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Richard Heaton has been appointed Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Justice. Currently Permanent Secretary at the Cabinet Office and First Parliamentary Counsel, he will replace Ursula Brennan who retires in the summer. Called to the Bar by Inner Temple in 1988, he joined the Home Office three years later and has held a number of legal roles within government, including at the Lord Chancellor’s Department. He was appointed Head of Legal Services in the Department of Constitutional Affairs before moving to the Department for Work and Pensions and then the Department of Health.
Richard Heaton has been appointed Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Justice. Currently Permanent Secretary at the Cabinet Office and First Parliamentary Counsel, he will replace Ursula Brennan who retires in the summer. Called to the Bar by Inner Temple in 1988, he joined the Home Office three years later and has held a number of legal roles within government, including at the Lord Chancellor’s Department. He was appointed Head of Legal Services in the Department of Constitutional Affairs before moving to the Department for Work and Pensions and then the Department of Health.
Chair of the Bar finds common ground on legal services between our two jurisdictions, plus an update on jury trials
A £500 donation from AlphaBiolabs has been made to the leading UK charity tackling international parental child abduction and the movement of children across international borders
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs, outlines the drug and alcohol testing options available for family law professionals, and how a new, free guide can help identify the most appropriate testing method for each specific case
By Louise Crush of Westgate Wealth Management
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs, examines the latest ONS data on drug misuse and its implications for toxicology testing in family law cases
An interview with Rob Wagg, CEO of New Park Court Chambers
With at least 31 reports of AI hallucinations in UK legal cases – over 800 worldwide – and judges using AI to assist in judicial decision-making, the risks and benefits are impossible to ignore. Matthew Lee examines how different jurisdictions are responding
What has changed, and why? Paul Secher unpacks the new standards aligning the recruiting, training and appraising of judges – the first major change to the system for ten years
The deprivation of liberty is the most significant power the state can exercise. Drawing on frontline experience, Chris Henley KC explains why replacing trial by jury with judge-only trials risks undermining justice
Ever wondered what a pupillage is like at the CPS? This Q and A provides an insight into the training, experience and next steps
The appointments of 96 new King’s Counsel (also known as silk) are announced today
