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Personal injury lawyers have expressed disappointment with the outcome of a consultation carried out ahead of a review of Northern Ireland's personal injury discount rate. The Department of Justice recently published its response to a consultation on the parameters for the 2024 review of the rate, w

The Legal Aid Board has set out its plans to enhance the delivery of civil legal aid and family mediation services to the public over the next three years. The statement of strategy for 2024–2026 places a strong focus on community service, alternative dispute resolution, and civil justice refo

Scottish solicitors are abandoning talks on reforms to legal aid, having "lost confidence" in the Scottish Government after progress stalled for two years. The Law Society of Scotland said it would no longer participate in discussions on the creation of a review mechanism for legal aid fees, Scottis

Matheson has become the first organisation in Ireland to achieve the Investors in Diversity Gold accreditation from the Irish Centre for Diversity for a third time. The firm, which became the first organisation to receive the top accreditation in 2020, remains the only law firm in Ireland to hold th

Dermot Durack, associate director at Quigg Golden, has been appointed as chairperson of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) Ireland. Mr Durack is a chartered quantity surveyor, arbitrator, adjudicator and mediator and one of three Quigg Golden employees who are members of the Construction

A man has been acquitted of drink-driving following his diagnosis with a rare condition that leads to the production of alcohol in the body. The 40-year-old Belgian man, who has not been named, insisted that he had not been drinking despite failing roadside breath tests on two occasions in 2022, VRT

The Department of Justice has been challenged to explain how it determined that 80 per cent of asylum seekers arriving in Ireland in recent months have come via the UK. Justice minister Helen McEntee is expected to bring legislation to the Oireachtas providing for the designation of the UK as a 'saf

Northern Ireland's High Court has listed three test cases in relation to the PSNI data breach scandal for hearing on liability only for 26 June 2024. An unprecedented PSNI data breach last year saw the names, roles and other personal details of all serving police officers and civilian staff ina

The UK government operated a "widespread, systematic, and systemic" practice of impunity that protected security forces from sanction during the Troubles, according to a new report. The International Expert Panel on Impunity was convened by the Norwegian Centre for Human Rights (NCHR), based at the

Matheson has been named Ireland's best law firm at the Chambers Europe Awards 2024. The firm was presented with the Ireland Law Firm of the Year award at a ceremony in Paris on Thursday night.

Consumer protections against hacking and cyber-attacks will come into force across the UK today, as all internet connected smart devices will be required by law to meet minimum-security standards. Manufacturers will be legally required to protect consumers from hackers and cyber criminals from acces

Fast fashion retailer Shein has been designated by the European Commission as a very large online platform (VLOP) under the Digital Services Act (DSA). Because Shein's European head office is in Dublin, the Commission will supervise Shein's compliance with the DSA in co-operation with Coimisiú

An Garda Síochána has made "substantial progress" on improving its response to child sexual abuse following a critical report in 2017, the Policing Authority has said. The Garda Síochána Inspectorate (GSI) had told the force to bring its child protection practices in line

A senior Mexican politician has raised eyebrows after ritually sacrificing a chicken in the country's senate building. Senator Adolfo Gómez Hernández is facing disciplinary action or potentially prosecution over the ritual sacrifice, which he said was constitutionally protected as a tr

Taylor Wessing Ireland has moved to new offices in Dublin's Fitzwilliam Square, just three years after first opening its doors. The global law firm, which last year reported revenues of more than €500 million for the first time, said its new Irish base reflects its unique position at the inters