Last 3 months headlines – Page 1351
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How far should the UK promote national interests?
Keen followers of European affairs might have noticed that, though the UK’s influence over the EU might have been slipping during the play-out of the eurozone crisis, its influence has increased - for six months at least - over that other European body, the Council of Europe. That is because, ...
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Vicarious liability
Roman Catholic church - Liability for tortious acts of priest GE v English Province of Our Lady of Charity and another: QB (Mr Justice Macduff): 8 November 2011 The claimant ...
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Is the so-called ‘forum bar’ really the panacea claimed by campaigners?
Was the government’s recent extradition review one-sided? The highly experienced extradition solicitor Karen Todner complained in last week’s Gazette that the Scott Baker inquiry did not interview a single defence practitioner.
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Expert witnesses could challenge fees cap
Expert witnesses in family courts are considering legal action over a new cap on experts’ fees in legally aided cases, which can be much lower for witnesses based in London than elsewhere. Dr Judith Freedman, convenor of the 500-strong Consortium of Expert Witnesses in the Family ...
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Court workers set for strike
Record numbers of court workers will walk out as part of nationwide public sector strikes next Wednesday, union leaders have claimed. The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) Union says around 15,000 members employed by the Ministry of Justice - most working in the courts service ...
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Clarke outlines judicial diversity push
Justice secretary Kenneth Clarke has unveiled proposals to improve the diversity of judicial appointments by extending flexible working arrangements to include High Court and Court of Appeal judges. The aim is to see more women appointed to senior judicial roles.
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Backlog drives up value of compensation claims
The value of outstanding claims to the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s compensation fund has jumped by 27% in a year. Figures released by the SRA show the value of claims in progress was £214m at the end of October, compared with around £170m 12 months previously. ...
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HighStreetLawyer.com doubles in size
Legal franchising brand HighStreetLawyer.com has doubled in size by signing up five new firms. The venture, launched in September last year, aims to have around 100 members by the end of 2012, founder Gary Yantin (pictured) told the Gazette.
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Advocates get a dressing down
When Obiter was at school, non-uniform day was a breath of fresh air - albeit one that set our parents back at least a pound. So imagine the delight for Supreme Court advocates this week as rules on court dress codes were relaxed. The press notice states the court registrar ...
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Corrie plays it safe
Residents of Coronation Street no longer need live in fear of miscarriages of justice. Following Memory Lane’s account of the poor legal advice offered to Brian Tilsley back in 1981, we have been assured by Susan Singleton, a member of the Law Society’s press panel, that the programme now consults ...
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Timely union
Obiter loves a lawyer wedding, and it’s all the sweeter when plans are based on a sound grasp of public policy and legal developments. Step forward TLT associate Peter Richards-Gaskin (pictured), who just got engaged to another City lawyer. The firm had thought it would ...
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Frankly speaking
Diversity is an ‘American import’ and as a result class bias was never envisaged as a barrier to the legal profession. Or so claimed one member of the audience at last week’s launch of the Diversity League Table, the Black Solicitors Network’s annual snapshot of diversity in law firms and ...
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Memory lane
Law Society’s Gazette, 6 November 1991 Bar to tackle sex bias The Bar Council has committed to a comprehensive anti-sex discrimination programme following a 102 to 19 vote in favour of a resolution by the Association of Women Barristers (AWB) at the ...
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Plight of Colombian lawyers dramatised
Human rights lawyers in Colombia live under constant threat of violence and death, according to campaign group Peace Brigades International. At an event at Middle Temple Hall, London, this week, artist Helen Chadwick and actors Joanna Foster, Stephanie Street, Samuel West, Juliet Stevenson and Zoe Wanamaker dramatised, with readings and ...
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MASS chief calls for ‘honesty’ over fees ban
The chair of the Motor Accident Solicitors Society has appealed to the insurance industry for ‘honesty’ in the debate over the effects of a ban on referral fees. Addressing the Association of British Insurers conference on Tuesday, Donna Scully, partner at Liverpool firm Carpenters, called ...
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Bar aptitude pilot a success
A proposed aptitude test for bar students could accurately identify individuals who would do well in their courses, according to pilot studies. The Bar Standards Board proposed the test for students applying for the bar professional training course following the 2008 Wood review. The hour-long ...
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Top analyst predicts rash of legal mergers
A leading legal market authority has predicted a rash of mergers at top 50 firms in the next five years. Tony Williams (pictured), founder of consultancy firm Jomati and former managing partner of Clifford Chance, told a conference last week that further consolidation is inevitable as ...
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Statutory reform is needed to create a fair judicial process for cohabitants
by Claire Blakemore, a partner in the family team at international law firm Withers On 9 November the Supreme Court delivered its judgment in Kernott v Jones, a case concerning the property rights of cohabitants.
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Stop misleading the public with costly additional expenses in terms and conditions
I was recently asked to provide a conveyancing quote for a financial adviser who later produced for me a copy of the quote that his client had received via the estate agents. Our quotes were very similar, but on reading their terms and conditions there were ...
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A heartfelt thanks
All too often our profession fails to trumpet the good things we do. A fine example of worthwhile activity is the splendid, generous work of the trustees of the Law Society Charity. Since its foundation in 1974, the charity has quietly made well over 1,000 donations ...