Burnett calls for action on social diversity at top of profession – Legal Futures

‘Addressing the “lack of social diversity at the top of the legal profession” is an important part of improving judicial diversity, the Lord Chief Justice declared yesterday.’

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Legal Futures, 19th February 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

The legal profession is rife with prejudice – I’ve seen it firsthand – The Guardian

‘An overhaul tackling sexism, racism and class discrimination would address the profession’s failure to reflect the society it represents.’

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The Guardian, 18th February 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

“Less talk, more action” needed to tackle female barrister crisis – Legal Futures

Posted February 13th, 2019 in barristers, diversity, equality, gender, judiciary, news, women by sally

‘There needs to be less talk and more action to tackle the “crisis” of female criminal law barristers leaving the profession, the head of the Criminal Bar Association has argued.’

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Legal Futures, 12th February 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Judiciary welcomes first female chartered legal executive – Litigation Futures

Posted February 4th, 2019 in judiciary, legal executives, news, women by sally

‘Elizabeth Johnson, an associate in the Exeter office of Ashfords, has become the first female chartered legal executive appointed to the judiciary.’

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Litigation Futures, 1st February 2019

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Family courts next to test video hearings – Legal Futures

Posted January 28th, 2019 in consultations, family courts, judiciary, live link evidence, news, pilot schemes by sally

‘A test in the family courts will be the next step in exploring fully video hearings, against a backdrop of widespread concern about the technology among judges, it has emerged.’

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Legal Futures, 28th January 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Speech by Sir Geoffrey Vos: Judicial diversity and LawTech – Do we need to change the way we litigate business and property disputes? – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted January 21st, 2019 in diversity, electronic filing, judiciary, press releases by sally

‘Speech by Sir Geoffrey Vos: Judicial diversity and LawTech – Do we need to change the way we litigate business and property disputes?.’

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Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 21st January 2019

Source: www.judiciary.gov

Speech by Lord Justice Gross: London Common Law & Commercial Bar Association Annual Lecture – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted January 17th, 2019 in civil justice, Commercial Court, judiciary, legal profession, speeches by sally

‘Speech by Lord Justice Gross: London Common Law & Commercial Bar Association Annual Lecture.’

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Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 16th January 2019

Source: www.judiciary.uk

Trio of justice bills become law – Ministry of Justice

Posted December 20th, 2018 in bills, compensation, courts, judiciary, personal injuries, press releases, prisons by sally

‘Justice Secretary David Gauke today spoke of his pride in a department “delivering real change”, after 3 important justice bills all became law on the same day (20 December 2018).’

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Ministry of Justice, 20th December 2018

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

Judges reject MoJ plans for trials by video link and warn against cuts – The Guardian

‘Judges have rejected radical Ministry of Justice plans to hold full trials via remote video hearings and warned that imposing deep cuts on staff numbers will render the courts system “unworkable”.

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The Guardian, 20th December 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Speech by Senior President of Tribunals: The Modernisation of Justice – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

‘Speech by Senior President of Tribunals: The Modernisation of Justice.’

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Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 14th December 2018

Source: www.judiciary.gov

Judgment handed down in the case of O’Brien v Ministry of Justice – Cloisters

‘The case concerns discrimination against part-time judges in the calculation of pensions. The issue is whether periods of service as a part-time judge prior the coming into effect of Part Time Workers Directive (97/81/EC) should be taken into account in calculating the amount of pension to be paid upon retirement.’

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Cloisters, 7th November 2018

Source: www.cloisters.com

Police, military and courts lagging decades behind on ethnic diversity – The Guardian

Posted December 6th, 2018 in armed forces, diversity, judiciary, minorities, news, police by sally

‘Some of the groups wielding the most power in British society, such as the police, the judiciary and the military, are decades away from becoming as ethnically diverse as the population they serve, Guardian analysis has found.’

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The Guardian, 5th December 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Court service call centres “improving justice”, says minister – Litigation Futures

Posted December 6th, 2018 in bills, civil justice, courts, criminal justice, judiciary, news by sally

‘Justice minister Lucy Frazer has defended the role of call centres in the justice system during the committee stage of the Courts and Tribunals (Judiciary and Functions of Staff) Bill.’

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Litigation Futures, 6th December 2018

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Online pleas and AI for judges: minister reveals UK law reform plans – The Guardian

Posted December 4th, 2018 in artificial intelligence, electronic filing, electronic mail, judiciary, news by sally

‘Court cases conducted by email, more pleas made online and judges helped by artificial intelligence are likely to feature in the next stage of digital law reform, the justice minister Lucy Frazer has revealed.’

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The Guardian, 3rd December 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Safeguards governing investigatory powers come into effect – Home Office

‘Government commences final provision in the Investigatory Powers Act 2016 subject to the double-lock safeguard requiring judicial approval.’

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Home Office, 28th November 2018

Source: www.gov.uk/home-office

Courts Bill: judges will decide what powers they farm out, says Gauke – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted November 29th, 2018 in bills, courts, judiciary, legal services, news, standards by sally

‘The independence of the judiciary will be retained despite some of their functions being delegated to court staff without legal qualifications, the government has promised MPs.
Speaking yesterday during the second reading of the Courts and Tribunals (Judiciary and Functions of Staff) Bill, justice secretary David Gauke said measures will provide the flexibility and responsiveness needed within the court system.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 28th November 2018

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Lady Hale gives the Michael Ryle Lecture at the House of Lords, London – Supreme Court

‘Should the Law Lords have left the House of Lords?’

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Supreme Court, 14th November 2018

Source: www.supremecourt.uk

Lord Sumption at the Young Bar Conference 2018, London – Supreme Court

Posted November 26th, 2018 in advocacy, barristers, judiciary, legal aid, speeches by sally

‘Lord Sumption at the Annual Bar and Young Bar Conference 2018, London.’

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Supreme Court, 24th November 2018

Source: www.supremecourt.uk

Sumption: Bar of future will be smaller and more specialist – Legal Futures

Posted November 26th, 2018 in advocacy, barristers, judiciary, legal aid, news by sally

‘There will be fewer and more specialist barristers in the future, Lord Sumption has predicted, as he criticised some of the Bar’s actions in response to legal aid cuts.’

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Legal Futures, 26th November 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

‘Dilapidated’ courts need millions for repairs, says top judge – The Guardian

‘Courts in England and Wales are suffering from decades of neglect and need an injection of hundreds of millions of pounds for repairs, the lord chief justice has told MPs.’

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The Guardian, 20th November 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com