The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has announced the appointment of Nicole Lappin as the new Chair of the Independent Monitoring Authority (IMA), commencing 1 January 2025 for a four-year term. The IMA, established under the EU (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020, is tasked with monitoring the implementation of citizens' rights provisions in the UK's Withdrawal Agreement with the EU and Separation Agreement with EEA EFTA states. The authority possesses significant powers, including the ability to receive complaints, launch inquiries and initiate or intervene in legal proceedings. Lappin, an experienced public sector leader with a background in law and regulation, will oversee the IMA's mandate to review the effectiveness of the legislative framework relating to citizens' rights and address systemic issues in their implementation.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has announced a new recruitment campaign for an Independent Public Advocate. According to the MoJ the Independent Public Advocate's role is crucial in supporting victims of major incidents, ensuring their voices are heard and their rights are protected. The MoJ states that the Independent Public Advocate will help victims understand how public authorities are handling the incident, making sure their views are considered during proceedings. The Advocate will act as a liaison between victims and public authorities, providing guidance and access to essential services and information. The Advocate's role was created in Part 2 of the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024. The Advocate is expected to be in post next summer.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has launched a call for evidence to assist the personal injury discount rate (PIDR) expert panel to obtain up-to-date information and data on topics relevant to modelling claimants’ likely return on investment. The call for evidence is aimed at those with an interest in high value personal injury claims and how awarded damages are invested. It covers claim and claimant characteristics, claimant investment experience, investment expenses, changes since the 2018 call for evidence, the impact and practicalities of adopting a dual/multiple PIDR and the way in which compensation payments are made. The call for evidence closes on 9 April 2024.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has confirmed that it will introduce legislation to guarantee access to third-party litigation funding for individuals pursuing claims against powerful organisations, introducing safeguards to enable more collective action proceedings and to stabilise the litigation funding sector following the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision in R (on the application of PACCAR Inc and others ) v Competition Appeal Tribunal and others. The legislation will clarify that litigation funding agreements are not damages-based agreements, removing barriers that have restricted funding and reduced group claims since the ruling, and protecting claimants in complex ‘David versus Goliath’ cases by ensuring they can hold well-resourced opponents to account. The government also noted that the legal uncertainty created by the PACCAR judgment has threatened the UK’s position as a global leader in dispute resolution, highlighting the economic significance of the legal services sector, which it said is worth £42.6bn annually and employs 384,000 people.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has confirmed that domestic abuse protection notices and domestic abuse protection orders (DAPNs and DAPOs), introduced under Part 3 of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, will be rolled out across England and Wales from 25 November 2026. The measures have been piloted in selected areas since November 2024, with the pilot scheduled to conclude in November 2026. The MoJ also confirmed that it will continue to work to strengthen the orders post rollout, with certain aspects being introduced on a phased basis. Existing guidance and public-facing information will be updated ahead of implementation.

Law360: The government has proposed new rules that will allow it to seeking outstanding payments from members of the judiciary in England and Wales for pension contributions that were missed through administrative errors.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has launched a consultation on the draft Judicial Pensions (Amendment) Regulations 2026 which propose to increase the range of existing MoJ powers to collect contributions, including retrospectively, from members of the judicial pension schemes. The consultation follows the identification of cases where the MoJ has either not deducted, or deducted incorrectly, members’ contributions from salary or fees at the time these were paid to members. The proposed amendments in the draft Judicial Pensions (Amendment) Regulations 2026 therefore aim to strengthen MoJ powers to collect these backdated contributions, and apply to members of the Judicial Pension Scheme 2015 (JPS15), Judicial Pension Scheme 2022 (JPS22) and Fee-Paid Judicial Pension Scheme 2017 (FPJPS). Responses to the consultation on the draft regulations are sought by 25 November 2025.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is seeking views of parties with an interest in Local Criminal Justice Boards (LCJBs) on challenges faced by LCJBs and how they can be supported. The views will be used to inform future policy on the local criminal justice system. The consultation closes on 23 February 2024.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has launched a consultation on proposed amendments to the rules governing several judicial pension schemes. The Judicial Pensions (Amendment) Regulations 2027 would amend four pieces of legislation: (1) the Judicial Pensions Regulations 2022 (JPS22), SI 2022/319; (2) the Judicial Pensions (Fee-Paid Judges) Regulations 2017 (FPJPS), SI 2017/522; (3) the Public Service Pensions Act 2013 (Judicial Offices) Order 2015, SI 2015/580 and (4) the Judicial Pensions (Miscellaneous) Regulations 1995 (JPMR 1995), SI 1995/632. The proposed changes address policy, operational and technical issues across six key areas. The government’s response is anticipated in autumn 2026. The consultation closes on 22 September 2026.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has published a consultation setting out government proposals to reform the law governing financial arrangements and protections when relationships end in England and Wales. The consultation covers financial remedies on divorce and dissolution, financial provision for cohabitants on separation, and inheritance provision for cohabitants on death. The consultation closes on 14 August 2026.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has announced a consultation, seeking views on proposals to reform the law of limitation in child sexual abuse cases in England and Wales. The proposals consider recommendations made by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse on limitation law. The MoJ has said that the reforms aim to put the burden of proof on the defendant, thus reducing need for survivors of abuse to re-live the trauma. The plan aim to reverse the burden of proof before cases are heard in court. The consultation closes on 10 July 2024.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has launched a consultation on introducing fees for employment tribunal claims and Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) appeals. Under the proposals, a £55 fee will be payable on submitting a claim to the employment tribunal or lodging an appeal to the EAT. The consultation runs for 8 weeks, closing on 25 March 2024.