Headlines – Page 1348
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Quality concern
Susan Humble, clerk to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal, states in her letter ‘Checks and balances’ that: ‘Statistically, only a small proportion of SDT decisions are appealed and it speaks volumes for the quality of the decision-making process that its decisions are overturned in very few cases.’
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Respect has to be earned
Fascinated as I was by District Judge Paul Mildred’s article ‘Conduct unbecoming in our courts’, I can’t help but think he has misdirected himself. Respect can be demanded, but, in my experience, is given only when it is earned. ...
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Bribery Act guidance
It is now 13 years since the UK committed to fulfil its obligations under the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention, and almost nine years since it became a signatory to the UN Convention against Corruption. In that time, there has been an unremitting flow of effort aimed ...
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Outcomes-focused regulation will require cultural changes by solicitors
by Tony Guise, director of GUISE Solicitors Limited, a specialist law firm providing regulatory and compliance advice 'When I use a word,’ Humpty Dumpty said, in a rather scornful tone, ‘it means just what I choose it to mean, neither more nor less.’
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Welcome news as Allen & Overy offers placements and minimum wage
Nick Clegg’s strategy to boost social mobility targets unpaid internships, a nice illustration of the incongruities that can arise in coalition government. As recently as February, his Tory partners were busy auctioning internships in City banks and hedge funds at a £400-a-head fundraiser. Clegg doubtless reasons ...
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News focus: responses to the Jackson consultation on civil costs
The Ministry of Justice consultation on the implementation of Lord Justice Jackson’s (pictured) recommendations on reforming civil litigation and funding costs closed on 14 February. Six weeks later, we have the government’s response to the 600 submissions it received. They must be speed-readers at the MoJ. ...
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Just our Lidl joke
Some rather intriguing legal news appeared last Friday (1 April). First, law firm Jordans revealed that, in an attempt to create a more ‘family-friendly’ atmosphere in court, the lord chief justice had issued a new practice direction introducing ‘multicoloured polka dot’ robes. The change followed extensive ...
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Off their trollies
The Family Justice Review Panel pulled no punches when it delivered its interim review on the family justice system last week. After spending a year gathering evidence by visiting courts around the country, it discovered a court process riddled with ‘scandalous’ delays, and concluded that the ...
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Sharp practice
While a cutting exchange of words between rivals may occasionally be de rigueur at a law firm party, actual fisticuffs are rare. Obiter was alarmed, therefore – while serenely quaffing a refreshing champagne and raspberry cocktail at the Savoy hotel last week (home to Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer’s Olympics media reception) ...
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Legal Ombudsman is 'consumer-unfriendly'
The Legal Ombudsman was last week accused by a consumer watchdog of capitulating to ‘spurious objections from the legal profession’, after announcing plans for a ‘staged approach’ to publishing information about complaints against law firms. In the first part of a three-stage approach, LeO has begun ...
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Family lawyers welcome 'ambitious' Justice Review Panel plans
Family lawyers have welcomed the ‘ambitious’ proposals published by the Family Justice Review Panel last week, but warned that the changes will not work unless there is adequate funding. The Law Society and Family Law Bar Association supported the interim recommendations of the panel, which ...
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Money laundering rules to be relaxed for solicitors
Solicitors will no longer need to fear criminal conviction for minor due diligence errors such as keeping an out-of-date passport on file, the Law Society said last week, as the government announced plans to reduce the regulatory burden attached to anti-money laundering obligations. Chancery Lane said ...
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Legal Services Board rebuffs Djanogly on ILEX rights
The Legal Services Board has dismissed a call by justice minister Jonathan Djanogly for it to consult more widely on proposals to extend the rights of legal executives to conduct litigation and appear in court. Last week, Djanogly told the House of Commons that an application ...
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Carlisle solicitor admits fraud
A former Carlisle solicitor is awaiting sentence after admitting a £250,000 fraud. Pauline Lesley Butler, who worked as a sole practitioner at her firm Pauline L Butler in Carlisle, pleaded guilty at Carlisle Crown Court last week to charges of fraud and false accounting. ...
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Luton solicitor's campaign set to change road safety law
A Luton solicitor has been instrumental in an apparently successful attempt to change road safety laws. Mark Wardrop, partner and head of litigation at Pictons in Luton, campaigned for the creation of a new offence of ‘causing death by dangerous or reckless cycling’ after acting for ...
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Conveyancing solicitors call for binding contracts
Conveyancing solicitors and estate agents have called on the property industry to develop legally binding preliminary contracts to reduce the number of house sales that fall through. At an event hosted by the president of the E-Homebuying Forum, Sir Bryan Carsberg, last week, representatives from ...
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DAS considers offering written legal advice
Legal expenses insurer DAS is considering providing written legal advice to its policyholders once reforms allow, its legal chief told the Gazette this week. DAS head of legal Kathryn Mortimer said that the insurer, which has already made clear its intention to acquire Bristol firm CW ...
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Solicitors Regulation Authority unveils handbook
The Solicitors Regulation Authority published the final version of its new solicitors handbook this week, as it revealed it had received ‘quite a number’ of enquiries from potential new market entrants about becoming alternative business structures. The SRA has applied to become a regulator of ...
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APIL calls for damages discount review
The Association of Personal Injury Lawyers has alleged that a failure by the justice secretary to review the damages discount rate has led to some claimants being under-compensated by ‘hundreds of thousands of pounds’. Launching a judicial review against the MoJ last week, APIL said the ...
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European courts face workload ‘crisis’, claims House of Lords
The European Union’s two highest courts are facing a ‘crisis’ in managing their existing and ever increasing workloads, according to House of Lords report published yesterday. The report predicted ‘another crisis of workload soon’ for the Court of Justice (CJ), the supreme or constitutional court of ...