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A politician has received a surprise birthday cake while in the dock. Julius Malema, leader of South Africa's Economic Freedom Fighters party, was in court in the city of East London charged with firing an automatic rifle in 2018.

The Bar of Northern Ireland celebrated the achievements of female QCs with a photographic exhibition and lecture as part of the Legal History Project lecture series marking the centenary of the bar and judiciary yesterday. The event marked one hundred years since the first women entered the professi

The Law Society of Northern Ireland has unreservedly condemned the invasion of Ukraine by Russia and calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities and the withdrawal of Russian forces from the territory of Ukraine. In a statement issued yesterday, the society’s president, Brigid Napier, said

A barrister is raising money for Ukraine as she makes a return to the country after having spent 25 years in Northern Ireland.

The High Court has granted an interlocutory injunction restraining a fund from selling a mortgagor’s lands while he was still in possession. The sale was advertised three weeks prior to an online auction and where the plaintiff complained that it was never previously suggested that the lands w

France’s Court of Cassation has upheld a ban on advocates wearing religious symbols with their robes in courtrooms. In June 2019, the Lille Bar Council told its members they would not be permitted to wear “decorations or signs” displaying “religious, philosophical, community

A round-up of human rights stories from around the world. Bachelet leads calls for ceasefire in Ukraine during urgent debate at UN rights council

Human rights campaigners have called for the release of lawyer Mohammad Najafi, who has been imprisoned in Iran since 2018 on multiple convictions for his defence of basic civil and political liberties. Lawyers for Lawyers, an independent and non-political Netherlands-based foundation and the Center

A newly promoted judge has paid tribute to the local profession before she takes up her new role. Judge Catherine Staines presided over her final sitting of Tullamore District Court on Monday, the Offaly Express reports.

Retired Kilkenny solicitor, Paul Smithwick OBE, has passed away, Kilkenny People reports. Mr Smithwick, who was from a prominent brewing family, was awarded an Order of the British Empire in 2016 for his service to British-Irish relations.

The Russian team that was meant to compete in the third Dublin Pre-Vis Moot next week has been removed from the competition. Chair of the council of The Bar of Ireland, Maura McNally SC, said: “We have to take a principled stand in light of the bloody invasion occurring in Ukraine; any opportu

A man has gone on trial accused of trying to get a woman to get into his car while pretending to be a garda. Declan McGowan, 33, of Branswood, Athy, Co Kildare has pleaded not guilty to attempted coercion of a woman, assault of the woman and impersonating a member of An Garda Síochána.

The Law Reform Commission has published a plain English summary of its Consultation Paper on Compensating Victims of Crime.  The purpose of the plain English Summary is to enhance public accessibility to the content of the consultation paper and to encourage responses from as wide an audience a

UNESCO's director-general has called for Ukraine's cultural heritage to be protected in the wake of Russia's invasion of the country. Audrey Azoulay said the cultural heritage of Ukraine "includes its seven world heritage sites – notably located in Lviv and Kyiv; the cities of Odessa and Khark

People who antagonise alligators will face tougher penalties under a new law. The South Carolina House of Representatives has passed a bill to raise penalties for those who also try to feed the animals.