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News, analysis, comment and updates from ICLR's case law and UK legislation platform
How does a prime time TV series about the law satisfy both the public curiosity about the legal profession and its practices, and the respect of practitioners themselves who would like to see a mirror held up to their nature? And just how true-to-life can the characters get when one of them steps out of… Continue reading
The Legal Services Consumer Panel (LSCP) recently proposed an investigation into the so-called “professional” McKenzie Friend market amid concerns that consumers (litigants in person) are being exploited and abused. Perhaps surprisingly, given how obsessively the legal professions are currently regulated, these self-appointed in-court helpers are not subject to any code of practice, let alone formal… Continue reading
The substantial enhancements delivered by the new design will render our online version more comprehensive, precise and convenient than ever. A clean, clear view of updated and readily available content One single search form that combines the Case Search and Citator+ Expanded search tools provide more comprehensive searching Consolidated results make navigation to reports,… Continue reading
More musings from the bench with the most honourable and learned HHJ Pennyweather Now here’s something I never thought I’d hear myself say: it’s high time that barristers started being a little more confident. Now, I’m not talking about their current woes with the government. Nor am I talking about established members of the… Continue reading
The long running saga concerning attempts by legal regulators to impose a quality assurance scheme on criminal advocates in the face of widespread and determined opposition from barristers and solicitors added another chapter today when the High Court rejected a challenge to the scheme by way of judicial review. In a judgment handed down yesterday,… Continue reading
The following is a press release from the Registrar of the European Court of Human Rights, reproduced in full to save readers the trouble of downloading a PDF from the Hudoc site. Rule 47 of the Rules of Court, which introduces stricter conditions for applying to the Court, came into force on 1 January 2014.… Continue reading
“The law belongs to the people. Access to the legal system is a basic right and a public good.” So declared the Chief Justice of Canada, the Rt Hon Beverley McLachlin PC, in response to fellow Canadian, Szilvia Booker, a barrister practising in England, who had asked the Chief Justice whether the principle of open… Continue reading
How the family courts were induced to deliver open justice by caesarean section There is a story here which is a sad one, about a woman and her baby, and how they were separated, and why. It is a story that has been subject to a good deal of comment, even outrage, not all of… Continue reading
Two recent official statements highlight the need for care to be taken by members of the public who come into contact with the justice system in their use of the internet and social media. And a recent announcement from the CPS reminds users of Twitter of the risk of prosecution for abusive or threatening tweets.… Continue reading
The English Legal system, 14th ed (2013-2014), by Gary Slapper and David Kelly (Routledge, £32.99). As the authors point out in their introduction, the English legal system has evolved over a period of more than a thousand years, and continues to evolve daily. It needs a textbook of sufficient heft and vigour to keep up with… Continue reading
