MoJ starts compensating part-time judges denied pensions
By Gazette Reporter >> (23 December 2019) Following a 14-year legal battle, the Ministry of Justice has begun compensating judicial part-timers who lost out when they were denied pensions. Interim payments to eligible claimants are now being made pending the introduction of a statutory remedy, the department said in an update today. The longstanding O’Brien […]
News focus: Key questions remain as new AML regime looms
By Michael Cross >> (2 December 2019) -NEWS FOCUS- With new directives coming into force and little guidance for firms on compliance, even anti-money laundering experts are struggling to stay on top, as a Law Society conference heard last week. Not an empty seat was to be found at the Law Society’s 2019 Anti-money Laundering […]
Brexit and migrant staff
By Laura Devine (13 November 2019) In September, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development published a report which found that 56% of employers surveyed did not believe they had sufficient information to devise post-Brexit hiring strategies. Indeed, 58% stated that they had either never heard of the government’s immigration white paper or had heard […]
Claimant and defendant sides fail to agree clin neg fixed costs levels
By John Hyde >> (24 October 2019) A working group set up to explore the feasibility of fixed recoverable costs for clinical negligence has found claimant and defendant factions unable to agree on several key issues. In a report published by the Civil Justice Council, the group said both sides ‘came close’ to agreeing fixed […]
First probate registry closes as application delays drag on
By: Jemma Slingo >> (27 August 2019) The first probate register office to shut under the £1bn courts reform programme will close its doors next week, the government has announced – to the fury of solicitors already waiting months for grants of probate. The Law Society said it will continue to challenge the closure. Under […]
Supreme Court ruling grants public access to court documents
By John Hyde >> (29 July 2019) The Supreme Court today ruled that the public should be allowed access to all documents placed before the court and referred to during a hearing – but only if applicants can show why they need them. In Cape Intermediate Holdings Ltd v Dring (for and on behalf of Asbestos […]
Courts to consider wider consequences of arson and criminal damage
By Monidipa Fouzder >> (5 July 2019) Courts are expected to get tougher on people who vandalise listed buildings, start a fire at a school or cause criminal damage at a train station under guidelines unveiled today. The Sentencing Council says its arson guidelines, which come into force in October, acknowledge that harm can include […]
MoJ reveals start date for testing of flexible court hours
By: John Hyde >> (24 June 2019) Court bosses have finally confirmed the start date for the long-anticipated extended sitting hours pilot. Six-month testing of the scheme will begin on 2 September and will consist of late sittings (4.30pm to 7pm) involving both civil and family work at Manchester Civil Justice Centre, and early (8am […]
DIY wills blamed for wave of probate disputes
By Jemma Slingo >> (3 June 2019) The number of inheritance disputes heard in the High Court increased from 227 in 2018 to 368 in 2019, according to the south east firm Nockolds Solicitors. The rise is largely fuelled by the popularity of DIY wills, which are often riddled with errors and omissions, said Nockolds. […]
Three months ‘not long enough’ for domestic abuse review
By Monidipa Fouzder >> (29 May 2019) Three months is not enough to properly review how well the family court is protecting children in domestic abuse cases, family and human rights lawyers have told the justice secretary. The Ministry of Justice announced the review last week after concerns were raised in its domestic abuse consultation […]
