Last 3 months headlines – Page 1333
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McNally’s end of peer show
Obiter has been impressed by the dedication shown by peers sitting late into the evening to speak out on the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill. And spare a thought for justice minister Lord McNally of ...
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On a roll
Centenarian retired solicitor and Dunkirk veteran Neville Spencer is still on the roll - 80 years post-qualification. ‘Why not stay on the roll?’ he says, ‘I’ve done nothing wrong!’ Spencer qualified in 1932, and a few years later ‘upped sticks’ and joined the Royal Warwickshire Regiment to fight in WW2. ...
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Home truths
What with one thing and another (see the news pages) our conveyancing colleagues are having a bit of a time of it at the moment. So Obiter wasn’t too surprised to receive a survey showing that only one third of them are satisfied in their area of practice.
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Let us not rush to judgement on outside investment
Many solicitors have deep-seated suspicions concerning the external finance that law firms are now allowed to seek out. This week that interest is focused on the pioneering acquisition - subject to SRA approval - of Liverpool firm Silverbeck Rymer by AIM-listed Quindell Portfolio. Some of ...
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Education is an entitlement
by Graham Clayton, director of the Steve Sinnott Foundation We debate it and argue over it. Almost everyone has a strong opinion about it. We certainly have a lot of legislation about it.
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UK courts have misunderstood a fundamental provision of the Human Rights Act
‘Cameron tells Euro judges to stop meddling in British justice,’ the Mail on Sunday headlined its well-sourced report at the weekend. Anticipating the prime minister’s speech to the Council of Europe’s parliamentary assembly on Wednesday afternoon, the newspaper said that David Cameron would demand major reforms to the European Court ...
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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 ...
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Cost assessment scheme to go national
Lord Justice Jackson has stated that the costs provisional assessment scheme is ready to go national after a year-long pilot. District judges in three county courts were required to assess on paper any bill of costs in which the base costs claimed were £25,000 or less. ...
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Law Society president: split in profession to end
The president of the Law Society expects the 180-year-old division between solicitors and barristers to wither away as a result of the reforms set in motion by the Legal Services Act. It is ‘inevitable’ the professions will ‘need to revisit the question whether [they] should continue ...
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UK ‘blocking’ EU human rights accession
The UK is blocking moves to close a ‘gaping hole’ in European human rights protection, it has been claimed on the day that prime minister David Cameron is to address the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. A joint statement issued by the Council of ...
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Quoted company buys PI firm in ABS first
A personal injury firm is to be bought by a listed company in a £19.3m deal to create an alternative business structure (ABS). Liverpool-based Silverbeck Rymer will be acquired by AIM-listed Quindell Portfolio for an initial £10.25m in cash, and the issue of up to 120.8m ...
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Lord Chancellor’s incorrect statement
The Lord Chancellor Kenneth Clarke gave evidence to the Joint Select Committee on Privacy and Injunctions on 16 January 2012 (uncorrected evidence published on 23 January 2012). In answer to a question by Lord Boateng, Clarke said:
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A blow for case management?
The Gazette reported last week on a case in which former firm Bevan Ashford faces legal action over advice given free of charge by a newly qualified solicitor. Given the number of firms out there offering a free half-hour of advice to new clients, it’s no wonder that so many ...
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Your personal new year financial review
In his November Autumn Statement, chancellor George Osborne confirmed the difficulties the economy faces and effectively emphasised the need for partners to reappraise their financial planning and the tax-efficiency of their finances. There is no better time to do this than at the start of the new year! Here are ...
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Twitter ban in Redknapp trial
The judge in the trial of Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp has banned the use of Twitter from inside the courtroom. Judge Leonard ordered the ban for both the press and members of the public attending the trial of Redknapp (pictured) and former Portsmouth chairman Milan ...
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A Directive that you will not be able to put down
Don’t surprise me by saying that Directive 2005/36/EC on the recognition of professional qualifications is not on your bedside-table, to be consulted when you need to be entertained in the middle of the night. It is right up there with Stephen King and JK Rowling, a masterpiece in horror and ...
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Management priorities
As we look forward to 2012 and the challenges that solicitors’ firms face I would suggest they need to think carefully about their management priorities for the coming year. Direct competition for the domestic, small business and corporate client groups will become more visible as new businesses (alternative business structures ...
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News
Management priorities
As we look forward to 2012 and the challenges that solicitors’ firms face I would suggest they need to think carefully about their management priorities for the coming year. Direct competition for the domestic, small business and corporate client groups will become more visible as new businesses (alternative business structures ...
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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 ...