Coroner’s Court Created in the Turks and Caicos Islands
The Turks and Caicos Islands’ first Coroner’s Court of the Judiciary of will officially be opened on November 20th, 2023. Her Ladyship Chief Justice Mabel Agyemang in a press release from her office said the establishment of a court dedicated to coronial matters is in response to a growing need to deal with the increasing number of unexplained deaths in the islands. “The resultant backlog requires the focused, urgent attention of a magistrate dedicated to the performance of this very important jurisdiction of the court,” the press release stated. “The function of the Coroner includes the making of orders for …
B. St. Michael Hylton appointed Court of Appeal judge in TCI
Prominent Jamaican attorney B. St. Michael Hylton O.J., KC, has been appointed to the Turks and Caicos Islands Court Appeal. Mr. Justice Hylton, an attorney-at-law with a distinguished career in both the private and public sectors,was in 2022 appointed an acting judge of the Supreme Court of the Turks and Caicos Islands. During that year he also served as a member of the Committee appointed by the Chief Justice to draft new civil procedure rules for this jurisdiction. A graduate of the University of the West Indies and the Norman Manley Law School, Mr. Hylton spent the first 24 years …
Moving from human to institutional knowledge in a law firm
Humans have a marvelous capacity for storing knowledge. It can be recalled on demand and applied with flexible in many contexts to solve problems. How can this knowledge be taught to new people to solve old problems, or find answers when there is no access to the expert? Law firms are realizing that systematizing their knowledge and processes can help them serve their clients better, provide better support for their employees, and boost the health of the firm as a whole. They are undergoing cultural shifts and utilizing technology and tools that make it simpler to develop repeatable procedures and …
Keeping up with tech advances in the legal profession
As digital innovations proliferate in the world, they have become disruptive affecting every aspect of life including the legal profession. Business and daily life should run more smoothly thanks to new digital technologies. They do necessitate faster product and service delivery from businesses. However, they also help you run your business more effectively. Traditions and precedents have always been used in the practice of law. Attorneys, on the other hand, have a long history of embracing new technologies that enable them to move more quickly and avoid becoming bogged down in repetitive tasks. Law firms embraced computerized legal research when …
How Covid-19 Changed Legal Service Delivery
Law firms were forced to temporarily close their physical offices and rely on virtual connections as a result of COVID lockdowns and safety concerns. Previously in-person client meetings and firm collaboration suddenly moved online. Instead of visiting the company’s office, customers read and signed documents on their devices. Many of these changes were well received by customers because they saved them time and gave them more flexibility. Among the most well-liked modifications are: The rise of the self-service delivery model Prior to COVID, self-service for legal clients was already a trend that grew during the shutdowns. Many fundamental legal questions …
Judge Davidson Baptiste appointed acting judge of TCI Supreme Court
His Lordship, the Hon. Justice Davidson Kelvin Baptiste has been appointed Acting Judge of the Supreme Court of the Turks and Caicos Islands by the Judicial Services Commission. The appointment is for the period 1st February, 2023 to 30th April 2023. Justice Baptiste was born in the Commonwealth of Dominica and was admitted to practice in Dominica in 1984 after being called to the Bar in the Commonwealth of Dominica in 1984 and in the British Virgin Islands in 1993. His Lordship is a graduate of the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, where he obtained his Bachelor …
How Law Firms Can Retain its Clients
In a market where customers have a wide variety of choices, losing clients to other law firms is certainly a barrier to growth. How can you stem the loss by differentiating your firm from others? Developing a competitive edge is essential to give your firm an advantage over your potential competitors. Despite your firm’s uniqueness, a key questions to ask is: what more could be done to stay ahead of the competitors? What distinguishes you? There are many different kinds of differentiation, and the most important thing is to use them to your advantage. You could, for instance, benefit from …
Arbitration versus Litigation
Any two parties in a business relationship should strive for peaceful dispute resolution and deterring their escalation. When a commercial contract is involved, there are typically two formal dispute resolution options: litigation or arbitration. Here is a brief guide than can help you choose between arbitration and litigation. Arbitration Arbitration is, in layman’s terms, the decision of an impartial third party to settle a dispute between two commercial parties outside of court. From the outside, arbitration may appear to be the less dramatic cousin of litigation. There is no courtroom, jury, or judge. However, arbitration is frequently the preferred option …
What Is a Trust Fund
A trust fund is a legal entity that holds assets or property for a person or organization and is a tool for estate planning. Money, real estate, stocks, bonds, a business, or a combination of many different kinds of properties or assets can all be held in trust funds. A trust fund can only be established by three parties: the beneficiary, the trustee, and the grantor. The trustee is responsible for managing the trust funds on behalf of the grantor and beneficiary. It is possible to establish trust funds in a variety of ways and under a variety of conditions. …
What is Voir Dire?
Voir dire is a legal term that refers to the process of questioning prospective jurors to determine their qualifications and suitability to serve on a jury in a particular case. The term “voir dire” is derived from French and means “to speak the truth.” This process is an essential part of jury selection and is used to identify any potential biases, prejudices, or conflicts of interest that may affect a juror’s ability to fairly and impartially decide the case. During voir dire, attorneys from both sides (prosecution and defense) have the opportunity to question potential jurors. The goal is to …