Online Court will include “limited” legal costs to aid unbundled advice, says Briggs – Legal Futures

Posted May 25th, 2016 in budgets, civil justice, costs, courts, internet, legal aid, news by sally

‘The new Online Court will not ban lawyers and there will be “a very limited element of fixed costs” so litigants can get initial legal advice – but not the full “over-expensive” service, Lord Justice Briggs said yesterday.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 24th May 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Civil Justice Council decides against new housing court – Litigation Futures

‘The Civil Justice Council (CJC) has decided not to back a new housing court to deal with all property disputes, despite support for the move among lawyers in the sector.’

Full story

Litigation Futures, 23rd May 2016

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Pop-up courts needed to help create more flexible justice system – report – The Guardian

Posted May 19th, 2016 in courts, criminal justice, internet, news, reports by sally

“Pop-up” courts with easily transportable judicial stage sets, remote video screens and online access are needed to develop a more flexible justice system, according to a leading legal thinktank.’

Full story

The Guardian, 18th May 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

MoJ seeks to allay court closure concerns – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted May 6th, 2016 in budgets, courts, Ministry of Justice, news by tracey

‘The Ministry of Justice has given some insight into the reasons behind its decision to close a court that campaigners have bitterly fought to save.’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 5th May 2016

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Technology and the Law – Speech by Lord Neuberger

Posted April 26th, 2016 in courts, evidence, judges, news, privacy, speeches, trials, video recordings, witnesses by sally

Technology and the Law

Speech by Lord Neuberger, President of The Supreme Court

British Irish Commercial Bar Association Law Forum, 21st April 2016

Source: www.supremecourt.uk

What has the European Court of Human Rights done for us? – The Independent

‘Campaigners and politicians have criticised Home Secretary Theresa May’s assertion that Britain should leave the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).’

Full story

The Independent, 25th April 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Judges to be filmed in English and Welsh crown courts – The Guardian

Posted April 26th, 2016 in courts, Crown Court, judiciary, news, pilot schemes, sentencing, video recordings, Wales by sally

‘Television cameras are to be allowed into crown courts in England and Wales for the first time under Ministry of Justice (MoJ) regulations that will be debated by parliament this week.’

Full story

The Guardian, 25th April 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Lower-than-expected court fee income contributes to Ministry of Justice funding black hole – Legal Futures

Posted April 20th, 2016 in budgets, courts, fees, Ministry of Justice, news by sally

‘Lower-than-expected court fees from high-value cases and increased demand in the criminal justice system are behind the Ministry of Justice’s (MoJ) request for £427m extra funding over and above its designated department spending limit for 2015-16, it has emerged.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 20th April 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

“Boring” hearings or judges who interrupt? Neuberger knows what he likes – Legal Futures

‘The written advocacy of continental European lawyers makes for “boring” court proceedings, according to the President of the Supreme Court.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 19th April 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

The Equality Act and Regulators – Which Forum? – Littleton Chambers

Posted April 14th, 2016 in appeals, courts, doctors, employment tribunals, equality, news, tribunals by sally

‘Dr Michalak’s name may be familiar to you. She was the doctor who brought a claim against her NHS employer (‘the Trust’) for sex and race discrimination, amongst other matters. Not only did the litigation reveal eye-watering events, it resulted in an eye-watering award of compensation (close to £4.5m) from the Leeds Employment Tribunal (‘ET’). The ET found that there had been a sustained campaign of unlawful conduct by various individuals against Dr Michalak culminating in a sham dismissal and causing post-traumatic stress disorder in Dr Michalak (Michalak v Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust and Others [2011] ET 1810815/2008).’

Full story

Littleton Chambers, 24th March 2016

Source: www.littletonchambers.com

European court to consider legality of UK surveillance laws – The Guardian

Posted April 12th, 2016 in bills, courts, EC law, intelligence services, investigatory powers, news by sally

‘The legality of Britain’s surveillance laws will come under the intense scrutiny of 15 European judges on Tuesday in a politically sensitive test case that could limit powers to gather online data.’

Full story

The Guardian, 11th April 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Susskind: online court is just the beginning – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The proposed online court is a “pragmatic first step” on the road to a fully integrated online and conventional court service, an influential body has predicted. Professor Richard Susskind (pictured), who leads a panel of experts on digital dispute resolution, said proposals by Lord Justice Briggs for an online court for small claims were to be welcomed.’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 9th April 2016

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Upholding fundamental rights or ensuring accurate verdicts? The ECtHR and the use of unchallengeable witness evidence – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted April 5th, 2016 in courts, evidence, human rights, news, telecommunications, witnesses by sally

‘The European Court of Human Rights (“ECtHR”) has held that the use of telephone recordings as evidence in a criminal trial, despite the inability of the accused to challenge the caller, did not violate his rights under Article 6, ECHR. This judgment follows a number of Grand Chamber judgments on similar issues that have altered the ECtHR’s stance on the subject of absent witness evidence.’

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 4th April 2016

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Controversial online court will need careful piloting – CJC – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted March 30th, 2016 in civil justice, courts, electronic filing, internet, judiciary, news, pilot schemes by sally

‘Influential advisory body the Civil Justice Council has urged a measured approach to the adoption of a new online court for civil cases.’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 30th March 2016

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Speech by the Lord Chief Justice: The Bailii Lecture 2016 – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted March 21st, 2016 in arbitration, banking, Commercial Court, courts, judges, rule of law, speeches by tracey

‘As is well known, the development of the law in England and Wales was effected not only through cases where the claims were brought in the courts, but through claims that were brought in arbitrations. In 1979 (by statute) and 1981 (by Lords Denning and Diplock through an interpretation of that statute), the relationship between the courts and arbitration was changed on the perceived basis that it was damaging the attractiveness of London as a centre for dispute resolution through arbitration.’

Full speech

Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 18th March 2016

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Speech by Lord Justice Fulford for NPCC: National Criminal Justice Performance Conference – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted March 17th, 2016 in case management, courts, criminal justice, judges, speeches by tracey

‘Speech by Lord Justice Fulford for NPCC: National Criminal Justice Performance Conference.’

Full speech

Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 16th March 2016

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Lawyers line up arguments against Online Court – Legal Futures

Posted March 15th, 2016 in barristers, courts, internet, Law Society, legal profession, news, reports, solicitors by sally

‘Responses to Lord Justice Briggs’ recommendation to create an Online Court (OC) have pitted sceptical solicitors and barristers against others who have given the scheme a more generous reception.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 15th March 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Supreme Court learns lessons of IT implementation as it heads towards going paperless – Litigation Futures

Posted March 8th, 2016 in courts, internet, judges, news, speeches, Supreme Court by sally

‘Lord Kerr, the Supreme Court justice, is leading an initiative to improve the use of technology at the court and cut down on paper, it has emerged.’

Full story

Litigation Futures, 7th March 2016

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Research suggests Family Drug and Alcohol Courts make major savings – Local Government Lawyer

Posted March 8th, 2016 in alcohol abuse, courts, drug abuse, family courts, news, reports by sally

‘Family Drug and Alcohol Courts (FDACs) save the state money, with the London FDAC alone generating estimated gross savings of £1.29m to public sector bodies over five years, research has suggested.’

Full story

Local Government Lawyer, 8th March 2016

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

The justice system of the future: online continuous hearings and a single point of entry – Legal Futures

Posted March 8th, 2016 in courts, internet, judges, news, speeches, tribunals by sally

‘The first trial of online dispute resolution (ODR) in the UK’s courts and tribunals will introduce a concept known as the “online continuous hearing”, it has emerged, with the Senior President of Tribunals urging a change in perception of litigation from an adversarial dispute to “a problem to be solved”.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 8th March 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk