Northern Ireland

Race hate crime has reached a record level in Northern Ireland, according to new figures from the PSNI. There were 1,329 crimes with a race motivation In the 12 months to the end of June, a rise of 434 year-on-year and the highest figure since records began in 2004.

Paediatricians have called on Northern Ireland to follow neighbouring jurisdictions in banning child smacking. At present, the law in Northern Ireland and in England allows parents to rely on a defence of "reasonable punishment" where accused of assaulting their child.

Carson McDowell solicitor Sophie Hunter examines an English court decision with implications for the accommodation of asylum seekers across the UK, including in Northern Ireland. Epping Forest District Council have secured an interim injunction requiring the owners of the Bell Hotel to stop using, o

A&L Goodbody (ALG) has renewed its partnership with Ulster Rugby, continuing as official sponsor A&L Goodbody Lounge at the Affidea Stadium for the next three years. The A&L Goodbody lounge is a focal point for corporate hospitality, accommodating up to 500 guests on match nights.

New routes to qualifying as a solicitor in Northern Ireland are set to be introduced in a bid to make the profession more accessible, inclusive and future-focused. The Law Society of Northern Ireland this week published the findings of a consultation it undertook between December 2024 and March 2025

Northern Ireland firm Armstrong Solicitors has promoted Jonathan Scullion to director. "Since joining us in 2022, Jonny's conscientiousness, hard work and commitment have been plain for all to see, and he has continued to build a significant following based on returning clients and recommendations a

Pinsent Masons' Belfast office has been recognised for its commitment to LGBTQIA+ inclusion and advocacy.

Employment law firm Watershed has appointed Rachel Richardson as an employment lawyer and solicitor (England and Wales). Based in Belfast, Ms Richardson will play a key role in expanding the firm’s work in Northern Ireland and Great Britain.

Northern Ireland firm McCay Legal has promoted Gillian Smyth to operations manager following a period of growth. Ms Smyth has been part of the team since McCay Legal acquired AD McClay & Company Solicitors two years ago.

A proposed increase in Northern Ireland court fees will jeopardise access to justice, the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) has warned. The Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunal Service (NICTS) has just closed a consultation on a proposed nine per cent increase in civil court fees, spread

Carson McDowell has been ranked as Northern Ireland's most prolific M&A legal adviser in the first half of 2025. The independent Northern Ireland firm advised on 25 deals in the six-month period, ahead of A&L Goodbody on 18, according to the latest Experian M&A report.

Criminal cases in the Northern Ireland courts took an average of 189 days to complete in 2024/25, according to new figures. The latest bulletin from the Department of Justice, covering the period from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025, confirms that case processing times have improved for a second year

Amnesty International has accused the PSNI of breaching human rights law after a woman was arrested for allegedly wearing a T-shirt showing support for banned group Palestine Action. The 74-year-old woman was arrested in Belfast on Saturday, while others received cautions for wearing T-shirts with t

A public consultation is seeking views on proposed changes to an uncommenced legislative provision governing charities operating in Northern Ireland but based elsewhere. Northern Ireland's Department for Communities is currently consulting on changes to section 167 of the Charities Act (Norther

The PSNI has launched a new race and ethnicity action plan which commits the force to "being an anti-racist police service". Human rights campaigners have given the new plan a cautious welcome, warning that its success "won't be measured by words on paper, but by whether communities see real change