News | Law Gazette

Traffic courts to be set up

jmaher — Fri, 17 May 2013 15:47:23 +0000

Dedicated traffic courts will be established to deal with low-level road traffic offences and free up the courts to deal with more ‘serious and contested’ cases, the government announced today.

The new courts follow a pilot in nine areas. The Ministry of Justice said it is in discussion with judges to determine how the courts can set up, and it expects the courts to be operational by April 2014.

The special traffic courts will only deal with guilty pleas or those where the case against a defendant is not contested.

Economy 'testing access to justice'

jmaher — Fri, 17 May 2013 15:18:42 +0000

Access to justice is being tested by the ‘worst economic situation since world war II’, the president of the Athens bar told a pan-European delegation of lawyers today.

In his keynote address, Ioannis Adamopoulos added that no matter how bad the economic climate, it was important that governments should ‘not succumb to international financial control’ to the detriment of democracy.

Criminal legal aid cuts to reach £370m

jmaher — Fri, 17 May 2013 12:35:31 +0000

The Ministry of Justice has confirmed that projected savings of £150m in fee cuts will not, as was expected, count towards required cuts of £220m a year - taking cuts in criminal legal aid to £370m.

An official also revealed that the MoJ has no contingency plan in the event that the proposed introduction of price-competitive tendering (PCT) leads to a market failure.

The consultation stated that the ministry wants to save £220m a year by 2018/19 through the introduction of PCT and fee cuts, from the £1.1bn budget spent in 2011/12.

SRA’s popularity slips

jmaher — Fri, 17 May 2013 11:36:46 +0000

Solicitors are less likely to speak positively of the Solicitors Regulation Authority than they were a year ago, a Law Society survey has found.

Firms who took part in the 2012/13 winter poll were less likely than a year before to give ‘good’ ratings for the regulator in setting standards of behaviour, promoting and securing standards, protecting consumers and upholding the rule of law.

Law Society Excellence Awards now open for nomination

jmaher — Thu, 16 May 2013 14:29:41 +0000

The Law Society is inviting legal professionals from across England and Wales to enter the Excellence Awards 2013.

Now in its seventh year, and bigger than ever before, the event showcases some of the brightest minds and most innovative firms.

This year, the focus is on individuals and teams across the legal sector who are setting new precedents in the profession.

Law Society vice-president Nick Fluck said: ‘If you or your team are breaking new ground, if you have shown great innovation, if your work has been outstanding, we want to hear from you.

MoJ plans crackdown on ‘so-called’ experts

jmaher — Thu, 16 May 2013 11:58:14 +0000

Experts whose evidence is ‘not up to scratch’ will be driven out of the family courts by reforms announced today by the Ministry of Justice.

It has opened a nine-week consultation on new national standards designed to raise the quality of experts in family courts and to get rid of ‘poor-quality’ and ‘time-consuming evidence which adds little value’ in helping judges reach a decision.

The move, to reduce the £52m spent on experts, is the latest stage of reforms to speed up the family justice system.

Midlands ABS issues ‘join us’ offer to insurers

jmaher — Thu, 16 May 2013 09:55:27 +0000

A multi-service Midlands firm has used its new alternative business structure licence to issue a direct appeal to insurers to come on board with a joint venture.

Shakespeares, a firm with 680 lawyers and staff across the region, said it was ‘ABS-ready’ and looking to team up with any insurance firm wanting to enter the legal market.

Leveson QC set for High Court

jmaher — Wed, 15 May 2013 15:10:54 +0000

Robert Jay QC (pictured), leading counsel in the Leveson inquiry into press standards, is among three new High Court judges appointed last week. The others are Susan Carr QC and the former Recorder of Manchester, Judge Andrew Gilbart QC.

PC deadline

Solicitors without a practising certificate who wish to remain on the roll have just a few weeks left in which to apply online, the Solicitors Regulation Authority has reminded the profession. The deadline for applications is 18 June.

Bar case against cuts

End-to-end negligence defence practice sets up as ABS

jmaher — Wed, 15 May 2013 12:16:31 +0000

The first multi-disciplinary practice dedicated to defending professional negligence claims has successfully applied to become an alternative business structure.

Triton Global Limited will consist of niche defendant firm Robin Simon as well as claims management company Devonshire Claims and loss adjuster firm Walsh PI.

Under the ABS licence, effective from August, each separate entity will be dissolved and brought under the Triton umbrella.

Desperate PI firms breaking referral fee ban – AXA chief

jmaher — Wed, 15 May 2013 11:22:47 +0000

Personal injury law firms are continuing to pay referral fees for cases weeks after the ban came into force, a leading insurer has alleged.

David Fisher, claims technical manager for the UK’s fifth largest motor insurer AXA, told a parliamentary event that existing legislation is not enough to prevent non-compliance with the ban.