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 […]
Peers to probe court interpreting services
By Michael Cross >> (12 August 2024) The quality of interpreting and translation services in the courts will come under scrutiny in the House of Lords this autumn. An inquiry by the Lords Public Services Committee announced last week is seeking views following growing concerns about language services. According to the announcement, the committee seeks to understand the experience […]
Marriage ban for prisoners serving whole-life orders
By Charlie Moloney >> (2 August 2024) Prisoners serving whole-life orders will no longer have the right to get married under a measure signed into law by the lord chancellor. The measure, in the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024, was pledged by former justice secretary Dominic Raab in March last year. This followed widespread anger over […]
Speed up means test reforms, new government urged
By Monidipa Fouzder >> (22 July 2024) Only people living in very deep poverty will be eligible for legal aid next year if means test thresholds are not lifted sooner and adjusted to reflect recent inflation, according to fresh research commissioned by the Law Society. In May 2022 – a year before the previous government finally […]
‘Oven-ready’ Arbitration Bill introduced to parliament
By Michael Cross >> (19 July 2024) Legislation to modernise the 1996 Arbitration Act – including measures allowing arbitrators to make summary awards on claims that have no prospect of success – returned to parliament yesterday, a day after being announced in the King’s speech. The Arbitration Bill, introduced by justice minister Lord Ponsonby, follows a […]
Press Release
London: 24 June 2024 – Team MT UK along with other 18000 walkers have celebrated 20th anniversary London Legal Walk on 18 June 2024. Legal professionals from England and Wales with Team MT UK started the Legal Walk from Carry Street to raise funds for the London Legal Support Trust (LLST), an independent Charity Trust […]
Legislation pledged to prevent abuse of NDAs
By Gazette newsdesk >> (28 March 2024) The government has announced a crackdown on the misuse of non-disclosure agreements. Legislation will be introduced ‘as soon as parliamentary time allows’ to ensure victims are no longer prevented from accessing legal advice and other support, lord chancellor Alex Chalk MP said yesterday. The law will clarify that NDAs […]
