Coronavirus

Jason O'Sullivan, solicitor and public affairs consultant at J.O.S Solicitors, offers a practical guide to Irish businesses on steps to take in preparation for the coronavirus crisis. As the COVID-19 crisis continues, albeit with easing of current restrictions, disruption is still present in every s

The vast majority of lawyers involved in remote court hearings during the COVID-19 pandemic in England and Wales are satisfied with their experience, a major survey has found. Having surveyed nearly 900 lawyers on the impact of COVID-19 on the civil justice system for the Civil Justice Council (CJC)

Ireland's prison service is submitting guidance to the World Health Organisation (WHO) after avoiding a single confirmed case of COVID-19 among prisoners and staff. Prisons in Northern Ireland, England and South America have contacted the Irish Prison Service (IPS) for advice on keeping the virus ou

Criminal penalties for breaking restrictions on movement introduced to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic have been scrapped. New regulations which came into force yesterday do not include a criminal penalty for people travelling more than 20 kilometres outside of their county.

A criminal defence lawyer who criticised safety measures at a specialist COVID-19 custody suite established by the PSNI in Belfast has bought his own personal protective equipment (PPE). Joe Rice, senior partner at John J. Rice & Co Solicitors, told the Belfast Telegraph that his firm has bought

Police powers used to fine hundreds of people at Black Lives Matter protests in Northern Ireland over the weekend came into force just hours before the protests began, it has emerged. Amnesty International and the Belfast-based Committee on the Administration of Justice (CAJ) have voiced concerns ov

A crowdfunded legal challenge is being brought against ministers after they refused to order an investigation into the shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) for NHS staff during the coronavirus pandemic. The applicants, including the Good Law Project, led by Jolyon Maugham QC, are seeking

Matheson has announced a new partnership with online platform provider InsiderSherpa to deliver its virtual summer internship programme. The firm is one of a number of Irish law firms that have developed a virtual programme for summer interns in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions.

Lawyers and human rights activists have criticised the PSNI for fining protesters at Black Lives Matter rallies in Belfast and Derry. Five protests were scheduled to go ahead across Northern Ireland this weekend, but only the Belfast and Derry gatherings went ahead.

Nearly 450 trainee solicitors are undertaking the Law Society of Ireland's inaugural online Professional Practice Course II (PPC II). The Law Society has worked to move its entire educational offering online in response to the COVID-19 crisis through pre-recorded eLectures, workshops and skills sess

Britain's human rights watchdog has launched a statutory inquiry into the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on people from ethnic minorities in England, Scotland and Wales. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) said its inquiry will help to develop "clear, evidence-based recommendations for ur

A number of eminent figures are set to speak at a conference on the current crisis and the global economy.

Far-right activists John Waters and Gemma O'Doherty have been ordered to pay costs for their failed legal challenge to the emergency coronavirus laws. High Court judge Mr Justice Charles Meenan last month ruled that the pair had "made no arguable case against the notice parties".

Law firms in Northern Ireland may be opening to visitors prematurely due to a lack of official guidance from the Northern Ireland Executive, a solicitor has warned. Philip Armstrong, managing director of Armstrong Solicitors, said he was "surprised to see public announcements of law firms reopening

Data protection experts have published a "principled framework" for the development of a contact tracing app to help stop the spread of COVID-19 in Ireland. The document, produced by the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) alongside Digital Rights Ireland and independent academics and experts,