Northern Ireland

A new House of Lords committee has launched an inquiry into "Northern Ireland's voice" in the context of the post-Brexit Windsor Framework. The Northern Ireland scrutiny committee, which was established in January, will begin taking oral evidence from a panel of academic and legal experts tomorrow.

Lawyers Denise Hunt and Gemma McKeown are among a number of new appointments to the Probation Board for Northern Ireland. Ms Hunt is a qualified barrister with over 20 years' post-qualification experience. She owned and managed the Londonderry Arms Hotel in Carnlough from 2011 until her retirement i

Planning fees in Northern Ireland will be increased by 2.1 per cent from 1 April 2025. The inflationary uplift is based on the consumer price index (CPI) rate of 2.1 per cent from January 2024 to September 2024.

Four Catholic PSNI officers are taking the force to court over alleged religious and political discrimination. Belfast firm KRW LAW said it has been instructed by four current or former officers, including one identified only as "Sean".

Lawyers for a 73-year-old man in Northern Ireland have said they will fight a bid to have him extradited to the US to face trial for an alleged antisemitic hate crime. Belfast firm KRW LAW is representing Liam Mackin, who denies all allegations related to an incident in November 2023 where six prope

Northern Ireland firm Millar McCall Wylie has named Autism NI as its official charity partner for 2025. Autism NI is the longest-serving autism charity and training provider in Northern Ireland.

The Bar of Northern Ireland has presented a cheque for more than £37,000 to Brain Injury Matters NI, its charity partner for 2024. The Bar's charity committee undertook a range of fundraising events throughout the year to support the charity's vital work.

Northern Ireland's justice minister launched an extended attack on striking criminal barristers yesterday as she confirmed a backdated 16 per cent increase in legal aid fees would take effect in May. Speaking in the Assembly, Naomi Long said that the uplift would apply to civil, family and criminal

Belfast solicitor Shannon Gawley championed the role of young lawyers in shaping the future of the profession in a recent address to legal leaders from across Europe. The 53rd European Presidents' Conference took place in Vienna from 27 February to 1 March 2025, bringing together presidents and repr

The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (NIHRC) has launched a new podcast series, with the first episode focusing on the topic of "gender budgeting". The first episode of Shared Goals features special guest Aoife Mallon, research and engagement associate at the University of Ulster, and was re

Businesses operating in the technology sector are being heavily targeted by cyber criminals, according to a new report from Pinsent Masons. The firm's Belfast office this week hosted a launch event for the sixth annual cyber report, with representatives from the financial, energy, transport and hous

An additional £23 million has been allocated to progress reforms within Northern Ireland's justice system. The sum comprises £20.45m over five years which has been allocated to help speed up and transform the criminal justice system and £2.19m which has been allocated to an electro

Northern Ireland personal injury law firm JMK Solicitors has welcomed graduates Will Poland, Kerri Whiteside, Nikhil Kane, Lorna McKeown and Ryan O'Hanlon to the firm. Carmel Ross, operations director at JMK Solicitors, said: "We believe in the power of education and are passionate about creating an

Lewis Silkin lawyers Ciara Fulton and Orla Bingham consider the employment law landscape in Northern Ireland. Proposals for the introduction of miscarriage leave and ‘safe leave’ for victims of domestic abuse have recently been announced in Great Britain. These rights have been pending i

The Northern Ireland Executive has published its finalised programme for government for 2024 to 2027. The 98-page document includes a commitment to exploring the expansion of out-of-court disposals, including community resolution notices, in order to speed up cases and help to "reduce pressure on th