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Civil legal aid regret The House of Lords heard Lord Pannick’s motion to regret the Civil Legal Aid (Remuneration) (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations on 7 May. Introducing the debate, Lord Pannick said that the regulations were just “one example of many where the changes which this Lord Chancellor is imposing are far more damaging than any disease which they purport to treat”. The debate drew cross-party support and 13 peers spoke in favour of the motion, highlighting defects both in the regulations – which came into effect in April and limit the availability of legal aid for proceedings in judicial review – and in the principle of having a non-lawyer as Lord Chancellor.
Bar Council Officers 2015 The Bar Council has announced the election of its Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Treasurer for 2015. Chairman-elect is Alistair MacDonald QC, Vice-Chairman elect is Chantal-Aimée Doerries QC and Treasurer-elect is Lorinda J Long. The new Officers take up their new posts in January 2015. Until then, Alistair MacDonald QC will continue to serve as Vice Chairman of the Bar.
Magna Carta conference Temple Church is holding an international conference on Magna Carta, Religion and the Rule of Law on Saturday 7 June.
Civil legal aid regret The House of Lords heard Lord Pannick’s motion to regret the Civil Legal Aid (Remuneration) (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations on 7 May. Introducing the debate, Lord Pannick said that the regulations were just “one example of many where the changes which this Lord Chancellor is imposing are far more damaging than any disease which they purport to treat”. The debate drew cross-party support and 13 peers spoke in favour of the motion, highlighting defects both in the regulations – which came into effect in April and limit the availability of legal aid for proceedings in judicial review – and in the principle of having a non-lawyer as Lord Chancellor.
Bar Council Officers 2015 The Bar Council has announced the election of its Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Treasurer for 2015. Chairman-elect is Alistair MacDonald QC, Vice-Chairman elect is Chantal-Aimée Doerries QC and Treasurer-elect is Lorinda J Long. The new Officers take up their new posts in January 2015. Until then, Alistair MacDonald QC will continue to serve as Vice Chairman of the Bar.
Magna Carta conference Temple Church is holding an international conference on Magna Carta, Religion and the Rule of Law on Saturday 7 June.
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