Northern Ireland

Carson McDowell has welcomed 11 new trainees, bringing its total trainee cohort to a record 21 — more than any other Northern Ireland-headquartered law firm.

Global law firm Kennedys has promoted five lawyers in Belfast and three in Dublin as part of a global promotions round. Insurance lawyers Barnabus Shearer and Alexander Redpath have been promoted to legal director in Belfast.

Northern Ireland schools have once again been invited to organise virtual Q&A sessions with a UK Supreme Court justice. Ask a Justice returns for the 2025/26 academic year, giving schools across the UK the opportunity to virtually swap their classrooms for courtrooms.

Diamond Heron Solicitors has welcomed Lorraine Keown as a solicitor in the Belfast-based firm's litigation team. Ms Keown, who has 15 years' experience as a solicitor, will work on both plaintiff and defence cases.

A new therapy dog has joined a service helping children and young people as they prepare to attend courts across Northern Ireland. Sebastian, a two-year-old St Bernard x Bernese Mountain Dog and certified therapy dog, supports children and young people as part of the NSPCC Young Witness Service.

Northern Ireland's Legal Services Agency paid £120 million to lawyers for legal aid work in the last financial year, according to provisional figures. The figures were revealed as the justice minister, Naomi Long, visited the LSA's headquarters in Belfast to mark its 10th anniversary.

International commercial law firm Pinsent Masons has welcomed six trainee solicitors to its Belfast office. Faith Mushipe, Helen Cunningham, Rachel Follis, Leah Hawkins, Ethan Williamson and Declan Mallon were picked following a competitive application and assessment process and will have the opport

New research exploring the experiences of LGBTQIA+ victims of domestic abuse in Northern Ireland has been launched.

Keoghs, the legal solutions arm of Davies, has appointed Michelle McCullough and John Guerin as partners in Northern Ireland. Both joining from Clyde & Co, they enhance the firm's regional presence and signify its ongoing commitment to providing expert legal support in the jurisdiction.

Lawyer David MacAnulty has been appointed as a civil service commissioner for Northern Ireland. Mr MacAnulty is one of two new commissioners appointed by Northern Ireland secretary Hilary Benn with effect from 1 October 2025.

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