header-logo header-logo

NLJ this week: Too ambitious? Damning verdict on courts modernisation programme

04 August 2023
Issue: 8036 / Categories: Legal News , Procedure & practice , Profession
printer mail-detail
132774
What are they really saying? NLJ columnist and former director of Justice, Roger Smith translates the ‘urbane language’ of the National Audit Office and Public Accounts Committee in this week’s issue, as he casts a critical eye on the progress of the courts & tribunals modernisation programme.

Smith writes: ‘The programme has been beset by problems and is largely regarded as having been far too ambitious.’ Moreover, the whole project, initially intended to save the public purse, has come adrift from its original purpose.

Smith’s verdict on the programme is less than flattering: read his conclusions here.

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Hugh James—Phil Edwards

Hugh James—Phil Edwards

Serious injury teambolstered by high-profile partner hire

Freeths—Melanie Stancliffe

Freeths—Melanie Stancliffe

Firm strengthens employment team with partner hire

DAC Beachcroft—Tim Barr

DAC Beachcroft—Tim Barr

Lawyers’ liability practice strengthened with partner appointment in London

NEWS
Tech companies will be legally required to prevent material that encourages or assists serious self-harm appearing on their platforms, under Online Safety Act 2023 regulations due to come into force in the autumn
Commercial leasehold, the defence of insanity and ‘consent’ in the criminal law are among the next tranche of projects for the Law Commission
The Bar has a culture of ‘impunity’ and ‘collusive bystanding’ in which making a complaint is deemed career-ending due to a ‘cohort of untouchables’ at the top, Baroness Harriet Harman KC has found
Lawyers have broadly welcomed plans to electronically tag up to 22,000 more offenders, scrap most prison terms below a year and make prisoners ‘earn’ early release
David Lammy, Ellie Reeves and Baroness Levitt have taken up office at the Ministry of Justice, following the cabinet reshuffle
back-to-top-scroll