Headlines – Page 1436
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Appointment of just one solicitor QC concerns Law Society
The Law Society has claimed that the appointment of only one of the 10 solicitors who applied for silk is evidence of a ‘worrying trend’. Following last week’s announcement of 129 new QCs, Chancery Lane said it was a ‘matter of great concern’ that the ...
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Poverty campaign protest outside ‘vulture fund’ firm
City firms that represent so-called ‘vulture funds’ while claiming to be socially responsible have been accused of hypocrisy by a campaign group on global poverty. The Jubilee Debt Campaign last week staged a protest outside the London office of US firm Dechert, two days before ...
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Legal Complaints Service a ‘success story’ says commissioner
The body that handles complaints against solicitors is a ‘success story’ that has met all its performance targets, the legal services complaints commissioner declared last week. Releasing her sixth and final annual report before the new Office for Legal Complaints replaces the Law Society’s Legal Complaints ...
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Carolyn Regan quits as Jack Straw turns LSC into executive agency
The chief executive of the Legal Services Commission has resigned after the Ministry of Justice took control of the body following the publication of the Magee review of the delivery of legal aid. Carolyn Regan, who has headed the LSC for the last three and half ...
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Landmark Court of Appeal ruling on retainers
Solicitors who cease acting for a client where the case has no chance of success on points of law are entitled to be paid for the work done up to that point, the Court of Appeal has ruled. The Court of Appeal (pictured), in Buxton v ...
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Most consumers ‘cannot tell good lawyer from bad one’
Most consumers could not tell a good lawyer from a bad one, according to Ministry of Justice research published this week.
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Miners’ solicitors to face court action
Solicitors who handled sick coal miners’ government compensation claims are set to appear before courts across the country, as the first known court actions for alleged undersettlement of such claims begin to emerge.
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Making the most of web enquiry sources
As an independent business working on marketing with solicitors around the country, we have to be careful to remain independent. This independence allows us to assess marketing and promotional opportunities...
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Referral ban ‘will not reduce costs’
Banning referral fees will harm the legal profession and will have no effect on reducing law firms’ marketing costs, the chair of the Claims Standards Council (CSC) said last week. Speaking at the CSC annual conference in Manchester, Accident Advice Helpline managing director Darren Werth said ...
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Law Society launches election manifesto
The Law Society today published a policy manifesto ahead of the forthcoming general election, urging all political parties to respect the rule of law and safeguard access to justice. The 24-page document, contains a detailed and wide-ranging ‘wishlist’ of recommendations, ranging from support for the ...
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Government use of ADR falls – but settlement rate increases
The use of alternative dispute resolution by government departments fell last year, though settlement rates increased, a report published by the Ministry of Justice has revealed. In 2008/09 ADR was used in 314 cases, leading to settlement in 259 (82%), saving costs estimated at £90.2m, the ...
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Time to embrace back-office outsourcing
The term ‘outsourcing’ is hardly new to the legal world: there has been much discussion over several years about legal process outsourcing (LPO)...
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A new judicial architecture for Europe
The reference to judicial architecture in the title is not to the buildings in which judges sit and decide cases – although if that is your interest, there is a European group for people who share your hobby. There is a European group to cater for nearly every taste.
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The state we are in
It is perhaps fortunate that your lead letter 'Tools of the trade' writer (see [2009] Gazette, 18 February, 11) withheld their personal details...
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Why Lexcel needs a rebrand
I read with little surprise at the Law Society being voted strongest Business Superbrand in its sector, or at its overall 75th placing. The Law Society is an internationally recognised brand with an enviable heritage.
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Concerns over terminating retainer
I refer to the Court of Appeal decision in Buxton v Mills-Owen [2010] EWCA Civ 122 which seems to me to raise some issues of general concern to the profession.
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Only one solicitor among new QC appointments
Just one solicitor was among the 129 Queen’s Counsel appointments announced by the lord chancellor today in the fourth competition run by the independent selection panel. George Trinick, energy partner at national firm Eversheds, was the only solicitor of the 10 who applied to be appointed. Only four solicitors applied ...
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Lawyers work ‘extreme’ overtime, study reveals
Lawyers are among the most likely workers to do ‘extreme’ unpaid overtime, figures have revealed. Research by the Trades Union Congress found that 18% of legal professionals did more than 10 hours of unpaid overtime a week. The study found that ...
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Assisted suicide: a mercy killing charter?
The new policy on assisted suicide is not the mercy killing charter that some religious groups, charities and newspapers have painted it.
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Civil procedure
Costs – Personal injury – Allocation – Detailed assessment Drew v Whitbread: CA (Civ Div) (Lords Justice Waller (vice-president), Hooper, Etherton): 9 February 2010 The appellant (D) appealed against ...