Last 3 months headlines – Page 1336

  • News

    Court clerk turns to Google to fill interpreting gap

    2012-03-02T00:00:00Z

    A court has resorted to web translation to communicate with a defendant as the fiasco over the government’s new interpreting regime continues to disrupt hearings.

  • News

    Immigration

    2012-03-01T00:00:00Z

    Asylum seeker - Appeal - Respondent North Korean nationals seeking asylum SP (North Korea) and others v Secretary of State for the Home Department: Court of Appeal, Civil Division (Lord Justices Maurice Kay, McFarlane and Davis): 16 February 2012 ...

  • News

    Discrimination

    2012-03-01T00:00:00Z

    Defendants running hotel - Defendants having strong religious beliefs Hall and another v Bull and another: Court of Appeal, Civil Division (Sir Andrew Morritt, Lord Justice Hooper and Lady Justice Rafferty): 10 February 2012 ...

  • News

    Education

    2012-03-01T00:00:00Z

    University - Fees - Rate of fees R (on the application of Hurley and another) v Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills: Queen's Bench Division, Administrative Court (London) (Lord Justice Elias and Mr Justice King): 17 February ...

  • News

    Human rights

    2012-03-01T00:00:00Z

    Right to respect for private and family life - Freedom of expression Spelman (by his litigation friends) v Express Newspapers: Queen's Bench Division (Mr Justice Lindblom): 15 February 2012 The ...

  • News

    Data protection

    2012-03-01T00:00:00Z

    On 25 January, the European Commission presented a proposal to reform the EU’s data protection regime. The proposal consists of a ­regulation governing private sector use of data that would replace the current Data Protection Directive (Directive 95/46/EC), and a new ­directive that would further regulate the processing of personal ...

  • News

    Criminal

    2012-03-01T00:00:00Z

    Trial - Keeping a disorderly house - Defendants renting two properties allegedly used for prostitution R v Court and another: Court of Appeal, Criminal Division: 9 February 2012 The Court ...

  • News

    Prison

    2012-03-01T00:00:00Z

    Prisoner - Release on licence - Childcare resettlement leave R (on the application of MP) v Secretary of State for Justice; R (on the application of P) v Governor of HMP Downview: QBD (Admin) (Mrs Justice Lang DBE): 13 ...

  • News

    Social security

    2012-03-01T00:00:00Z

    Housing benefit - Entitlement - Sheltered accommodation - Claimant in receipt of housing benefit Basey (by his litigation friend) v Oxford City Council: CA (Civ Div) (Lord Justices Mummery, Sullivan): 15 February 2012 ...

  • News

    Employment

    2012-03-01T00:00:00Z

    Employment tribunal - Procedure - Hearing Eversheds LLP v Gray: EAT (Judge Clark): 29 November 2011 Rule 16(1) of the Employment Tribunals (Constitution and Rules of Procedure) Regulations 2004, SI ...

  • News

    Cash crisis could close half of CABs

    2012-03-01T00:00:00Z

    Half of the 3,500 CAB advice centres run by the Citizens Advice charity could close as the government continues to squeeze legal aid and other sources of funding. News of the possible cull comes as the government prepares to give CAB extra work following its ‘bonfire of the quangos’. ...

  • News

    Government announces legal aid concessions

    2012-03-01T00:00:00Z

    The government has made two key concessions demanded by opponents of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders bill, days before the legislation enters report stage in the House of Lords. In amendments tabled today, the government accepted that the broad definition of domestic violence ...

  • News

    Conveyancing forms update plan

    2012-03-01T00:00:00Z

    The Law Society is seeking views on revising its general enquiry forms for residential conveyancing. It aims to update the property information form TA6 and the fittings and contents form TA10, which are filled in by sellers. Jonathan Smithers, chair of the Society’s land ...

  • News

    Extending the act, emails, and empty properties

    2012-03-01T00:00:00Z

    Approximately 130,000 organisations are covered by the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FoI). Section 5 of the act allows additional organisations to be added to the list by way of a ministerial order. The criteria are that they must exercise public functions or provide contracted out public authority functions.

  • News

    A bit of give and take

    2012-03-01T00:00:00Z

    Fiona Woolf overlooks the contribution of clients with regard to her hopes that more women will reach the top in law firms. I agree that many law firms find it difficult to accommodate flexible working, but it is clients too who need to change their attitude to women lawyers.

  • News

    First complaint

    2012-03-01T00:00:00Z

    For many years I have been a very contented customer of First Direct for my personal banking. I have recommended the service to others, including clients, unhesitatingly. No longer. While I still get an excellent service, I have complained to First Direct about their owner HSBC’s ...

  • News

    MoJ warned two years ago over interpreters

    2012-03-01T00:00:00Z

    Ministry of Justice officials were warned two years ago that a central contract for courtroom interpreter services would lead to wrongful detentions, the Gazette has learned. Emails from a body representing interpreters also warned in 2010 that members would boycott the scheme. The MoJ and its ...

  • News

    BSB code hints at OFR

    2012-03-01T00:00:00Z

    The Bar Standards Board has outlined a move towards solicitor firm-style outcomes-focused regulation, in a consultation which also proposes the immediate suspension of some barristers facing disciplinary action. In papers published this week, the BSB sets out its aim to introduce a single handbook of rules, ...

  • News

    No turning back from liberalisation

    2012-03-01T00:00:00Z

    I expect that very soon the Solicitors Regulation Authority will announce that it has granted the first group of licences for alternative business structures if, indeed, an announcement to this effect has not already been made by the time this article is published. The end of the profession? I think ...

  • News

    In good wealth

    2012-03-01T00:00:00Z

    Wealth management has never been one of Obiter’s preoccupations (a jam jar for loose copper generally sufficing), but it seems the coming thing in the legal sector. City firm Mishcon de Reya last week revealed plans to branch out into offering ‘private bank relationship management advice’, along with tax advice ...