England

People complaining about their solicitors are being forced to wait for up to two years for their complaints to be opened by the Legal Ombudsman, The Times reports. Staff at the industry-funded arbitration scheme are so overwhelmed that nearly one in four are leaving every year.

Broadcast news channels will air judges’ sentencing remarks from the Crown Court in England and Wales for the first time today, following a change in the law. It will allow the public to see and hear judges explain the reasoning behind their sentences, giving a better understanding of how the

Individuals and businesses in England and Wales would be helped to resolve legal disputes through free mediation under new UK government proposals. Ministers have published a blueprint for major reforms to the civil justice system which seeks to save people the cost, time and stress of lengthy court

The Law Commission of England and Wales is to launch a new project to review the law around autonomous flight. The two-year review is sponsored by the Future Flight Challenge at UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) and supported by the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and Department for Transport (D

Courts will be able to dismiss lawsuits "seeking to stifle free speech earlier" under UK government reforms to protect the legal system from abuse. Justice secretary Dominic Raab has today set out a package of measures that take aim at so-called strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPP

Solicitors in London are refusing to take on cases for defendants accused of assaulting emergency workers and harassment in a legal aid row with the UK government. Defence lawyers in the capital have already refused burglary cases on the basis legal aid fees are inadequate.

Eight in 10 Crown Court hearings suffered disruption yesterday as criminal barristers in England and Wales began their first day of strike action over legal aid pay. The leaders of the Criminal Bar Association (CBA) said that at least six murder trials at the Old Bailey had been delayed due to the s

Criminal barristers across England and Wales have begun strike action in protest over inadequate legal aid fees. The Criminal Bar Association (CBA) refused the offer of a 15 per cent uplift in fees, saying it was insufficient in the wake of deep cuts to the legal aid budget and pointed out that it w

Traditional partnerships are waning as figures show most law firms have adopted limited company structures for tax purposes, The Times reports. Research by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) indicates that 53 per cent of firms south of the border are limited companies – an increase of a

Criminal defence solicitors are set to join their barrister colleagues on picket lines next week as part of a dispute over legal aid fees. The Criminal Bar Association (CBA) yesterday confirmed following a ballot of 2,500 members across England and Wales that it will pursue "the highest form of esca

Criminal law barristers have overwhelmingly voted to strike as part of their legal aid dispute with the UK government. Following a ballot of 2,500 members, the Criminal Bar Association (CBA) said it would pursue "the highest form of escalation", consisting of "days of action combined with both no re

Prison leavers believed to be likely to re-offend when drinking will face alcohol bans monitored with electronic tags under a new scheme rolled out across England. Under the scheme, first piloted in Wales, probation officers will be able to keep a closer eye on offenders' behaviour through the use o

Criminal law barristers are being balloted on action as their legal aid dispute with the UK government continues. Some 2,500 members of the Criminal Bar Association (CBA) are being balloted on escalating a work-to-rule that has been in place for six weeks, The Times reports.

British businessman Arron Banks, who played a high-profile role in the Brexit referendum by bankrolling campaign group Leave.EU, has failed in a libel action brought against investigative journalist Carole Cadwalladr. Mr Banks brought the High Court proceedings against Ms Cadwalladr, a journalist wi

Divorcing couples in England will be provided with £500 mediation vouchers to help them resolve disputes away from court. The scheme was originally launched on a trial basis last March and has already seen 8,400 vouchers issued to divorcing couples. An additional £5.4 million in funding