England

A review by England's Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) shows that some law firms need to do more to guard against the risk of strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) and other types of abusive litigation. Since the invasion of Ukraine, there has been significant public concern

Prosecution barristers in England and Wales are to receive a 15 per cent pay rise after a deal was made with the Treasury. The director of public prosecutions announced that the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) had “secured additional funding” from ministers.

An English judge who alleged that she had been bullied and in one case physically assaulted by her colleagues is to receive a £50,000 payout as part of a settlement agreed with the Ministry of Justice. Judge Kalyani Kaul KC, a Crown Court judge, launched legal proceedings in 2019 against the M

Children who were conceived through rape will be recognised as victims of crime in landmark new legislation in England and Wales. The UK government yesterday announced it will amend its upcoming Victims Bill to clarify that these children are entitled to support from criminal justice agencies such a

A grey-haired banker who complained about being nicknamed “Christine Lagarde” has failed in a £4.6 million discrimination claim after a judge ruled that jokes about grey hair were “part of the irritation of day-to-day office life”. Elisabeth Maugars joined the London of

The law in England and Wales must be toughened up to make intentionally deceiving a person into engaging in sexual activity a crime, according to a new report published today. The latest Criminal Law Reform Now Network (CLRN Network) report calls for a change to the law, which would make deceiving a

Magistrates in England and Wales have accused the police of undermining open justice by dealing with violent offenders behind closed doors. In a report, the Magistrates’ Association warned against the “inconsistent” use of out-of-court punishments, many of which are tougher than th

Police in England and Wales are no longer interested in catching scammers and con artists, a top fraud lawyer has claimed. Clare Montgomery KC, of Matrix Chambers, said she did not believe police “have any interest in prosecuting fraud anywhere”.

The poor state of courthouse buildings in England and Wales is contributing to the courts backlog with cases delayed due to leaking roofs and broken heating systems, according to new research. Around two-thirds (64 per cent) of solicitors surveyed by the Law Society of England and Wales had experien

Aria Grace Law has become the first corporate law firm in the UK to become a community interest company (CIC) to lock in its commitment to donating all profits to charity. The firm, which is attracting an increasing number of big-name lawyers, is underpinned by a commitment to share the wealth betwe

The first public parole hearing in UK history is set to go ahead today following reforms to increase transparency and improve victims’ experience of the parole system. Convicted murderer Russell Causley, who killed his wife Carole Packman in 1985, will become the first prisoner to have a publi

English prosecutors have dropped a case against a 25-year-old woman accused of illegally procuring an abortion. The woman was reported to police after she underwent an emergency caesarean section 31 weeks into her pregnancy and was found to have evidence of abortion pills in her system.

Retired judges have been recruited to address the soaring court backlog in England and Wales. The Lord Chief Justice, Lord Burnett of Maldon, has authorised the recruitment of 65 retired judges to deal with cases. The judges, half of whom are in their 70s, will aid in the effort to reduce the backlo

American law firms in London demand 12-hour work days from junior solicitors, a survey has shown.

It will take over 125 years for black people to be properly represented in the judiciary, the Law Society of England and Wales has said. Research by the society found that it would take until the year 2149 for the representation of black people to match their presence in the general population.