Northern Ireland

Up to four new High Court judges are being sought in Northern Ireland at a time when low pay, pension cuts and the increasingly demanding and unsociable nature of the job are driving a judicial recruitment crisis. The Northern Ireland Judicial Appointments Commission (NIJAC) is currently advertising

Belfast solicitor Maria McCloskey has been selected to chair the Law Society of Northern Ireland's new human rights and equality group. Ms McCloskey, an experienced immigration solicitor with the Children's Law Centre and a prominent campaigner for the protection of refugees, will help the group to

The Belfast head of global law firm Herbert Smith Freehills has been appointed to a new advisory group established to help rebuild the Northern Ireland economy after COVID-19. Lisa McLaughlin, who was recently promoted to the firm's global partnership, is one of 11 members of the new economic adviso

Employment lawyers have welcomed the launch of a consultation on parental bereavement leave and pay in Northern Ireland. The consultation, to run until 10 August, follows the recent introduction of parental bereavement leave and pay legislation in Great Britain.

Solicitor Brenda King has been named as the interim Attorney General for Northern Ireland following the end of John Larkin QC's second term. Mr Larkin will step down at the end of this month, 10 years after he became the first Attorney General for Northern Ireland since its functions were taken over

A woman in Northern Ireland is today challenging the legal definition of "terminal illness" after being refused access to special rules designed to fast-track the award of benefits without the need for assessment. The High Court will today hear an application for judicial review from Lorraine Cox, w

The introduction of police powers used to fine dozens of Black Lives Matter protesters just hours before the protests began was "purely coincidental", ministers have said. Amnesty International and the Belfast-based Committee on the Administration of Justice (CAJ) raised concerns earlier this month

A proposed automatic bar on alleged domestic abusers cross-examining complainants should be extended from the criminal courts to include the family courts, the Bar Council of Northern Ireland has said. In a written submission to the call for written evidence on the Domestic Abuse and Family Proceedi

Northern Ireland's Attorney General John Larkin QC will step down at the end of the month after 10 years in the post. Mr Larkin was first appointed for a four-year term in 2010 before being reappointed for a further two years in 2014. His second term was extended in late 2015 until May 2019, then ag

Cathy Colton, partner at Carson McDowell, considers the legal pitfalls for businesses considering changes to licensed premises following the easing of COVID-19 restrictions. Businesses across the hospitality and leisure industry here are understandably keen to plan ahead for reopening following the

The interim advocate for victims of historical institutional abuse in Northern Ireland has come under renewed pressure from victims and survivors to step down after assisting in a Catholic church service. Brendan McAllister, who faced calls to quit last month following a data breach in his office, r

Solicitors have welcomed the re-opening of the Northern Ireland housing market from today. Emergency coronavirus laws have been amended by the Northern Ireland Executive to allow activities relating to house moves to take place from today.

The PSNI has "questions to answer" after taking a light-touch approach to far-right protests in Belfast a week after fining dozens of Black Lives Matter protesters, a solicitor has said. Hundreds of people attended a Belfast rally to "protect our statues" on Saturday, one of a handful of events orga

The measures in place to support prison officers in Northern Ireland who are experiencing work-related stress are set to be reviewed. Justice Minister Naomi Long said she would commission a "focused review" of the support mechanisms and procedures put in place by the Northern Ireland Prison Service

The Lord Chief Justice, Sir Declan Morgan, has warned against the "misuse" of remote courts technology following its use during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sir Declan questioned the suitability of remote hearings in some areas of the law in recorded remarks for members of the Commonwealth Lawyers' Associ