All articles by Catherine Baksi – Page 54
-
News
Opponents win custody advice concession in ‘un-costed and unjust’ LASPO
The government has abandoned its controversial plan to pave the way for the means-testing of legal advice for suspects detained in police stations. The Law Society welcomed the government’s decision, announced in the latest Lords debate on the Legal Aid Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders ...
-
News
Firm leaves Conveyancing Quality Scheme
A Manchester firm has withdrawn from the Law Society’s Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS) after going into the insurance assigned risks pool (ARP). GLP Crumpsall is the first firm to leave the accreditation scheme, which opened in January 2011. It withdrew voluntarily after informing the ...
-
News
Jailing of internet contempt juror sends ‘important message’ - Grieve
A juror who carried out internet research on a defendant has been jailed for six months. The Divisional Court, headed by the lord chief justice Lord Judge, today found university lecturer Theodora Dallas (pictured) guilty of contempt of court, following a case brought by the attorney ...
-
News
Society contacts Cable over HSBC as Nationwide culls 'dormant' firms
The Law Society has today written an open letter to solicitors outlining its strategy and guidance for addressing HSBC’s highly controversial decision to introduce a conveyancing panel comprising just 43 firms. President John Wotton has already complained to business secretary Vince Cable, while talks took place on Wednesday this week ...
-
News
Reprieve on special needs is first concession on legal aid bill
The government has made its first tiny concession in the House of Lords debate on proposed legal aid reforms, agreeing to table a ‘technical amendment’ to ensure all special educational needs (SEN) cases remain in scope. But justice minister Lord McNally gave little hope that ...
-
News
CPS unveils smaller legal panel
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) today announced the appointments to its new, smaller, advocacy panel. Following an application process that began in March 2011, 2,582 advocates, the vast majority of who are barristers but with around 20 solicitor advocates, have been appointed. From 1 February all ...
-
News
HSBC panel ‘backlash’
The Law Society is considering ‘all possible options’ in response to what some practitioners are describing as an unprecedented backlash by high street firms over HSBC’s decision to replace its open conveyancing panel with a panel comprising just 43 firms.
-
News
Law Society to launch Advocacy Section
The Law Society will next week launch a dedicated advocacy section to build a ‘community’ of solicitor-advocates to match the level of support barristers receive from the Inns of Court. The Advocacy Section will provide mentoring, training and networking opportunities at circuit and national level, the ...
-
News
Bar applications up 18%
Applications for the Bar Professional Training Course have risen despite the continued fall in the number of pupillages, the bar’s annual report to the profession reveals. The annual Bar Barometer report, prepared by Dr Jennifer Sauboorah for the Bar Council and Bar Standards Board, shows there ...
-
News
QualitySolicitors recruits in run-up to £15m ad campaign
Law firm network QualitySolicitors has announced the recruitment of two senior executives as it prepares a multi-million-pound ‘John Lewis-style’ television advertising campaign. Lee Ellis, formerly head of commercial finance at retailer Halfords, has been appointed as finance director. Claire Smith (pictured), a former partner ...
-
News
Joint enterprise law ‘unacceptable’, says justice committee
MPs have called for ‘immediate steps’ to reform the ‘complex’ and ‘confusing’ law on joint enterprise. The cross party Justice Committee says the doctrine is being applied ‘inconsistently’ and that legislation is needed to ensure justice for victims and defendants and to cut the high number ...
-
News
Chancery Lane warns against move to limit jury trial
The Law Society president has defended the right to jury trial following reports that the government is considering removing some offences from the jurisdiction of the Crown court. Proposals to make low value theft offences triable only in the magistrates’ court are understood to be among ...
-
News
No surrender on LASPO, says McNally
Peers from all parties were this week united in their opposition to the government’s planned legal aid reforms, but justice minister Lord McNally told the House of Lords he is ‘not waving a white handkerchief’ or making concessions. During the third day debating the Legal Aid, ...
-
News
Crossley suspended for copyright infringement conduct
Solicitor Andrew Crossley was yesterday suspended from practising for two years and ordered to pay over £76,000 in costs in a Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal hearing arising from threats of court action against people accused of infringing copyright. The founder and sole principal at London ...
-
News
Family reform judge calls for culture change
A ‘strong consensus’ and a ‘commitment to a change in culture’ is needed to improve the efficiency of the family justice system, according to the senior judge charged with reform. In his first published update since being appointed to lead the modernisation of family justice, Mr Justice Ryder sets out ...
-
News
Prosecutors to have power to challenge Crown court bail
The justice minister has announced plans to change the law to allow prosecutors to challenge decisions made by judges in the Crown court to release defendants on bail. Crispin Blunt said the move will allow decisions to be reviewed in the High Court where prosecutors believe ...
-
News
Lib Dem peer holds out hope for LASPO retreat
A Liberal Democrat peer has indicated there could be ‘major changes’ to the Legal Aid Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill during its passage through the House of Lords. Lord Phillips of Sudbury, a former solicitor, said the majority of cross bench and Labour peers, along ...
-
News
Law Society wary on shared parenting possibility
The Law Society’s family law committee has cautioned against introducing a legal presumption of shared parenting after divorce, following indications that the government may seek to change the law. Children’s minister Tim Loughton has said that the government is ‘looking closely at all the options ...
-
Profile
Interview: Michael Todd QC
Catherine Baksi talks with Michael Todd QC, chairman of the Bar Council, about the future of the bar and the challenges it faces.
-
News
HSBC conveyancing panel size 'could harm consumer choice'
Concerns are growing that the restricted size of HSBC’s new conveyancing panel may harm consumer choice. The bank launched the panel this week to provide services to residential mortgage customers. It has 43 members across the UK, 39 of which are solicitor firms and four licensed conveyancing companies. ...