Last 3 months headlines – Page 1270
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Medical treatment
There is no evidence whatsoever that the availability of conditional fee agreements (CFAs) is a factor behind the increase of claims for medical blunders (‘Doctors blame "no-win, no-fee" for rise in legal actions’).
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PI pressure
I read that a GP was recently found to have unreasonably induced a patient to accept a cosmetic procedure by offering a discount if it was booked with two other patients. This and other failings led the General Medical Council (GMC) to impose 10 conditions on his registration.
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Social security
Income support – Jobseeker's allowance – Claimants claiming allowance R (on the application of Reilly and another) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions: Queen's Bench Division, Administrative Court (London): 6 August 2012 ...
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Solicitors' supporting cast
Many solicitors openly acknowledge their reliance on non-lawyers in building a successful practice. Yet that acknowledgement does not always translate into an enhanced standing for secretarial, administrative, paralegal and other non-legally qualified employees.
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Dr, Do Little?
The similarities between employment law and Doctor Dolittle are of course striking. Both are a little eccentric among their peers and have at times struggled to be recognised fully. Sometimes they are assisted by monkeys and of course neither can sing. But perhaps most notable of all may be their ...
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Networking order
The Solicitors Regulation Authority is holding a conference on 27-28 September in London for regulators from around the world (well, chiefly from the common law world judging from the last programme I saw). It covers many important topics, with an A-list roster of speakers. Its goal is to share best ...
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Solicitors' outcry at weekend court sittings
Government plans to extend weekend court sittings could be in jeopardy following a Law Society warning that ‘very few’ defence solicitors will take part in pilot schemes. In a letter to justice secretary Kenneth Clarke, Society president Lucy Scott-Moncrieff said solicitors feel ‘strongly alienated’ by the ...
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Lawyer search website ready to launch
A website that introduces clients to solicitors and public access barristers along the lines of services set up to source tradespeople is ready to go live this autumn. MrLawyer.co.uk is the brainchild of London barrister Jasvir Degun (pictured, right) and two of his friends, property ...
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August sees spurt of ABS activity
More than a dozen alternative business structures were approved in August in the busiest period of licensing activity yet. The Solicitors Regulation Authority has approved 13 new ABSs since 1 August, taking its total up to 27. Irwin Mitchell was the highest-profile new entrant. The ...
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Society warning over conveyancing
Separate legal representation for homebuyers and mortgage lenders could reduce solicitors’ share of the conveyancing market and hand work ‘on a plate’ to other sectors, the Law Society has warned.
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Snooping bill ‘not thought through’
Proposals in draft legislation would let the government conduct the ‘mass surveillance of innocent people’ under the cloak of investigating terrorist and criminal organisations, the Law Society has claimed.
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Upon what reserves are all concerned to draw when a real emergency arises?
Criminal justice is an area where policymakers see a problem that is not there – and then set about solving it with gusto. As we report, the latest bogus bete noire is the apparent inflexibility of magistrates courts’ sitting hours.
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Independence day?
Obiter is a big fan of things Welsh, especially Brains bitter and the Super Furry Animals. So we shall be sad if this fine nation decides it can dole out justice better on its own and creates a separate legal jurisdiction (not half as sad as whoever gets the job ...
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Ferrets' battle brief
Spending a little time on the traditional pursuits of the lower orders has a long tradition in City firms. Obiter is just old enough to remember being invited to play darts with Herbert Smith partners and selected members of the press in an East End pub (the scores reflecting the ...
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Swanning about
We thought some readers might be interested in bidding for Up Before the Beak, a 5ft limited edition (unique, actually, come to think of it) swan sculpture. Sponsored by Wells solicitors Harris & Harris, he has been much admired over the summer but goes under ...
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Investment
Dealing in securities – Defendants issuing guaranteed notes – Claimants investing Azevedo and Alvarez v Imcopa Importacao, Exportaacao e Industria de Oleos Ltda and other companies: Queen's Bench Division, Commercial Court: 30 May 2012 ...
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Intellectual Property
European Union – Patent Eli Lilly and Co v Human Genome Sciences Inc: Chancery Division, Patents Court: 3 August 2012 The Chancery Division, Patents Court, refused the claimant's application for ...
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New public service ABS seeks investors
A niche London legal practice styled as the only UK firm focusing on public service delivery is seeking external investment after becoming an alternative business structure (ABS). TPP Law Limited, based in Bankside, central London, was founded over a decade ago by current managing director Mark ...
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Restrictive preventions
Alasdair Lewis, director of legal services at the Land Registry, is imprecise when he states in his letter from July that 'earlier this year [the Land Registry] launched a restriction aimed at owners who do not live at the registered property which has proved extremely popular with our customers’.