heard before the usual three-person […]
Go prosecute! CPS offers ‘launchpad’ for new lawyers
By Bianca Castro >> (29 October 2024) The Crown Prosecution Service has launched a programme for newly qualified practitioners which the organisation hopes will serve as a ‘launchpad’ for new lawyers. Go Prosecute aims to help barristers ‘forge a strong relationship’ with the CPS at the start of their career. Inspired by similar schemes in other […]
Society seeks conveyancers’ views for climate risk practice note
By Monidipa Fouzder >> (20 September 2024) The Law Society wants to know how conveyancers handle climate risks to inform new guidance on the expanding legal risks around climate change and solicitors’ duties. After issuing guidance on climate change last year, Chancery Lane is drafting a further practice note that would provide practical details for conveyancers on what […]
‘No fault’ evictions back on parliamentary agenda
By Monidipa Fouzder >> (11 September 2024) ‘No fault’ evictions will be banned under proposed legislation being introduced by the government today to ‘level the playing field’ between tenants and landlords. The government said today that the Renters’ Rights Bill will go further than ever before in strengthening tenants’ rights. As well as banning section 21 […]
Former top judges tell government to reverse sentence inflation
By Monidipa Fouzder >> (6 September 2024) Five of the former most senior judges have intervened in the debate over the prison population crisis to urge the government to reverse the trend of locking people up for longer – declaring that ‘radical solutions’ are required to tackle the prison population crisis. Today’s report from the Howard […]
CourtWatch London releases guide to observing magistrates courts
By Bianca Castro >> (30 August 2024) Anew guide has been published by a magistrates’ court observation project to help others set up similar schemes. CourtWatch London first reported on its volunteers’ findings earlier this year. Some 82 trained volunteers observed Highbury Corner (pictured above), Thames and Croydon magistrates’ courts. Volunteers were encouraged to attend a […]
Thinktank proposes replacing SFO with new serious economic crimes office
By Michael Cross >> (27 August 2024) The number of successful cyber attacks against UK law firms rose by 77% in the past year to 954, up from 538 the year before, according to a new study of the threat. Chartered accountants Lubbock Fine said that the wave is driven by criminals seeing law firms as […]
No mercy for litigant in person who had not bothered with the rules
By John Hyde >> (21 August 2024) The High Court has once again shown no mercy on a litigant in person who failed to appreciate the civil procedure rules. The claimant in Christodoulides v Holbech had applied for an oral hearing to revisit a provisional assessment of his barrister’s bill. Those costs had been charged in a previous […]
Revival of Early Dawn contingency mechanism illustrates long-term neglect of criminal justice system, Law Society says
By Gazette Reporter >> (19 August 2024) Today’s announcement of the revival of ‘Operation Early Dawn’ to manage prison capacity pressure is a symptom of long-term neglect of the criminal justice system, the Law Society has said. HM Prison and Probation Service today said it had reactivated the contingency mechanism to ensure that enough prison places […]
