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

This issue includes news of the swearing-in of Robert MacRae KC as Bailiff, later today, a new campaign highlighting the risks of payment diversion fraud in property transactions and a reminder about LawCare's Life in the Law 2025 report.

Further reminders relating to members' obligations as regards CPD, and a number of court-related and government and regulatory announcements are also included, along with wellbeing, education and employment updates.

Jersey's Deputy Bailiff Robert MacRae KC will be sworn in as Bailiff this morning at 10.30am.

Members of the legal profession have been allocated tickets for places in the Royal Court, the Old Library and the States Chamber (Public Gallery). Practitioners are reminded that they must be seated by 10:00am.

Entry to the Royal Court (or States Chamber) without a ticket will not be permitted under any circumstances.

The Royal Court ceremony will be followed by a Church service in the Town Church.

His Majesty King Charles III approved the appointment of Mr MacRae to succeed Sir Timothy Le Cocq when he retired last week. Mr MacRae has been Deputy Bailiff since 2020 and is a former Attorney General.

Attorney General Mark Temple has been appointed Jersey's new Deputy Bailiff.

His Majesty the King approved the appointment, which was announced in the States Assembly on 21 October 2025.

Mr Temple succeeds Robert MacRae as Deputy Bailiff, and said the appointment was a "great honour".

Mr Temple moved to Jersey in 2003, and was admitted as an advocate in 2005. He specialised in litigation and dispute resolution in private practice in Jersey and was appointed a Queen's Counsel, now King's Counsel, in 2015.

Mr Temple served as the Island's Solicitor General between 2015 and 2020, when he became Attorney General.

The UK National Crime Agency and The Law Society of England & Wales have launched a joint campaign aimed at solicitors and conveyancers to protect against payment diversion fraud in property sales.

The Law Society of Jersey wishes to draw the attention of practitioners to the risks of payment diversion fraud and to support the aims of the campaign.

Payment diversion fraud during property sales involves criminals intercepting and redirecting legitimate property purchase funds by impersonating lawyers, estate agents or buyers through fraudulent contact. The aim is to manipulate victims into transferring funds to the fraudsters instead of their legitimate destination.

The campaign provides solicitors and conveyancers with practical guidance on identifying and preventing this fraud.

The NCA and The Law Society have an information sheet on payment diversion fraud which can be found here.

LawCare’s new Life in the Law 2025 report highlights the opportunity to build a legal sector that values its people and protects their mental health and wellbeing at work. This is fundamental to the profession’s ability to administer justice and uphold the rule of law.

The report sets out practical steps towards a healthier future and shows how, with strong leadership and decisive action, wellbeing can be embedded into everyday legal practice.

From January to March 2025, LawCare surveyed individuals and organisations across the sector about how working in law is affecting mental health and wellbeing. The findings confirm both the scale of the challenge and the urgency for action:

• 56% said they could see themselves leaving their current workplace within the next five years, with 32% saying they could leave the sector entirely.
• Nearly 60% reported poor mental wellbeing.
• Almost 79% said they regularly work beyond their contracted hours.
• Only 31% of people who managed others said that their targets or billable hours were adjusted to take into account the time they need to spend managing others or undertaking appropriate training.

Report recommendations

Without decisive action from leaders, the sector risks losing people, declining mental health, and a loss of public trust and confidence.

The report highlights the evidence-based steps that can improve working practices in legal workplaces to better protect mental health and wellbeing:

• Prevent burnout by actively managing workloads, rethinking targets and incentives, and challenging the culture of long hours.
• Prioritise and value managing people.
• Embed hybrid and flexible working practices that meet diverse needs.
• Evaluate programmes and activities that support mental health and wellbeing at work to ensure they deliver real impact.
• Equip people joining the sector with the skills and knowledge they need for a sustainable legal career.

A call to the whole sector

LawCare calls on every firm, every chambers, every in-house team, every courtroom, every professional body, every regulator, every educational organisation, every insurer, every individual and every leader to step up and take action to create a sustainable sector – one that inspires trust, is progressive, and above all, values its people as its greatest strength.

In 2026 LawCare will start a programme of engagement to develop resources and training to support leaders and organisations to put these recommendations into practice.

Find out more by joining LawCare’s Let’s talk about Life in the Law 2025 webinar on Wednesday 12 November 2025, 12 to 1pm. Sign up here.

All members of the Jersey Family Law Association are cordially invited, and encouraged, to attend the JFLA AGM:

📅 Date: Thursday 11 December 2025

🕛 Time: 4pm

📍 Venue: The Family Court.

The AGM will be accompanied by a fireside chat with Family Judge McFadzean, and followed by Christmas drinks.

Ordinary Members of the Law Society will be well aware of their obligation to complete not less than 15 hours per annum of CPD.

The CPD requirement does not apply to individuals in the year in which they are sworn-in. Non-Practising Members do not have a CPD obligation, although they are encouraged to undertake relevant CPD in respect of the role they are undertaking.

Now that we are closing in on the end of the year, members are encouraged to review their CPD activity to ensure that sufficient CPD is completed before the end of 2025 - learn now to avoid the year-end rush !

Members are encouraged to review the Law Society's Guidance Note on Eligible Activities - click Guidance to view. Members can find CPD record templates here (Excel, semi-automated, preferred) or here (Word, manual).

Any queries in relation to the Code of Conduct and the CPD requirements should be directed, in the first instance, to Jonathan Bale on 613950 or email manager@jerseylawsociety.je.

Members are reminded that requests for full or partial waivers from CPD requirements may be sent at any time, but must be received no later than 31 October in respect of the current year.

Members are not required to undertake and certify CPD in the year in which they are sworn in as an Advocate or Solicitor.

The Guidance Note on waivers and sanctions can be found here.

The waiver application form can be found here.

Applications detailing the reason for the request (e.g. maternity leave, long term absence), the period of absence and confirmation of CPD activity undertaken prior to absence (split by Private Study and Non Private Study) should be sent to manager@jerseylawsociety.je.

Guidance on this or any other CPD matter can obtained from Jonathan Bale on 613950 or email manager@jerseylawsociety.je.

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.

Click Update to download the Legal Services Body Update Form.

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

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 should be sent to Jonathan Bale on email manager@jerseylawsociety.je.

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.

Click Update to download the Membership Update Form.

Completed Membership Update Forms must be sent to Jonathan Bale, Operations Manager at the Law Society at PO Box 493, St Helier, Jersey, JE4 5SZ, or by email at manager@jerseylawsociety.je.

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.

The Employment and Discrimination Tribunal is updating the Guidance on the Tribunal website on awards of compensation in discrimination claims.

The new guidance, which will be uploaded to the Tribunal website, updates the bands for awarding compensation for hurt and distress previously contained in the Flanagan Case.

The new bands are: -

1. The top band of £20,000 to £30,000 only applies in the most serious of cases such as where there has been a lengthy campaign of discriminatory behaviour.

2. The middle band of £5,000 to £20,000 is used for serious cases which do not merit an award in the highest band.

3. Awards in the lowest band of up to £5,000 are appropriate for less serious cases, such as where the act of discrimination is an isolated or one-off event. In appropriate cases the tribunal may award no compensation or a nominal amount.

The Jersey Family Justice Council (“JFJC”) was established in 2024 with the aim of overseeing the performance, operation and reform of the Family Justice system in Jersey, working towards a system focused on the best possible outcomes for children and the most positive experience for families engaged in court proceedings.

Information about it can be found here.

The JFJC would like to hear from parents and carers who have experienced family court proceedings to help them know more about what worked, what didn’t work, and what they need to work on to improve.

If you have been in family court proceedings that are finished, it would help them if you could fill in this short survey via the linked form here.

We know that parenting after separation can feel overwhelming at times.

That’s why the Children and Families Hub have teamed up with the Jersey Family Court Advisory Service (JFCAS) to offer free, confidential one-to-one appointments for parents and carers.

What JFCAS can do:

• Listen and talk through the challenges of co-parenting
• Share options to help you move forward as a separated family
• Offer advice on creating safe, child-focused arrangements
• Explain how children’s needs are considered in Family Court proceedings

What JFCAS can’t do:

• Provide legal advice
• Take on casework outside of Family Court
• Make decisions for you - but they will help you explore your choices.
• These sessions are a chance to get clear, independent advice to help you make the best decisions for your children and your family.

To book 1:1 sessions, go to Eventbrite.

The Jersey Financial Services Commission ("JFSC") has recently revised their approach to examinations, following industry feedback and the recommendations from the MONEYVAL Mutual Evaluation Report.

Further details can be found here.

A new consumer credit regulatory framework, previously announced by the JFSC in collaboration with government and industry stakeholders, is now moving into a consultation phase, with the States of Jersey now scheduled to consult on the secondary legislation required to implement the regime in November 2025. The JFSC will then aim to consult on the consumer credit business Code of Practice in Q2 2026.

Further details can be found here.

The Jersey Office of the Information Commissioner ("JOIC") has teamed up with the Isle of Man Information Commissioner’s Office to launch an anonymous ‘Data Protection in Practice – Insights Survey 2025’.

Jersey businesses should have received an email regarding the survey from JOIC via the Data Protection Officer / Data Protection Lead detailed in their registration database.

The survey is not an audit and it is not enforcement. It is a chance for organisations to share how they are handling data protection and where they are finding it tough. The survey aims to:

• Understand the practices in place in the areas of data sharing, training, impact assessments, right of access and breaches
• Inform the future design of tailored guidance and support
• Strengthen the overall data protection culture across each island.

The Information Commissioners of both islands hope to understand how they can better support organisations with the real data protection challenges they are facing. Your insights will help shape future guidance, outreach and support.

They invite your organisations to take part in the survey, which should take only 20-25 minutes.

They are encouraging organisations to answer openly and honestly, as they consider that the more accurate the information received, the better they can tailor future guidance and practical support to meet the needs of organisations.

Anonymised responses will be analysed and reviewed to develop and shape future guidance and resources.

Individual organisations cannot be identified nor highlighted in the published outcomes.

Practitioners are advised that the last Samedi Court sitting of 2025 will take place on:

📅  Friday 19 December 2025, and will include Christmas Greetings at 2:30pm.

Practitioners are further advised that the first Samedi Court sitting of 2026 will be on

📅  Friday, 2 January 2026.

Practitioners are reminded that the final Licensing Assembly for 2025 will meet in ordinary session on :

📅 Thursday 18 December 2025 at 10.00am

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

The Government of Jersey, through its Building a Safer Community, BASC, initiative, is proud to announce the launch of the Safe Places Scheme, a community-driven effort to create a network of safe, welcoming locations across the Island for anyone feeling vulnerable, intimidated, or at risk.

From banks and cafés to Parish Halls and sports clubs, businesses and organisations across Jersey are invited to register as ‘Safe Places’, offering refuge and support to those in need.

Further details can be found here, including links to help businesses and organisations interested in becoming a Safe Place.

On 8 October 2025, EYECAN - Jersey’s only charity supporting people with sight loss - celebrated 10 years since changing its name from the Jersey Blind Society.

Founded in 1886, the charity has grown and adapted over the years to meet the needs of islanders living with visual impairments. Today, EYECAN offers a wide range of services that help people stay independent, feel included, and live life to the full.

The name change to EYECAN was made to better reflect the charity’s inclusive approach. While the original charity name focused on blindness, EYECAN supports anyone affected by sight loss - whether mild or severe. The new name also sends a positive message: focusing on what people can do, not what they can’t.

Over the past decade, EYECAN has expanded its team and the support it offers. This includes help with getting around safely, learning new skills, using technology, speaking up for people’s rights, and running social activities for all ages.

The charity’s Westlea Centre in St Martin has been upgraded to better serve the community. New projects, like accessible swimming sessions at Jersey Cheshire Homes and working with the Government of Jersey’s Connect Me programme, show EYECAN’s commitment to building partnerships.

Led by CEO Mark Coxshall, and guided by a clear plan for the future, EYECAN continues to grow and improve its services.

Mark said, “As one of the oldest charities that exists in Jersey, next year we celebrate our 140-year milestone. Changing our brand in 2015 meant that we have been able to keep pace with change and evolve the professional services that we continue to offer”.

For more information or to arrange an interview with Mark, telephone 864689, visit www.eyecan.je or email info@eyecan.je.

The Jersey Institute of Law is hosting an open morning on Saturday, 15 November 2025 at the Institute of Law, in partnership with the University of London.

Whether you're just beginning your academic journey or looking to take the next steps in your career, this is an opportunity to explore their LLB (Bachelor of Laws) and one year CertHE (Certificate of Higher Education in Common Law) programmes.

📅 Date: Saturday 15 November 2025

🕛 Time: 10am - 12pm

📍 Venue: The Institute of Law, Institute of Law Turner Building JE1 1HL St Saviour

For further details, and to register your interest, click here.

We are happy to share with you a list of some upcoming IBA webinars. Please click on the below session titles for more details and to register online.

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21 Nov 2025, 1300 - 1430 GMT

Law firm ESG decisions in the current geopolitical and economic environment (autumn 2025 edition)

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24 Nov 2025, 1530 - 1630 GMT

Beyond bands and tiers: driving ROI and strategy from legal directory efforts

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25 Nov 2025, 1400 - 1500 GMT

Healthcare financing and reimbursement: a global review

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4 Dec 2025, 1400 - 1530 GMT

M&A meets megawatts: navigating transactions in the data centre world

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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 Jonathan Bale at manager@jerseylawsociety.je:

• 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.

Should you wish to submit anything for publication in the Law Society's Directions newsletter, please write in the first instance to Jonathan Bale at manager@jerseylawsociety.je.

Details of forthcoming events which are relevant to the legal profession should be sent to Jonathan Bale at manager@jerseylawsociety.je.

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