Coronavirus

Police powers used to fine hundreds of people at Black Lives Matter protests in Northern Ireland over the weekend came into force just hours before the protests began, it has emerged. Amnesty International and the Belfast-based Committee on the Administration of Justice (CAJ) have voiced concerns ov

A crowdfunded legal challenge is being brought against ministers after they refused to order an investigation into the shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) for NHS staff during the coronavirus pandemic. The applicants, including the Good Law Project, led by Jolyon Maugham QC, are seeking

Matheson has announced a new partnership with online platform provider InsiderSherpa to deliver its virtual summer internship programme. The firm is one of a number of Irish law firms that have developed a virtual programme for summer interns in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions.

Lawyers and human rights activists have criticised the PSNI for fining protesters at Black Lives Matter rallies in Belfast and Derry. Five protests were scheduled to go ahead across Northern Ireland this weekend, but only the Belfast and Derry gatherings went ahead.

Nearly 450 trainee solicitors are undertaking the Law Society of Ireland's inaugural online Professional Practice Course II (PPC II). The Law Society has worked to move its entire educational offering online in response to the COVID-19 crisis through pre-recorded eLectures, workshops and skills sess

Britain's human rights watchdog has launched a statutory inquiry into the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on people from ethnic minorities in England, Scotland and Wales. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) said its inquiry will help to develop "clear, evidence-based recommendations for ur

A number of eminent figures are set to speak at a conference on the current crisis and the global economy.

Far-right activists John Waters and Gemma O'Doherty have been ordered to pay costs for their failed legal challenge to the emergency coronavirus laws. High Court judge Mr Justice Charles Meenan last month ruled that the pair had "made no arguable case against the notice parties".

Law firms in Northern Ireland may be opening to visitors prematurely due to a lack of official guidance from the Northern Ireland Executive, a solicitor has warned. Philip Armstrong, managing director of Armstrong Solicitors, said he was "surprised to see public announcements of law firms reopening

Data protection experts have published a "principled framework" for the development of a contact tracing app to help stop the spread of COVID-19 in Ireland. The document, produced by the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) alongside Digital Rights Ireland and independent academics and experts,

Gardaí have launched an investigation into whether a Black Lives Matter protest attended by thousands of people in Dublin broke public health restrictions introduced to tackle COVID-19. Under section 5 of the Health Act 1947 (Section 31A -Temporary Restrictions) (Covid-19) Regulations 2020, i

Irish companies have been given until the end of October to file annual returns which would otherwise have been due by the end of June. The Registrar of Companies had previously announced in March that all annual returns due to be filed by any company between 18 March and 30 June 2020 would be deeme

Barrister Mark O'Connell reminds employers of their health and safety responsibilities to employees working from home. Without doubt – and even when the current disruption caused by COVID-19 abates – a much greater proportion of employees will be fulfilling more of their duties from home

The reopening of physical workplaces following the COVID-19 pandemic will raise complex data protection issues, DLA Piper Ireland has warned. As Ireland progresses over the coming months through the five phases of reopening the economy, data protection issues will arise in relation to issues includi

The number of applications to the legal aid agency's COVID-19 interim payment scheme has fallen sharply in its second full week of operation. The Legal Services Agency (LSA) received 444 requests in the week ending 22 May 2020, a 45 per cent decline from 818 in the previous week.