Lord Chief Justice sounds warning over unprecedented political interference in courts – The Independent

Posted December 2nd, 2020 in judges, judiciary, legal profession, news, parliament, political parties, rule of law by tracey

‘The Lord Chief Justice has warned of unprecedented levels of political interference over the work of courts in England and Wales, suggesting that MPs should be taught about “boundaries”.’

Full Story

The Independent, 2nd December 2020

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Speech by the Chancellor of the High Court to Harvard Law School: Online courts – Perspectives from the Bench and the Bar – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

‘Speech by the Chancellor of the High Court to Harvard Law School: Online courts – Perspectives from the Bench and the Bar.’

Full speech

Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 25th November 2020

Source: www.judiciary.uk

Extensions to the Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Regime – Family Law Week

‘Matthew Moore, director of Infolegal, advises family lawyers of their obligations under anti-money laundering regulations following changes [to the] wording of what constitutes taxation advice.’

Full Story

Family Law Week, 24th November 2020

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Lord Chancellor rails against lawyers who “vaunt political views” online – Legal Futures

‘The Lord Chancellor yesterday told lawyers who “vaunt their political views” on social media to raise their profile and attract work that they are giving the profession a bad name.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 19th November 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Legal aid lawyers under severe pressure because of Covid – Legal Futures

‘Four-fifths of legal aid lawyers have experienced stress as a result of the pandemic, with more than half of them blaming longer working hours, according to a survey.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 18th November 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Family lawyers “must be forced to follow good practice” – Legal Futures

‘Family lawyers should be forced to follow good practice to protect children from “acrimonious legal representation” and report it to their regulator, a major report has concluded.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 17th November 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Remote Hearings in the Family of Courts of England and Wales: what the research shows – Transparency Project

‘Hearings in the family courts of England and Wales are almost unrecognisable today to the hearings that took place prior to the outbreak of Covid-19. On 23 March 2020, it was announced that a nationwide lockdown was to begin the following day and last indefinitely. Between 23 March and 6 April, video hearings increased by 340% across courts and tribunals in England and Wales. Audio hearings increased by over 500%. Today, remote and hybrid (where some people attend in person and some via a telephone or video link) hearings have become commonplace. Even final hearings are now being conducted remotely. The transition to remote and hybrid hearings has helped to mitigate the delay before cases are heard. It helping to minimise an increasing backlog of cases. Telephone and video hearings have their benefits for parents, children and professionals alike, which might even see remote hearings continue in use in some cases beyond the pandemic. However, remote hearings come at a cost, as two consultations by the Nuffield Family Justice Observatory (NFJO) demonstrate.’

Full Story

Transparency Project, 13th November 2020

Source: www.transparencyproject.org.uk

Hodge worries about impact of pandemic on young lawyers – Litigation Futures

‘The deputy president of the Supreme Court has expressed fears that young lawyers have been unable to train properly during the pandemic and urged the profession to ensure there is no lasting damage to their education.’

Full Story

Litigation Futures, 12th November 2020

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Virus backlogs must not become “new normal”, says Lord Chief – Legal Futures

‘The Lord Chief Justice told MPs yesterday that he is “extremely concerned” that the backlogs that have grown across the justice system since March should not be “viewed by anybody as the new normal”.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 11th November 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Former UN chief hits out at “activist lawyer” label – Legal Futures

Posted November 3rd, 2020 in harassment, human rights, legal profession, news, rule of law by tracey

‘The former secretary-general of the United Nations has condemned Home Secretary Priti Patel’s recent attack on lawyers – although he did not criticise her by name.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 3rd November 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Forces claims bill condemned as attack on independent legal profession – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The Law Society has endorsed parliamentary criticism of proposed legislation aimed at curbing what the government calls vexatious claims against service personnel.’

Full Story

Law Society's Gazette, 30th October 2020

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Ministers must end their attacks on lawyers – The Guardian

‘Barristers, solicitors, legal academics and retired judges call for the home secretary and the prime minister to apologise for past remarks and refrain from using hostile language.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 25th October 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Lawyers call for apology from Johnson and Patel for endangering colleagues – The Guardian

‘The UK prime minister and the home secretary are accused of endangering the personal safety of lawyers through their abusive attacks on the profession and should apologise, more than 800 former judges and senior legal figures have said in a letter sent to the Guardian.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 25th October 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Female lawyers anxious over disproportionate impact of Covid – Legal Futures

‘Almost a quarter of women in the profession have not seen their incomes return to pre-Covid levels with one in five still on less than their previous working hours, a survey has found.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 23rd October 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

When it attacks ‘lefty lawyers’, this government takes aim at the rule of law – The Guardian

‘The scorn shown by Boris Johnson and Priti Patel marks a departure from centuries of Conservative tradition.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 20th October 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

SRA seeks charitable status in Law Society split – Legal Futures

‘The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) is applying for charitable status as part of becoming a distinct legal entity within the Law Society Group, it has emerged.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 16th October 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Watchdog warns Home Office must use ‘neutral language’ after outrage over ‘activist lawyers’ tweet – The Independent

‘A Home Office watchdog has said the department must use “neutral language” after its repeated use of the term “activist lawyer” prompted outrage.’

Full Story

The Independent, 15th October 2020

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Barristers on AG panels “should consider resigning”, says top QC – Legal Futures

‘One of the country’s leading QCs has suggested that barristers on the Attorney General’s panels should consider resigning in protest at the government’s hostility to the law and lawyers.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 13th October 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

David Greene: Condemning lawyers for doing their jobs is inherently dangerous – The Guardian

‘The new president of the Law Society on why it’s crucial to defend the rule of law in these febrile times.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 14th October 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Letter from the Chair of the Bar to the Prime Minister – The Bar Council

Full Story

The Bar Council, 9th October 2020

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk