Legal Profession
News, analysis, comment and updates from ICLR's case law and UK legislation platform
Who are the law-makers? David Burrows considers who really makes our laws and questions the accuracy of the description as applied to politicians merely by virtue of their participation in the legislative process. … Continue reading about Law, lawyers and law-makers
In this guest post Dr Brian Barry looks at some of the factors and processes that influence judicial decision-making, and explains how he came to write his recent book, How Judges Judge… Continue reading about How judges judge: the research and its consequences
Since retiring from the Supreme Court in 2018, Lord Sumption’s public profile has increased still further, first with his delivery of the Reith Lectures in 2019 and more recently as a public commentator on law and politics, most notably for his principled opposition to the coronavirus lockdown. We review his latest book and another which celebrates his contribution to the case law of the Supreme Court, alongside some reflections on the role of the court by its former President, Lord Neuberger.… Continue reading about Judicial reflections from the apex court
In this guest post The Secret Magistrate author discusses questions of recruitment and training in the context of budget cuts and mounting pressure on the magistracy… Continue reading about The Secret Magistrate on how recent developments are affecting the recruitment of magistrates
In this guest post The Secret Magistrate author discusses the effect of budget cuts, court closures and court modernisation on volunteers dedicated to the idea of local justice… Continue reading about The Secret Magistrate on how budget cuts and court closures are affecting the morale of the magistracy
Andrew King reviews the compelling account of a young black barrister’s journey to the Bar and the systemic prejudice she still encounters in her professional life. … Continue reading about Book review: In Black and White, by Alexandra Wilson
In this guest post, His Honour Clifford Bellamy looks at where judges come from, and how that has, or ought to have, changed in recent times. … Continue reading about What Do We Know About This Judge?
David Burrows responds on the subject of footnotes in law, recommending their use as an authorial aside in legal and academic writing. … Continue reading about In praise of the footnote in legal and academic writing
Dates can be critical, particularly when legal rights and obligations depend on them. It is a matter of concern if they appear to shift, as Paul Magrath explains. … Continue reading about Fresh Dates! (But when?) Setting the record straight
Elijah Granet discusses the advantages of using footnotes for citations of case law in judgments, in common with other common law jurisdictions. … Continue reading about Judges take note: but are we dragging our feet when we should be toeing the line?

















