More than 3,000 people have signed a Law Society petition calling for more government investment in the criminal justice system. It warns that urgent action is needed to keep the system functioning, due to growing shortages of duty solicitors—in five to ten years’ time there are likely to be no duty solicitors in some areas due to an ageing criminal duty solicitor population. Since 2010, 162 of 323 magistrates’ courts have shut, and the legal aid means test holds back funding for most people earning more than £12,475 per year. Sign the petition here.
09 April 2019
Save the criminal justice system
MOVERS & SHAKERS
EIP—Stuart Malcolm
EIP strengthens Commercial practice with a new partner
Ellisons—Francesca Brown
Ellisons welcomes Francesca Brown to Family team
Shakespeare Martineau—Marie Bourke
Shakespeare Martineau strengthens Sheffield regulatory practice with new hires
NEWS
A wide-ranging Civil Way column highlights developments from insolvency procedure to employment law, but one case stands out for its lessons on bankruptcy, family homes and digital communications
A sprawling Intellectual Property Office battle between House of Fraser and Frasers Property has delivered a masterclass in modern trade mark law
Courts in England and Wales and Singapore are increasingly confronting complex disputes over international child relocation as families become more globally mobile
The government’s long-awaited family law reform consultation could mark a turning point for domestic abuse victims navigating financial remedy proceedings, but significant challenges remain
A new commercial court pilot giving the public access to documents used in hearings, including expert reports, is raising difficult questions about transparency and privacy
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