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News, analysis, comment and updates from ICLR's case law and UK legislation platform
“The law belongs to the people. Access to the legal system is a basic right and a public good.” So declared the Chief Justice of Canada, the Rt Hon Beverley McLachlin PC, in response to fellow Canadian, Szilvia Booker, a barrister practising in England, who had asked the Chief Justice whether the principle of open… Continue reading about Open justice and the Rule of Law
How the family courts were induced to deliver open justice by caesarean section There is a story here which is a sad one, about a woman and her baby, and how they were separated, and why. It is a story that has been subject to a good deal of comment, even outrage, not all of… Continue reading about The Curious Case of The Court, The Commentators, The Woman, and Her Baby
Two recent official statements highlight the need for care to be taken by members of the public who come into contact with the justice system in their use of the internet and social media. And a recent announcement from the CPS reminds users of Twitter of the risk of prosecution for abusive or threatening tweets.… Continue reading about The internet, social media and contempt of court: some recent developments
The English Legal system, 14th ed (2013-2014), by Gary Slapper and David Kelly (Routledge, £32.99). As the authors point out in their introduction, the English legal system has evolved over a period of more than a thousand years, and continues to evolve daily. It needs a textbook of sufficient heft and vigour to keep up… Continue reading about Book review: Slapper and Kelly, The English Legal system
The following message is shared from website of the International Bar Association, the global voice of the legal profession, with which ICLR, as a regular exhibitor at the IBA annual conference, is glad to be associated. IBA mourns and celebrates Nelson Mandela, Founding Honorary President of its Human Rights Institute The International Bar Association (IBA)… Continue reading about Mandela remembered: a lawyer for all seasons – via The IBA
It’s just not fair. Not fair at all. One minute, the policy is that it’d be wrong to have cameras in our courts and the next it appears to have changed but only for the likes of the Court of Appeal. I can’t believe that I spent years appearing in the Court of Appeal and… Continue reading about HHJ Pennyweather: Why can’t we have the TV cameras in our county courts?
In the last month two senior judges have given speeches concerning the relationship between the law and morality, reigniting the glowing embers of a debate which has flared up repeatedly over the last two centuries. Although they were not in any sense putting forth opposing views, in so far as they agreed it was on… Continue reading about Law and Morality: the debate goes on
“All we are is glorified car mechanics,” said UpTights at Chambers tea today. “Just fixing minor errors caused by solicitors.” “Except not so glorified,” said TheBusker. “Yes, I doubt there’d be many mechanics who’d be pleased with the comparison,” said HeadofChambers. “What’s the problem?” asked OldSmoothie. “Not had any trials of late?” “I should be… Continue reading about BabyBarista: Lawyers are just glorified car mechanics
National Pro Bono Week and the Bar Conference 2013 At a time when public funding is being cut to the bone, the Bar is already going further and working pro bono. But is it right for the government – with all David Cameron’s talk of the Big Society stepping in where public spending fears to… Continue reading about Pro bono publico: private conscience and public service
Within only a few weeks of starting his pupillage, one of the pupils has already garnered quite a reputation as a show-off. Not a show-off in a theatrical, maybe kind of charming but just a bit too much energy sort of a way either. More of a show-off in an insecure, in your face and… Continue reading about How not to do pupillage with new recruit PupilBrag
