Lawyers' Safety And Wellbeing

The observation post at Omagh Courthouse has been removed but there are no plans to do away with its controversial wire meshing and grills, Justice Minister Naomi Long has said. There have been various calls in recent years for the courthouse to be "normalised" by removing Troubles-era security meas

A High Court action by a German human rights lawyer against Google over what he claims are several attempts by parties based in the Middle East to hack his private email account has been adjourned generally. Mark Somos claims that, in recent weeks and months, he has been subject of attempts to unlaw

A human rights lawyer from Germany who says that hackers in the Middle East are trying to unlawfully access his email has launched proceedings against Google in the Irish courts. Mark Somos is seeking orders that Google Ireland must assist him and his lawyers in identifying the parties allegedly att

Security concerns have been raised at a €35 million courthouse opened in Cork just last year after a woman admitted bringing a claw hammer into the building to intimidate someone. Julianne O'Farrell, 27, pleaded guilty to possessing a claw hammer in a public place with intent to cause injury, i

The Law Society of Northern Ireland hosted an early morning pilates class yesterday to mark World Mental Health Day.

Mental health experts will discuss the importance of mindfulness in improving general mental health and productivity at a conference organised by the Law Society's younger members committee later today. The conference, organised in partnership with Law Society Finuas Skillnet, is one of a series of

The Law Society of Ireland has announced the launch of a new initiative designed to promote wellbeing in the solicitors' profession in Ireland. Independent research recently commissioned by the Law Society revealed that 57 per cent of solicitors frequently experience very high or extreme levels of s

Barrister Jolyon Maugham QC, who has played a key role in Brexit litigation over the past three years, has revealed that he bought a stab vest following threats against his life. Mr Maugham said he was advised by the elected police and crime commissioner in his area to take measures to protect his o

Extra security precautions were put in place at Longford District Court last week after gardaí were tipped off about a planned acid attack, according to reports. Special measures were put in place during two court sittings in relation to a trial involving known gangsters, the Irish Independen

There were violent scenes requiring the intervention of gardaí and security in the Four Courts yesterday, when the defendant in a defamation action was allegedly attacked and injured by a group of individuals who attended court. The individuals alleged to be involved had attended an action br

Bullying and sexual harassment is "rife in the legal profession", according to a new study which surveyed nearly 7,000 legal professionals from 135 countries. The International Bar Association (IBA) and international law firm Herbert Smith Freehills today launched the Us Too? – Bullying and Se

A rapist who followed a garda around a courtroom, shouting that he hoped she would "get run over by a bus", has been sentenced to an additional 20 months in prison. John Gavin, 31, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to threatening Garda Sergeant Amanda Flood at the Four Courts on 29 May

Bullying and sexual harassment of women in the legal profession is greatly exaggerated, the Lord Chief Justice has said. Lord Burnett of Maldon told the Lords Constitution Committee that a small minority of judges behaved badly towards female barristers and that there was no evidence of a wider prob

A man who admitted attempting to carry a knife into the Criminal Courts of Justice complex in order to attack a man who was looking for bail has been jailed for two years. Sam Maughan, 24, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing a Stanley blade intending to incapacitate a perso

A new convention on the profession of the lawyer has been proposed by the Council of Europe amid rising attacks on practitioners around the world. Every day, lawyers are harassed, threatened, prosecuted, imprisoned or even murdered, simply for carrying out their professional activities. In recent ye