I’ve seen abusers use family courts to control and torment victims – but change is coming – The Guardian

‘A pilot scheme is inviting journalists into England and Wales’s most private courtrooms. This can expose those who use litigation as a weapon.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 29th March 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Review pilot ‘will disproportionately affect black barristers’ – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted March 23rd, 2023 in barristers, diversity, equality, news, pilot schemes by tracey

‘Black barristers will be disproportionately affected by negative reviews posted on digital comparison platforms, the Bar Standards Board has been told. An event organised by the Black Barristers Network also highlighted the potential limits to what barristers can say publicly in response to negative feedback – a problem that equally applies to law firms and individual solicitors.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 22nd March 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Appeal notices and the electronic working pilot – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The important procedural question raised in Microsoft Ireland Operations Limited v JJH Enterprises Limited [2022] EWCA Civ 1509 was this: where an appellant’s notice (AN) is filed with the Court of Appeal electronically in accordance with the Electronic Working Pilot Scheme (introduced by PD51O), should the AN be filed by 4.30pm on the last day of the permitted period, or could it be filed at any time up to midnight on that day?’

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Law Society's Gazette, 3rd March 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Domestic abusers to be more closely monitored and electronically tagged – BBC News

‘The most dangerous domestic abusers will be monitored more closely and electronically tagged as part of a new crackdown, the government has said.’

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BBC News, 20th February 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Pilot scheme begins aimed at opening up proceedings in family courts – The Independent

Posted January 31st, 2023 in family courts, media, news, pilot schemes, reporting restrictions by tracey

‘A pilot scheme has started which aims to throw a light on the workings of the family court system.’

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The Independent, 30th January 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Media get the go-ahead to report family proceedings – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Journalists will be able to report on family court proceedings for the first time as part of a new pilot in a “big cultural change” to the Family Division. The hope is that the Transparency Reporting Pilot, to be conducted at three courts, will improve transparency and accountability.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 19th January 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Family Justice: Ostiis Apertis? – Transparency Project

Posted January 12th, 2023 in anonymity, family courts, financial provision, media, news, pilot schemes, privacy by sally

‘On 28 October 2021 the President published the outcome of his Transparency Review: Confidence and Confidentiality: Transparency in the Family Courts.’

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Transparency Project, 12th January 2023

Source: transparencyproject.org.uk

Children face multiple safeguarding risks at out-of-school settings in England – The Guardian

‘A government report has identified multiple safeguarding risks at “out-of-school settings” (OOSS), which include sports clubs, tuition centres and uniformed youth groups attended by millions of children across England every week, prompting calls for better oversight of the sector.’

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The Guardian, 9th January 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Pilot scheme to allow family court reporting for first time – Local Government Lawyer

‘Journalists will be able to report what happens in family courts from the end of January, under a pilot scheme taking place in Leeds, Cardiff and Carlisle.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 5th December 2022

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Pilot early advice for child arrangements ‘without delay’ – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Early legal advice on child arrangements should be piloted as part of ambitious reforms that will help to resolve more disputes away from court, an influential thinktank has recommended.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 13th October 2022

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

BSB to test if review and comparison websites work for barristers – Legal Futures

Posted September 23rd, 2022 in barristers, codes of practice, consumer protection, internet, news, pilot schemes by sally

‘Four lawyer review and comparison websites have agreed to join a Bar Standards Board (BSB) pilot on whether they can work for barristers and their consumers.’

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Legal Futures, 23rd September 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Will Trial Rape Courts Address Low Conviction Rates? – Each Other

Posted August 16th, 2022 in courts, domestic violence, news, pilot schemes, prosecutions, rape, victims by sally

‘A year after the Government’s Rape Review, a pilot scheme was announced that would establish three specialist rape courts in England. But with concerns from the sector about access to justice, survivors’ welfare and funding: Will specialist rape courts address low conviction rates and support survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence?’

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Each Other, 12th August 2022

Source: eachother.org.uk

Some reflections on the new world order – Practical Law: Construction Blog

Posted August 4th, 2022 in disclosure, news, pilot schemes, practice directions, witnesses by tracey

‘In the Business and Property Courts (B&PCs), Practice Direction (PD) 57AC has applied to all trial witness statements signed since 6 April 2021. The commencement date of the Disclosure Pilot Scheme (under PD 51U), was 1 January 2019. However, it has been approved and will become permanent from 1 October 2022 (under PD 57AD).

I want to share a few reflections, based on recent experience, around how the rules in these two Practice Directions can interact at trial.’

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Practical Law: Construction Blog, 3rd August 2022

Source: constructionblog.practicallaw.com

UK rape victim left feeling ‘suicidal’ after five-year wait for case to come to trial – The Guardian

‘A rape victim who will have been waiting five years by the time her case comes to court has said navigating the justice process has had a worse impact on her mental health than the crime itself, leaving her feeling “suicidal”.’

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The Guardian, 24th July 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

New Problem-Solving Courts to combat drug and alcohol-fuelled crime – Ministry of Justice

‘Ground-breaking new courts will direct drug and alcohol abusers to tackle their addiction head-on or face tough consequences.’

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Ministry of Justice, 17th July 2022

Source: www.gov.uk

New pilots to boost support for rape victims in court – Ministry of Justice

‘Rape victims will receive enhanced support at 3 Crown Courts under a new pilot scheme launched by the government today (16 June 2022) as part of efforts to drive up prosecutions and convictions.’

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Ministry of Justice, 16th June 2022

Source: www.gov.uk

Rape courts pilot in England dismissed as ‘gimmick’ amid low conviction rates – The Guardian

‘The announcement of three specialist courtrooms to prosecute rape cases has been dismissed as a “gimmick” that does not address the chronic underfunding of the justice system that led to a fall in convictions.’

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The Guardian, 16th June 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Paper-only small claims pilot “likely to do injustice” to litigants – Legal Futures

Posted May 24th, 2022 in county courts, litigants in person, news, pilot schemes, small claims by sally

‘A pilot scheme that will see small claims cases determined on the paper in six county courts from next month is “likely to do injustice” to litigants, an academic has argued.’

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Legal Futures, 24th May 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

MoJ denies new pilot scheme removes right to a trial – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted May 16th, 2022 in county courts, Ministry of Justice, news, pilot schemes, small claims, trials by tracey

‘The Ministry of Justice has denied it is removing litigants’ right to a trial – despite testing a new scheme where judges can resolve cases before a hearing without the consent of both parties.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 13th May 2022

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Pilot scheme paves way for victims’ right to attend Parole Board hearings – The Independent

Posted May 5th, 2022 in news, parole, pilot schemes, private hearings, victims by sally

‘Victims could attend full Parole Board hearings for criminals hoping to be freed from jail for the first time as early as next month.’

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The Independent, 4th May 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk