Covid-19

Mental health, diversity and inclusion should be top priorities and more can be done to further efforts, according to a survey of litigation lawyers

In a special NLJ report, Grania Langdon-Down talks to Mrs Justice Cockerill, head of the Commercial Court, and litigators about the challenges of 2020 and what 2021 will bring in relation to work-flow, procedural reform, diversity and well-being. She also draws on responses from the latest London Solicitors Litigation Association (LSLA) and NLJ Litigation Trends Survey. Overall, most responders were positive that the litigation market would grow or, at least, remain unchanged. There was overwhelming support for virtual hearings and agile working. But there was also a strong message to the profession’s leaders that the legal community needs to do more to promote both diversity and inclusion and the importance of good mental health.

As members prepare for an expected spike in litigation, LSLA president Chris Bushell (pictured) is determined to ensure that mental health and diversity and inclusion remain key priorities for London’s litigators

HM Courts & Tribunal Service (HMCTS) has announced that a webinar is to be held on 21 January 2021 at 5 pm on court safety for legal professionals during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic

Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS), HM Inspectorate of Probation, HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate and HM Inspectorate of Prisons have published a review on the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on the criminal justice system (CJS) and the respective bodies’ responses

First Tier Tribunal’s Immigration and Asylum Chamber User guide updated

In its January 2021 budget recommendations to the Treasury this week, the Bar Council has called for an extra £55m to improve the ‘dirty and unsafe’ conditions in courts, an extra 42 Nightingale Courts on top of the 18 currently operating, non-means-tested legal aid for domestic abuse victims and early access to legal advice for welfare and benefits issues, both of which have increased during the pandemic

Legal aid barristers are frequently having to take on cases that would not have gone to court had clients received legal advice at an early stage, the Bar Council has found

The chief inspectors for prisons, police, probation and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) have expressed ‘grave concerns’ about the long-term impact of court backlogs

HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has published the latest London Technology and Construction Court hearing and trial dates, which outline the earliest available dates for hearings and trials based on how long they are expected to last