The Law Show

Politically motivated attacks on the legal profession in the UK have led to barristers, solicitors, advocates and judges being subjected to violence, death threats and rape threats. Some have faced threats to their family members. This is according to the The Bar Council of England and Wales, the Law Society of England and Wales, the Law Society of Scotland, the Faculty of Advocates, the Bar of Northern Ireland and the Law Society of Northern Ireland. These organisations represent a quarter of a million lawyers across the UK, and they have come together to warn about an increasing climate of hostility against legal professionals. They say that law firms have been targeted by protesters, and they point out that lawyers are not their clients. So how bad has the situation become, and is it threatening justice or even democracy?Also on the programme: The Scottish Parliament has passed the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill after 3 days of debates and almost 400 amendments lodged - so why is the bill so controversial? And using a dodgy "jailbroken-Firestick" to watch illegally-streamed TV may seem like a victimless crime - but is it? Presenter: Dr Joelle Grogan Producers: Ravi Naik and Charlotte Rowles Editor: Tom BigwoodContributors: Charlie Sherrard KC, criminal barrister with 2BR Chambers Mark Evans, President of the Law Society James Cook, BBC Scotland Editor Éamon Chawke, a solicitor who specialises in intellectual property law at Briffa legal

When the Labour government came to power in 2024, it faced a crisis in the criminal courts, with ever-longer delays and a growing backlog of cases. The Ministry of Justice's budget is now one third higher in real terms than in 2019, but according to the latest figures, crown court cases that are yet to be heard reached a record high of 78,329. In October, the Justice Secretary David Lammy promised extra funding to increase the number of days that English and Welsh courts will sit next year. But is throwing money at the problem enough? How can the courts service be improved, and should jury trials be limited to help clear the backlog?Also in the programme: Protests in support of the banned group Palestine Action could result in trials for as many as 2100 people - so how do courts deal with a sudden influx of cases? And are UK laws fair to football fans? Presenter: Dr Joelle Grogan Editor: Tom Bigwood Producers: Ravi Naik and Charlotte RowlesContributors: Claire Waxman, Victims Commissioner designate, Riel Karmy-Jones KC, Chair of the Criminal Bar Association of England and Wales, Dr Steven Cammiss, Associate Professor in Law at the University of Birmingham, Professor Geoff Pearson, Professor of Law, University of Manchester.

Immigration has dominated headlines for months, but what UK laws cover this most emotive of issues? When someone arrives here, what are the legal routes they have to take if they want to stay in the UK? What's the legal difference between an asylum seeker and a refugee? What does "indefinite leave to remain" mean? And what's the difference between being deported, being removed and being extradited? How do immigration hearings work? Are our immigration laws fit for purpose, and do they enable us to remove people when required? Also on the programme: How will the government's digital ID plans help curb illegal immigration? and wigs in court; as the bar council updates dress advice for its members, we ask two barristers if wigs have had their day. Presenter: Dr Joelle Grogan Editor: Tom Bigwood Producers: Ravi Naik and Charlotte RowlesContributors Madeleine Sumption, Director of the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford Paul Gulbenkian, solicitor at OTS solicitors and former immigration Judge Morgan Wild, Chief Policy Adviser, Labour Together Jennifer Devans-Tamakloe, barrister at 23 Essex Street chambers Benet Brandreth KC, barrister at 11 South Square chambers

Deborah Coles, director of Inquest, and Alexander Learmonth, a King's Counsel, delve into the stark realities of state-related deaths. They discuss the lack of accountability in implementing coroner recommendations and the urgent need for a national oversight mechanism, citing tragic instances like Grenfell. The conversation also touches on recent legal reforms around wills and a landmark divorce case that reshapes asset distribution. Together, they uncover the complexities of law and humanity in the fight for safety and justice.

Claire Waxman, Victim's Commissioner for London, and Charlie Sherrard KC, a criminal justice barrister, dive into the newly proposed Victims and Courts Bill. They discuss how it mandates criminals to attend their sentencing hearings, emphasizing the emotional impact on victims' families. Waxman highlights stories from families who endured the absence of offenders at their loved ones’ sentencing. Plus, they explore the rise of AI in legal services and the emerging concept of 'pet-nups' for couples to consider in case of separation.

Tristan Kirk, a court correspondent at the London Evening Standard and Paul Foote Award winner, delves into the troubling landscape of wrongful convictions, spotlighting the Post Office scandal and issues with train fare evasion. He discusses the catastrophic failures of the current private prosecution system and the need for reform, particularly regarding the single justice procedure that operates behind closed doors. Additionally, Tristan highlights the lasting implications of police cautions on individuals, urging for greater transparency and fairness in the judicial process.

What legal responsibilities does a company have to keep your data secure?M&S, and the Co-op are picking up the pieces after their systems were hacked. The cyber criminals claim to have the private information of 20 million people who signed up to Co-op's membership scheme, but the firm have not confirmed that number. The Co-op says the breach did not include members’ passwords, bank or credit card details. However, experts say seemingly innocent information can be used to commit fraud or identity theft.Companies aren’t the only target; on Monday this week, the Ministry of Justice revealed that the Legal Aid Agency was also hacked in April. So can you sue if your private data is stolen in this way? And if you're the employee who clicked on a hacker's dodgy link in an email, how liable are you for any losses that occur?Also on the programme: How survivors of domestic violence in Scotland want to be told if their attackers make plea deals. Presenter: Joelle Grogan Producers: Ravi Naik and Charlotte Rowles Editor: Tara McDermottContributors Joe Tidy, BBC Cyber Correspondent Tim Capel, Legal Counsel for the Information Commissioner’s Office Ian Jeffrey, Chief Executive of the Law Society Brian McConnachie KC, a former crown prosecutor and now a senior advocate:

When someone passes away - legally, what do you have to do?In this episode, Dr Joelle Grogan and guests look at the host of legal obligations that have to be considered in England and Wales from declaring a death, to the circumstances in which a coroner becomes involved, dealing with a dead person’s estate and the grant of probate.Note that in Scotland, different laws and rules apply. The Procurator Fiscal investigates all sudden, suspicious, accidental, unexpected and unexplained deaths and any death occurring in circumstances that give rise to serious public concern. Also in Scotland, "Confirmation of Executors" - also known as Confirmation - gives someone the legal authority to manage and distribute a deceased person's estate. It is similar to probate, but some procedures and terms used in the process differ.Also on the programme:A teenage boy recently lost a High Court case against his parents. He was unhappy that they had placed him in a Ghanaian boarding school because they feared that he was becoming involved in criminal activity in London.The case rested on parental responsibility, and the judge ruled that their actions were within the scope of decisions that parents can make - and that the state shouldn't intervene.But what is "parental responsibility" and is there a situation where a child can divorce their parents?Presenter: Dr Joelle Grogan Producer: Ravi Naik Editor: Tara McDermottContributors: Rachel Roche, from Roche Legal in York Dr Imogen Jones, Associate Professor in Law at the University of Leeds Melinda Giles, Law Society Council member and part of their Wills & Equity Committee Tracey Moloney, from Moloney Family Solicitors

Justice delayed is justice denied - the court backlog in England and Wales has reached a record high and suspects being charged with new offences are regularly told they may not get a trial until 2027. Some courts are already booking court dates for 2028. The government has commissioned an independent review of criminal courts to work out how to cut waiting times. A victim of crime and a criminal defence solicitor tell Dr Joelle Grogan about the human cost of court delays. Also on the programme, the MP introducing a law to end the abuse of Lasting Powers of Attorney and what can someone do when their ex refuses to pay child maintenance?Presenter: Dr Joelle Grogan Producers: Ravi Naik and Louise Clarke Editor: Tara McDermott Contributors: Tracey Moloney, solicitor, Moloney Family Solicitors Stephen Davies, criminal defence solicitor at Edwards Duthie Shamash Solicitors Tom Franklin, CEO of the Magistrates Association Professor Carolyn Stephens, whose father was a victim of LPA abuse Fabian Hamilton, Labour MP for Leeds North East.

Since the October 7th attacks by Hamas on Israel, and the IDF military invasion of the Gaza strip, terms like 'war crimes', 'crimes against humanity' and 'genocide' have been used when discussing the conflict.Warrants have been issued by the International Criminal Court in the Hague for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defence minister Yoav Gallant, and a Hamas commander Mohammed Deif - who has since died in an air strike - citing allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity.In this special episode of the Law Show, we'll ask what are the legal definitions of these terms, how victims in a conflict situation can seek justice, and we'll explain the difficulties of gathering evidence in war and proving claims in an international court. Presenter: Dr Joelle Grogan Producer: Louise Clarke Editor: Tara McDermott