Jail for solicitor who forged documents and stole £800,000 of client money – Legal Futures

Posted June 11th, 2018 in courts, forgery, money laundering, news, sentencing, solicitors by sally

‘A dishonest solicitor who forged documents and stole clients’ mortgage payments after taking the reins of a law firm has been jailed for seven years and six months.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 11th June 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Online court’s strategy for assisting digitally excluded “needs reshaping”, says CJC report – Legal Futures

Posted June 8th, 2018 in courts, electronic filing, news by sally

‘The Ministry of Justice is at risk of freezing out a large number of vulnerable people from accessing the online court if it does not reshape its strategy for assisting the ‘digitally excluded’, according to a major study commissioned by the Civil Justice Council (CJC).’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 8th June 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

High Court: Clinton privacy claim can be heard in business or media lists – Litigation Futures

Posted June 7th, 2018 in courts, lists, media, news, privacy by sally

‘The media and communications list (M&CL) in the Queen’s Bench Division, and the Chancery Division’s business list are not specialist lists and a privacy claim can be heard equally well in either, the High Court has ruled.’

Full Story

Litigation Futures, 7th June 2018

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Court users “must buy in to reforms”, says MoJ as it pledges vulnerable will not be left behind

‘The Ministry of Justice’s top civil servant has told MPs that the government’s massive court reform programme will have failed if it does not carry the support of those who use the courts.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 7th June 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Barristers bring flexible courts into legal aid action – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Criminal barristers refusing to take on new legal aid work have asked the government to abandon plans to test new operating hours for courts, as heads of chambers prepare to discuss whether or not to accept the government’s surprise offer of investment last week.’

Full Story

Law Society's Gazette, 30th May 2018

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Ministry of Justice unveils legislation that will allow judges to delegate “routine” work to court staff – Litigation Futures

Posted May 25th, 2018 in bills, civil procedure rules, courts, judiciary, lists, news by sally

‘Legislation to allow judges to delegate tasks to court staff was announced by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) yesterday as it emerged that the Civil Procedure Rule Committee (CPRC) has already begun looking at the issue.’

Full Story

Litigation Futures,24th May 2018

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

New legislation will modernise the courts – Ministry of Justice

Posted May 24th, 2018 in civil justice, courts, criminal justice, judiciary, lists, press releases by tracey

‘The Courts and Tribunals (Judiciary and Functions of Staff) Bill will increase efficiency by allowing greater flexibility to deploy the right judge to the right case.’

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 23rd May 2018

Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice

HMCTS behind schedule on “ambitious” court reform programme, says watchdog – Local Government Lawyer

Posted May 11th, 2018 in budgets, civil justice, courts, criminal justice, delay, electronic filing, news by sally

‘HM Courts Service is behind where it expected to be at this stage of its ambitious reform programme, the National Audit Office has warned.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 10th May 2018

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

HMCTS response to National Audit Office report on court reform programme – Ministry of Justice

Posted May 9th, 2018 in budgets, courts, electronic filing, press releases by tracey

‘HMCTS response from CEO Susan Acland-Hood to National Audit Office report on court reform programme.’

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 9th May 2018

Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice

Courts revolution may be ‘undeliverable’, spending watchdog warns – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted May 9th, 2018 in budgets, courts, electronic filing, news by tracey

‘Spending watchdogs have warned courts chiefs of a real danger that they will fail to complete their digital courts revolution in time and on budget. In a comprehensive progress report published today, the National Audit Office says HM Courts & Tribunals Services faces a “daunting challenge” in meeting target for technological and cultural change.’

Full Story

Law Society's Gazette, 9th May 2018

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

MoJ “considering wider impact” of employment tribunal fees ruling as it ramps up refund efforts – Litigation Futures

Posted May 3rd, 2018 in courts, employment tribunals, fees, judgments, news, repayment by tracey

‘The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is taking legal advice on the wider implications of last year’s Supreme Court ruling that the introduction of employment tribunal fees was unlawful, it has emerged.’

Full Story

Litigation Futures, 3rd May 2018

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Speech by Lord Justice Gross: Courts and Arbitration – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted May 3rd, 2018 in arbitration, civil justice, courts, judges, speeches by tracey

‘Speech by Lord Justice Gross: Courts and Arbitration .’

Full speech

Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 2nd May 2018

Unitary patent and Unified Patent Court reforms: state of play May 2018 – OUT-LAW.com

Posted May 2nd, 2018 in courts, EC law, news, patents, treaties by tracey

‘The UK’s recent ratification of the Unified Patent Court (UPC) Agreement marked an important step towards a new system of unitary patent protection becoming operational. The process has been lengthy and complex and is not over yet.’

Full Story

OUT-LAW.com, 1st May 2018

Source: www.out-law.com

Guidance on the Capacity to Litigate in Proceedings Involving Children – April 2018 – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted April 26th, 2018 in children, courts, family courts, mental health, trials by tracey

‘This guidance has been produced to assist judges in the Family Court to resolve mental capacity issues concerning parties to family law proceedings. Designed to be practical and accessible, it will point the judge to key rules and statutory provisions. Lawyers instructed in family proceedings may also find this guidance valuable.’

Full guidance

Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 26th April 2018

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Speech by Lord Chief Justice the Lord Burnett of Maldon at the Association of District Judges Annual Conference – Courts & Tribunals Judiciary

Posted April 16th, 2018 in case management, courts, electronic filing, judiciary, speeches by tracey

‘Speech by Lord Chief Justice the Lord Burnett of Maldon at the Association of District Judges Annual Conference.’

Full speech

Courts & Tribunals Judiciary, 16th April 2018

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Immaturity means young adults need more support in court, report says – The Guardian

‘Young adults should be given special treatment in court because they are immature and need help understanding proceedings, according to a report by an influential legal reform group. The call for a fresh approach for 18- to 24-year-olds comes from the Centre for Justice Innovation as the sharp rise in knife crime highlights the criminal justice system’s problems in dealing with that age group.’

Full Story

the Guardian, 10th April 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Speech by Sir Geoffrey Vos, Chancellor of the High Court: Integrity and independence in the judiciary and the financial services industry – a comparative study – Courts & Tribunals Judiciary

‘Speech by Sir Geoffrey Vos, Chancellor of the High Court: Integrity and independence in the judiciary and the financial services industry – a comparative study.’

Full speech

Courts & Tribunals Judiciary, 21st March 2018

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Judge uses mobile in court to solve timetable problem in ‘unorthodox’ move – Daily Telegraph

Posted March 26th, 2018 in case management, courts, judges, news, telecommunications by tracey

‘A judge broke with tradition by using a mobile phone in court to solve an administrative problem. Lawyers have praised Judge Richard Todd, a divorce court judge, who had a conversation with an office clerk in a bid to avoid a delay while overseeing a High Court case.’

Full Story

Daily Telegraph, 25th March 2018

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

First virtual court case held using claimant’s laptop camera – The Guardian

Posted March 26th, 2018 in appeals, courts, news, pilot schemes, taxation by tracey

‘The first virtual court case has been held with a claimant appearing via a home laptop camera, while an extremely patient judge sat in a London tribunal and lawyers presented evidence from Belfast.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 26th March 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Speech by Sir Ernest Ryder, Senior President of Tribunals: Assisting Access to Justice – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

‘Speech by Sir Ernest Ryder, Senior President of Tribunals: Assisting Access to Justice.’

Full speech

Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 20th March 2018

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk