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15 January 2025
Issue: 8100 / Categories: Legal News , Criminal
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Crown Court reform on the cards?

Lawyers have until 31 January to respond to Sir Brian Leveson’s independent review of the criminal courts.

The review, launched last month, considers how to deal with the increasing number of cases coming before the courts and the backlog of Crown Court cases that has built up. Long-term reforms could include creating an intermediate court or structural changes to the conduct of trials.

The backlog now stands at 74,000 cases, according to the latest official figures, which makes the government target of 53,000 cases by March impossible to achieve.

Sir Brian said this week: ‘We would encourage those responding to the call for evidence to be ambitious, and we welcome any ideas which challenge current thinking, are innovative, or which spotlight best practice and how it can be extended.’

Send responses to independentreviewcriminalcourts@justice.gov.uk.

Issue: 8100 / Categories: Legal News , Criminal
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MOVERS & SHAKERS

DAC Beachcroft—Paul Brehony

DAC Beachcroft—Paul Brehony

Commercial disputes practice expands with partner hire in London

Ward Hadaway—Maria Coster

Ward Hadaway—Maria Coster

Partner appointed to lead family and matrimonial department in Leeds

Slater Heelis—Helen Marsh

Slater Heelis—Helen Marsh

Commercial property team expands in Manchester with partner appointment

NEWS
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The civil justice landscape could be heading for a shake-up, with reform of the Solicitors Act 1974 gathering pace
Global mobility is transforming family law, creating new challenges around jurisdiction, assets and child arrangements
A series of procedural developments could have significant practical consequences for litigators. Writing in NLJ this week, columnist Stephen Gold highlights important updates ranging from digital court reforms to family procedure and admissions of liability
As family structures evolve, the law may face difficult questions about inheritance rights for those in polyamorous relationships
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