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A round-up of human rights stories from around the world. Chinese authorities still persecute dissidents’ families years after their release | Voice of America

More than a third of British lawyers responding to an online survey say they have inflated their timesheets to make more money. RollOnFriday, a legal blog with a wide readership in London, said 35.5 per cent of nearly 900 respondents to its anonymous survey admitted billing clients for time they did

Emer Walsh has been promoted to chief legal officer at Gas Networks Ireland. Ms Walsh will be responsible for the leadership and direction of all legal, corporate governance and data protection activities across Gas Networks Ireland, playing a key role in delivering on the organisation’s strat

A law student at the University of Galway has secured a prestigious internship with a US federal appeals court. Grace O'Brien, a final-year student on the BCL Criminology and Criminal Justice degree programme, obtained the internship through a summer exchange programme with Suffolk University Law Sc

Three new independent members have been appointed to the Northern Ireland Policing Board (NIPB) for the next four years. Marian Cree, Patrick Nelson and Thomas O'Reilly were appointed by justice minister Naomi Long following a public appointment competition.

The Irish government has welcomed the EU's approval of major reforms to European migration and asylum policy, despite fierce criticism from human rights campaigners. In a series of votes passed by varying margins, the European Parliament yesterday adopted 10 legislative texts which collectively impl

Maynooth University School of Law and Criminology is believed to have become the first academic department in a European university to adopt a restorative practices policy. Dr Ian Marder, whose research focuses on the development of restorative justice and restorative practices in criminal justice,

The introduction of a new conveyancer profession "would only be viable as part of a wide range of other more significant and pressing reforms", the Legal Services Regulatory Authority (LSRA) has concluded in a new report. The watchdog was required to publish a report on the pros and cons of establis

Italy's advertising regulator has banned a TV ad showing nuns receiving crisps instead of wafers at communion.

Plans to introduce a standalone criminal offence of assaulting a retail worker in England and Wales should be extended to Northern Ireland, an industry lobby group has said. The UK government yesterday announced a retail crime crackdown, with assaulting a retail worker to be punishable with up to si

The Lady Chief Justice of Northern Ireland, Dame Siobhan Keegan, and Madam Justice Denise McBride shared their journey to the senior judiciary as the keynote speakers at a Belfast event for women lawyers and law students. Hosted by QUB Women in Law, the annual networking event, now in its third year

Tusla yesterday welcomed a wide range of stakeholders to its second Child Care Law Conference, which put on a spotlight on inter-agency cooperation and looked ahead to proposed reforms to child care law. Speakers at the conference in Mansion House covered topics including the general scheme of the C

Northern Ireland prosecutors will announce next week if they are bringing perjury charges against former British soldiers who gave evidence to inquiries into Bloody Sunday. The Public Prosecution Service (PPS) has told lawyers acting for victims and survivors of the 1972 massacre that its decision w

Amnesty International is urging shareholders in Dow to consider withdrawing their investment from the US chemicals company if it fails to rapidly meet its human rights responsibilities towards more than 500,000 people still suffering from the Bhopal disaster, one of the world’s worst industria

Crumlin firm Keenan & Co Solicitors has appointed Luke Staines and Donagh Bradley as partners. Criminal defence lawyer Mr Staines joins from Michael J Staines & Company, where has has worked as a solicitor for the past six years.