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Solicitors in London are refusing to take on cases for defendants accused of assaulting emergency workers and harassment in a legal aid row with the UK government. Defence lawyers in the capital have already refused burglary cases on the basis legal aid fees are inadequate.

The landmark Supreme Court judgment in the Zalewski case led to delays in almost 400 cases before the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) last year, according to a new report. The WRC's annual report for 2021 notes that nearly 400 hearings were postponed and/or adjourned and held aside in the perio

The Irish Prison Service (IPS) will be placed on a full statutory footing with a non-executive board and other structures aligning with best practice under new government plans. The IPS is currently a non-statutory agency of the Department of Justice. It has approximately 3,500 staff and an annual b

Irish competition authorities will gain greater powers to fine companies for engaging in cartels, bid-rigging or abusive market practices under legislation welcomed as the beginning of a "new era in competition law enforcement". The Competition (Amendment) Act 2022, which has now been signed into la

The former Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland, Sir Declan Morgan, has been presented with an honorary degree by Queen's University Belfast. Sir Declan was honoured at a special celebration event at the university alongside graduates from arts, humanities and social sciences.

Ennis-based Michael Houlihan & Partners (MHP) and Limerick-based Sellors LLP have completed a merger forming the largest law firm in Co Clare and the largest dual-county legal team in the Mid-West region. The new firm, known as MHP Sellors, will be led by managing partner Stephen Keogh, who prev

The Adoption Authority for Ireland has invited adopted people and parents to register their preferences in relation to contact following the commencement of new legislation. The first provisions of the Birth Information and Tracing Act 2022 were commenced today after it was signed into law by the pr

McCann FitzGerald LLP has welcomed 11 new senior associates.

Law firms which support neurodiverse individuals and embrace their unique talents have access to a valuable source of highly skilled talent, an event organised by the disAbility Legal Network has heard. The "Neurodiversity in the Legal Sector" event, hosted by Matheson, focused on the strengths neur

Peter Dennehy BL has been appointed to the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland for a four-year term. Mr Dennehy graduated from Trinity College Dublin in 1986 with a BA, BAI in Engineering and worked in the telecommunications industry in Ireland and the UK. He went on to work on Internat

Philip Lee LLP has announced the appointment of Finola Igoe as a senior associate in the firm's projects and construction group. Ms Igoe has more than 12 years' experience as a solicitor and advises in both contentious and non-contentious construction matters.

Judge Patricia Smyth has been appointed as presiding County Court judge and Recorder of Belfast. The five-year appointment by the Lady Chief Justice of Northern Ireland, Dame Siobhan Keegan, will take effect from Monday.

Barristers are owed an average of €27,000 by solicitors and may require legislative change allowing them to sue for unpaid fees, a landmark report has said. Published this morning, the independent report and strategic review completed by EY has been welcomed by Bar Council chairperson Maura McN

A round-up of human rights stories from around the world. Beijing’s human rights policies drive unfavourable views of China, Pew survey finds | South China Morning Post

A former mayor of Turkey's capital Ankara who was taken in by a hoax tweet announcing the discovery of "jelly bean reserves" in the country has been roundly mocked. Melih Gökçek, who served as mayor for over two decades before standing down in 2017, was tricked by the tweet posted by a l