... bringing you the latest news, views and information from The Law Society of Jersey.

As we move towards the summer recess, this issue includes notice from the Law Officers' Department regarding the revised approach that they will be taking on seeking costs in criminal cases, both in the Royal Court and the Magistrate's Court, and an indication from the Magistrate putting practitioners on notice that the Magistrate's Court will be expecting counsel to be prepared to address the court on such matters from 1 June.

We also include a reminder of the details of the swearing in of Judge Corinne Searle as a Commissioner of the Royal Court to assist with the Family Court and of this year's Bailiff's Chambers Bar Training. In Regulatory News, there is a brief synopsis of, and links to, the JFSC's published revisions to the AML/CFT/CPF Handbook.

Important dates for members' diaries, reminders of members' and firms' obligations for updating the Law Society, and a number of other court-related, government and regulatory announcements are also included, along with wellbeing, education and employment updates.

Members are reminded that the Directory section below contains links to the most up-to-date versions of various guidance notes and forms relevant to the profession. This section will be updated and expanded to reflect and include the latest guidance and form versions, and will also include links to external websites which may be of use to practitioners.

The Law Officers' Department has requested that we make practitioners aware that they have updated their approach on seeking costs against convicted defendants in criminal cases.

As from 1 June 2026, applications for a contribution towards costs will be applied for against all convicted defendants, in both the Magistrates and Royal Courts, in accordance with the attached document.

The policy includes applying for a contribution to prosecution costs in the Magistrate’s Court following a plea of guilty, in addition to the current practice of applying for costs on conviction after trial. The new policy will take effect from 1 June 2026.

The Magistrate has indicated that consideration will be given to issuing an amendment to the current Magistrate's Court Practice Direction to deal with costs in due course. In the meantime, the Magistrate has asked us to notify the profession that counsel must be prepared to address the Magistrate’s Court on costs following a guilty plea, or on conviction after trial and to provide evidence of a defendant’s income.

Judge Corinne Searle will be sworn in as a Commissioner of the Royal Court to assist with the Family Court at 9.45am on Monday 15 June 2026.

The Bâtonnier would greatly appreciate the attendance in Court of a number of family practitioners to welcome Commissioner Searle to her new role.

This year's Bailiff's Chambers Bar Training in Criminal and Family Law will be led by Her Honour Judge Patricia Lees and Her Honour Judge Caroline Wright, both of whom also serve as Commissioners of the Royal Court of Jersey.

This distinguished and highly experienced panel of trainers will be offering training to the judiciary and members of the Bar in relation to topical and current issues in Criminal and Family Law. 

The judiciary and members of the Bar will be trained separately.

Judge Lees is a criminal specialist who both practised at the Bar and now sits on the Bench in the large London Crown Courts.

Judge Wright is a family judge working at the Central Family Court, London, dealing with 12 central London authorities, an average of 750-800 care cases each year.

Seminar Details

Criminal and Family Law Practitioners are requested to hold the dates for these seminars – booking details will be published shortly.

📅 Criminal Law Training  [HHJ Lees] - 15th July 2026

📅 Family Law Training  [HHJ Wright] - 16th July 2026

🕛 Time: 9:15am - 4:30pm

📍 Venue: Jersey Zoo

CPD: 5 hours CPD (per day)

LogicallyDrafted is bringing together partners, knowledge lawyers, legal ops, and in-house counsel from across Jersey's legal community. A small, senior room, convened to share what's actually working in a GenAI world.

When

📅 Wednesday 3 June 2026

🕛 12:00pm - 17:30pm

Who should attend

• ​Law firm partners and senior associates
• ​In-house counsel
• ​Legal ops and innovation leads

​What to expect

​An afternoon of panels, interactive roundtables, and peer conversation, built for senior practitioners who want substance over showcase. Plus time to connect with peers and build relationships across Jersey's legal innovation community.

​Why attend

​Hear how leading Jersey firms and in-house teams are approaching drafting in a GenAI world. Exchange ideas with peers facing the same challenges. Leave with practical insights you can apply to your own team.

​Reserve your place

​The Jersey 2026 edition of Logically Drafted is invitation only and seats are limited. Join a thoughtful, forward-looking conversation about the future of legal work.

For further details and to register your interest, please visit this page.

Join the Jersey Office of the Information Commissioner for this focused overview of how Jersey’s data protection law applies in a practical context.

This session focusses on offering legal practitioners a unique opportunity to hear directly from the regulator, as they break down the core data protection principles, highlight compliance expectations and challenges and explain how enforcement decisions are made.

Whether you’re in private practice, in house counsel, or part of a wider legal team, this event will equip you with practical insights, clear expectations and actionable guidance straight from the Office of the Information Commissioner.

📅 Date: 16 June 2026

🕛 Time: 16:00 – 17:30

📍 Venue: JOIC Offices, 5 Castle Street, St Helier, JE2 3BT

Places are limited, reserve your place as soon as possible. Click here to register.

Voting is now open for the 2026 Rising Stars Awards.

Support the industry’s emerging talent by casting your vote today. Don’t miss your chance to recognise the next generation of leaders.

This year's finalists in the Law Category are:  

• Georgina Farley (Baker & Partners)
• Victoria Barclay (Walkers)
• Victoria Ramos (Bedell Cristin)

Voting closes on 12 June 2026

Click Vote now

Details of the 2026 The Jersey International Family Law Conference and Dinner - sponsored by Corbett Le Quesne - have been announced.

It will take place on Friday 2nd October 2026 at Hotel L’Horizon, St Brelade.

The theme of the conference this year is “Chattels: from the Hamster to the Super Yacht” and the keynote speaker is Sir Andrew McFarlane. 

There will be sessions in respect of the law relating to pets within family law, art, classic cars, super yachts and other chattels which occupy the Family Courts within financial remedy proceedings.

Costs (per person)
• Conference: £125.00
• Dinner: £110.00

Further (updated) details can be found here and the booking form can be downloaded here.

🗳️ Your vote matters in the upcoming elections.

Three ways to vote:

1. St Paul’s Centre is open to all voters until midday on Monday 1 June

2. Return your postal vote by 12 noon on election day, Sunday 7 June

3. Or vote in person at your allocated polling station on Sunday 7 June

Find everything you need to know at 👉 vote.je

#VoteJE #JerseyElection #MakeYourVoiceHeard

Now that the breathless excitement of the elections for President and Committee members of the Law Society is over, attention turns to the minor matter of Island-wide elections.

Jersey Finance has published some insights and resources, which it hopes will make a practical contribution to informing both voters and candidates as they consider the Island’s future, and how we can all work constructively together to support a thriving, resilient and forward-looking Jersey:

A Strong Industry for a Strong Island

Your Voice Matters

Firms are reminded that their accountant's certificate (under Rule 47) in relation to the operation of their client account must, without exception, be submitted and received by the Law Society no later than six (6) months after their accounting year end.

Click accountant's certificate to download the latest certificate template, and accountant's reporting checklist to download the latest accountant's checklist.

A member's report, under Rule 50.1(a), must also be completed and submitted by the firm within six (6) months of the firm's year end, preferably at the same time as the accountant’s certificate.

Click members' report to download the latest reporting template.

All such returns should be addressed to the Operations Manager and sent to the The Law Society of Jersey, PO Box 493, St Helier, Jersey JE4 5SZ. Any queries in relation to such certifications should be addressed to Jonathan Bale on 01534 613950 or by email.

Where a firm has changed their accountant or the date of its financial year, it is required to inform the Law Society in writing.

For ease of reference, the Accounts Rules can be viewed/downloaded here.

Law firms operating as LLPs which have been recognised by the Law Society of Jersey as Legal Services Bodies ("LSBs") are reminded that any changes in the membership of the Legal Services Body must be advised to the Law Society in advance of the effective date of such changes.

Any queries in relation to LSBs, including in relation to potential new applications, should be directed to Jonathan Bale on 01534 613950 or by email.

Firms are reminded that any changes to their:

• practice address
• website address
• primary contact telephone number or
• email address for general enquiries

must be advised in advance of the effective date to the Law Society.

Notification of changes must be sent to the Law Society by mail to PO Box 493, St Helier, Jersey, JE4 5SZ, or by email.

Where firms maintain a PO Box or JE1 address which does not include a physical office address, firms must provide the Law Society and the Court with a physical address for service purposes.

Key contact changes should also be advised by firms to the Legal Aid Office (email@legalaid.je) and to the Court (d.ozouf@courts.je).

Members are reminded that it is their personal responsibility to update the Law Society in respect of:

• change of firms
• change of circumstances
• change of contact details

Members are reminded of the importance of advising the Society of any changes in circumstances or firms.

Notification MUST be provided, in all cases, in advance of the effective date of the change.

All proposed changes must be advised by completion and submission of the Membership Update Form.

Completed Membership Update Forms must be sent to the Law Society at PO Box 493, St Helier, Jersey, JE4 5SZ, or by email.

No action will be taken in respect of any request until receipt by the Law Society of the Membership Update Form.

Members are reminded that any changes also need to be advised to the Judicial Greffe (to update the Court's records) so that they do not miss out on any important communications. Updates should be sent to Darrell Ozouf at d.ozouf@courts.je.

The Legal Aid Office should also be advised of any changes in personal details or circumstances. Details should be advised to email@legalaid.je.

Members of the Bar are advised that the audio-visual equipment in Royal Court and Court Number 2 will shortly be being refurbished (during this summer). One aim is to ensure that those sitting in the back of court will be able to hear more clearly what is being said at the front of court, which is an issue in the Royal Court at the moment.

Members of the Bar should note that an immediate impact will likely be that anything whispered near a microphone will be susceptible to being picked up and broadcast to the wider court, including the public gallery. Members are advised to watch their Ps and Qs.

Following the JFSC's recent consultations on revisions to the AML/CFT/CPF Handbook, they have published an updated consolidated version of the Handbook, along with the prescribed NPO Handbook. These will be effective from 31 May 2026.

They have also providing advance sight of changes to section 2.6 following amendments to the Money Laundering (Jersey) Order 2008 (MLO), which are due to take effect on 30 June 2026.

What this means for you

These updates:

●  bring together recent changes into one place, including updates on complex structures and criminal background checks

●  improve consistency across the Handbook

●  give you visibility of upcoming changes so you can prepare

●  provide simpler, more accessible guidance for non-profit organisations through the prescribed NPO Handbook

Criminal background checks

The JFSC has also made further updates to the criminal background checks sections, including:

●  COP96 – they now refer to ‘existing principal persons and key persons’ instead of ‘existing licensees’ for consistency

●  COP146 – they have added ‘save for the requirement to carry out criminal record checks’ to align COP145 and COP146 with the requirements for criminal background checks in section 10.6

●  Section 15, paragraph 9 – they have removed references to Deputy MLRO and Deputy MLCO

These changes reflect feedback they have received and help ensure that the criminal background checks rules are consistently applied.

Links to updated documents

●  consolidated AML/CFT/CPF Handbook

●  prescribed NPO Handbook

Upcoming MLCO changes

Following amendments to the MLO on 17 April 2026, the JFSC has updated the MLCO section of the Handbook.

These will take effect on 30 June 2026, in line with the effective date of the MLO changes. They will update the live version of the Handbook on this date.

To help you prepare, the JFSC has published a tracked changes version of section 2.6.

●  draft section 2.6 - AML/CFT/CPF Handbook

Further upcoming changes

There are additional changes to the MLO that are not yet reflected in the Handbook.

These include:

●  the introduction of a risk-based approach to appointing an MLCO - firms will not be able to use this until the Handbook is updated on 31 October 2026

●  changes to the Reliance framework - although already reflected in the Order, these will also take effect from 31 October 2026

What’s next?

The JFSC will publish the consolidated and individual sections of the AML/CFT/CPF on their website on 1 June. Reggie, our regulatory chatbot, will also be updated on this date.

They are continuing to work on further updates to the AML/CFT/CPF Handbook in relation to the MLCO and Reliance regime changes mentioned above. These will be subject to consultation and further details will be issued soon. 

If you have any questions, please contact the JFSC's Policy team.

Practitioners will find the latest news and events published by the Jersey Financial Services Commission here.

CIFO is pleased to invite you to their virtual Annual Stakeholder Meeting, taking place on Wednesday 8th July 2026.

Join them as they present highlights from the 2025 annual report, followed by an interactive Q&A session with their Board Chair, Antony Townsend and Principal Ombudsman & Chief Executive, Douglas Melville.

📅 Date: Wednesday 8th July 2026

🕛  Time: 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

CIFO will publish further details and registration information soon. They hope you will be able to join them.

Thinking about using AI in your business? There are likely to be data protection considerations.

The Jersey Office of the Information Commissioner (JOIC) has released the themes for its Data Protection Express clinics for May and June, which include providing support around protecting personal information when using AI, keeping personal information secure and the six golden rules of data protection, as well as managing a data breach.

The clinics run every Wednesday afternoon during May and June at the JOIC’s office at Ritz House, 5 Castle Street, St Helier, are free of charge and have been designed especially with small business owners in mind. Those booking a 30-minute spot benefit from:

● Clear, practical advice about local data protection law.
● The opportunity to ask questions tailored to their business.
● Feeling more confident about their responsibilities.

You can find out more and book your appointment on the events pages of the JOIC’s website, by calling the JOIC team on 716530 or emailing them at events@jerseyoic.org.

Practitioners are advised that the Licensing Assembly will meet in ordinary session on :

📅 Thursday 18 June 2026 at 10.00am

📅 Thursday 24 September 2026 at 10.00am

📅 Thursday 17 December 2026 at 10.00am

for the purpose of considering applications under the Licensing (Jersey) Law 1974.

Advance notice is given that this year's Assise d’Héritage will be held on Friday 18 September 2026.

As advocates will be expected to renew their oath at the Assise d’Héritage, they are respectfully requested to 'save the date'.

The Law Society's Annual Dinner which celebrates the Opening of the Legal Year will again be held on the same day as the Assise d’Héritage, on Friday 18 September 2026.

The dinner will again be held at L'Horizon Hotel, St Brelade and the guest speaker has been confirmed as the Lieutenant-Governor, His Excellency Vice Admiral Sir Jerry Kyd KBE.

Members are requested to 'save the date'.  Dinner bookings will open in due course.

​June 13 - Official birthday of His Majesty the King
June 21 - Anniversary of the birthday of His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales
July 17 - Anniversary of the birthday of Her Majesty The Queen
​September 8 - His Majesty The King's Accession
​November 8​ - ​Remembrance Day (second Sunday in November)
​November 14 - ​Anniversary of the birthday of His Majesty the King
​November 30 - ​St Andrew's Day (in Scotland)

Further information on dates for flying flags on buildings for 2026 and flag flying in general can be found here.

LawCare is the mental wellbeing charity for the legal profession. They’ve been supporting legal professionals for over 25 years and understand life in the law.

LawCare offer free, confidential, emotional support, peer support and resources to those working in the law in the UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man. They promote mental health and wellbeing best practice in legal workplaces and drive culture change in education, training and practice.

If you need support contact the LawCare helpline on 0800 279 6888 (open 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday), email support@lawcare.org.uk or access online chat and other resources at www.lawcare.org.uk.

LawCare supports all branches of the legal profession: advocates, solicitors, barristers, judges, chartered legal executives, paralegals, trademark attorneys, patent attorneys, costs lawyers, notaries, licensed conveyancers, support staff and concerned family members.

The Law Society of Jersey is proud to be associated with, and to support the work of, LawCare.

Life in law is fast-paced and demanding. Practitioners spend so much time helping others that their own wellbeing can take a back seat.

The Legal Pause is a podcast dedicated to putting solicitor wellbeing first. They will also introduce you to fresh perspectives (sometimes the controversial ones!) about issues that often get overlooked.

Their podcast offers expert conversations on solicitor wellbeing, plus practical insights you can use in everyday life and work. In just half an hour, it’s a pause that fits easily into your routine while leaving you feeling more balanced and supported.

More details, and where to download the podcasts from, can be found here.

The Legal Policy & Research Unit (LPRU) of the International Bar Association has created a podcast series interviewing inspiring IBA members from around the world with interesting careers and remarkable stories.

Each guest shares their thoughts and experiences about what it means to be a woman in the legal profession and how they have navigated different types of workplaces and challenges over the course of their career. The series covers women across all sectors of the law.

The third episode of its Inspirational legal women podcast Series 2, featuring Fiona McLeod AO KC, a senior counsel with more than 30 years’ experience practising across Australia in commercial and public law, including doing considerable work on class actions and royal commissions, is now live, and you can listen to it here.

XXIV Old Buildings are delighted to continue to be an active supporter of London International Disputes Week (LIDW) (running from 1 June to 5 June 2026) by participating in various Member Hosted Events this year. The full programme is available via the LIDW website however, we have included below a summary of the events we are co-hosting, together with the relevant registration links.

In addition to the strong roster of seminars that they are co-hosting (see below) and participating in, some of the barristers and staff have formed a band and will be playing at Law Rocks Unplugged!

De-risking disruption: mainstreaming crypto, optimising AI and safeguarding tech innovation

📅  3 Jun 09:00 - 10:30     Book Here

This session will look at recent developments in English legislation, some decisions in the English courts, and notable offshore jurisdictions; where AI is adding value - and where it is not - in the legal sector; and protecting tech start-ups.

Final & Conclusive: Successfully Enforcing Judgments at Common Law

📅  3 Jun 09:00 - 10:30     Book Here

This panel will explore what is needed for the successful enforcement of foreign judgments at common law.

Global Boardroom Battles: Strategy, Power and Cross-Border Leverage

📅  3 Jun 14:00 - 15:30     Book Here

This session explores the fast-evolving landscape of shareholder power struggles and boardroom battles, sometimes involving multiple jurisdictions.

Hot topics in aviation disputes

📅  3 Jun 16:30 - 18:00     Book Here

Our expert panel looks back at key aviation decisions in the last 12 months and scans the horizon for 2026.

Taxing assumptions – strategies for dealing with flawed decision-making in a trusts context

📅  4 Jun 09:00 - 10:30     Book Here

As certain pre-Budget assumptions begin to founder on the rocks of HMRC’s post-Budget legislation, now is an apt time for trusts litigators to re-examine the tools available to address (and redress) the law of unintended consequences.

Aviation Disputes in 2026: The Direction of Travel

📅  4 Jun 16:30 - 18:00     Book Here

During London International Disputes Week, Fieldfisher and XXIV Old Buildings will host a panel discussion on the latest developments in aviation disputes, with a particular focus on jurisdictional issues.

What disputes will digital asset providers face post-regulation in the UK and further afield?

📅  5 Jun 09:00 - 10:30     Book Here

This session will look at the current & future regulatory landscape and the interplay between that (changing) landscape and the disputes currently being faced by DAPs, with a discussion of what trends are likely to emerge in crypto-related disputes in the near future (UK focus).

Upcoming conferences: asset management, luxury law and more

Forthcoming IBA conferences include the 35th IBA Global Challenges and Opportunities for the Asset Management Industry Conference on 7–9 June in Boston; the 3rd IBA Global Professional Ethics Symposium on 10–12 June in Lisbon; and the IBA European Fashion and Luxury Law Conference on 8–9 June in Paris.

Report explores impact of cross-border remote work

The IBA Global Employment Institute (GEI) has released its 2026 introductory Digital Nomad Report, which highlights the increasing legal, tax and immigration challenges arising from cross-border remote work. Findings include that employees increasingly desire more flexible work conditions, including working remotely, and the growth of digital nomadism is creating complex compliance risks for multinational employees.

Report highlights AI, skills shortages and employee wellbeing as defining workplace challenges

The GEI has also published its 14th Annual Global Report, identifying the growing influence of artificial intelligence (AI) and digitalisation, persistent skills shortages and employee wellbeing as the key issues shaping employment law and human resources (HR) practice worldwide.

Based on responses from lawyers in 48 countries, the 14th Annual Global Report: National regulatory trends in human resources law examines legal and workplace developments during 2024 and 2025, highlighting how governments, employers and regulators are responding to rapid technological change, evolving workforce models and increasing compliance expectations. The report offers a comparative insight into how workplaces and regulatory frameworks are being shaped across different regions.

The 2026 IBA Annual Conference will take place in Copenhagen, Denmark on 4 - 9 October 2026.

What will IBA 2026 offer you?

• Access 5,000+ attendees representing over 2,700 law firms, corporations, governments and regulators from more than 130 jurisdictions
• Opportunities to win more work and referrals at the world’s best networking and business development event for lawyers and law firms
• Save time and money by meeting all your legal contacts under one roof
• Hear from leading international figures, government officials, general counsel and experts from across all practice areas and continents
• Expand your professional network and meet legal professionals and practitioners from around the world
• Participate in sessions that offer practical strategies and tools to apply directly to your practice

Further details can be found here.

A complete list of upcoming IBA events can be found on their conference diary page.

Are you looking for that next job on the legal career ladder? Click Legal Vacancies to see the latest job adverts.

Individuals who are looking for that next Legal career move can also register to receive details of the latest vacancies as soon as they become available. Go to the Legal Vacancies page and click on the 'Subscribe' button under the heading "Subscribe to job alerts" and follow the instructions.

If your firm wishes to advertise any vacancies, please send the following information to Sits Vac:

• the job or role title - with a brief description of the role
• the term - whether Full Time / Part Time / Contract
• a job description (if available)
• details of the remuneration package (or indicate as Negotiable or Market Rate)
• when the role is available from
• how to apply
• the name and contact details for a contact point for condidates to request further details
• the closing date for applications (if any)

Please include a small image file of the firm's latest logo in the email.

Advertising of vacancies for law firms is currently free of charge.

To discuss any aspect of advertising your vacancy, please call Jonathan Bale on 01534 613950.

To view/download the latest Guidance Notes, please click :

Guidance Note GN02 - Use of AI in the Legal Profession

Guidance Note GN05 - CPD Eligible Activities

Guidance Note GN06 - CPD Waivers and Sanctions

To view / download the most up-to-date Law Society forms, please click :

Code of Conduct - Membership Update form (individuals)

Code of Conduct - Legal Services Body Update form

Code of Conduct - CPD Record template (Excel) (preferred)

Code of Conduct - CPD Record template (Word)

Code of Conduct - Waiver Application form

Accounts Rules - Accountant's Certificate template

Accounts Rules - Accountant's Reporting Checklist template

Accounts Rules - Member's Report template

Accounts Rules - Waiver Application form

CEO (Neville Benbow)

Email: ceo@jerseylawsociety.je

Operations Manager (Jonathan Bale)

Email: manager@jerseylawsociety.je

Telephone: +44 (0)1534 613950

Accounts

Email: accounts@jerseylawsociety.je

LawCare: LawCare is the mental health charity for everyone in the 
legal sector.

The Solicitors' Charity: The Solicitors’ Charity has been supporting solicitors at times of need since 1858.

Jersey Family Court Advisory Service (JFCAS). To book 1:1 sessions, which take place on the last Friday of each month, go to Eventbrite.

Any links to third-party websites are provided solely for informational purposes. Inclusion of such links does not constitute or imply our endorsement, approval, or affiliation with the linked site or its operators.

Should you wish to submit anything for publication in the Law Society's Directions newsletter, please write in the first instance to Submissions.

Details of forthcoming events which are relevant to the legal profession should be sent to Events.

Directions is published fortnightly on a Friday, with a copy deadline of the preceding Wednesday.