Latest news – Page 789
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With reply to Pat McFadden's 'Breaking the class ceiling'
I read Pat McFadden's article ‘Breaking the class ceiling’ (see [2010] Gazette, 11 February, 10) with interest and some frustration.
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Representing all
I would like to clarify an important point in relation to last week’s news story ‘Large firms in legal aid talks’ (see [2010] Gazette 18 February, 1) .
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Double jeopardy
Your report concerning the risk of court action arising from money laundering reporting (see [2010] Gazette, February 11, 1) highlights the invidious position of solicitors under the current legislation.
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Committee proposes libel law changes
A parliamentary committee has proposed wide-ranging changes to the libel laws but rejected the introduction of legislation on privacy. The Commons Culture, Media and Sports Committee recommended that the Press Complaints Commission amended its code to include a new requirement that journalists notify the subject of ...
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Commercial reality
Richard Tinn appears to be accusing me of departing from the traditional values of our profession in suggesting that clients want fixed fees instead of time-based charging (see [2010] Gazette, 18 February, 11).
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Law Society wins top Business Superbrands award
The Law Society has been voted the strongest brand in the Association & Accreditation (A&A) sector of the Business Superbrands survey for the second year running. It was also ranked 75th overall out of the top 500 brands across all sectors, up from 118th last ...
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Groundbreaking college scheme sidesteps training contract
Northumbria University Law School has joined forces with national firm Irwin Mitchell to pilot a groundbreaking scheme to train future lawyers. It now offers a full-time five-year Master of Law (Solicitor) degree, combining the academic, vocational and training stages of qualification as a solicitor, at the ...
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Commission proposes radical shake-up of social care law
The Law Commission has today proposed the most radical shake-up of adult social care law in 60 years. The proposals, uniting the provisions of 38 separate acts in one modern statute, aim to avoid red tape, delays and litigation. They will also save public money and ...
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CPS updates its code for Crown prosecutors
The Crown Prosecution Service has issued an updated edition of its code for Crown prosecutors to make it easier for the public to understand how decisions are made. The document, which follows a 12-week consultation, includes a clearer explanation of the public interest factors in making ...
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Regulation of estate agents ‘unnecessary’, says OFT
Solicitors have expressed disappointment that the Office of Fair Trading did not propose the regulation of estate agents in its home buying and selling report published last week. Despite representations made by many in the industry, including the Law Society, the OFT concluded there was ‘not ...
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Two solicitors charged in connection with £50m fraud
Two solicitors have been charged with multiple offences related to a series of high-value commercial mortgage frauds worth around £50m in total. Mark Knights of Cheshire, 45, who worked at Manchester firm Mace & Jones at the time the frauds took place, appeared today at the ...
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Local government lawyers to develop new competence powers
Local government lawyers are to draft a new ‘power of general competence’ to give local authorities greater freedom to act independently of central government to improve the economic, social and environmental wellbeing of their areas. The new power of general competence is intended to complement the ...
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One rule for all
Mr Digby-Bell’s letter of 11 February, continuing the debate about time-based charging, suggests that clients whose matters proceed in a manner without complication should subsidise the transactions of other clients where problems may occur.
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Supply and demand
I must confess I do not agree with the sympathy expressed for trainees (‘Trainees facing exploitation on qualifying’, [2009] Gazette, 11 February, 1).
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Fighting prejudice
While I accept the views of business minister Pat McFadden in his article ‘Breaking the class ceiling’, I would like to add that the only way in which equality can be achieved in the legal profession is by eradicating racism and discrimination, which are an inherent part of the profession.
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Tools of the trade
I write further to Pat McFadden's article entitled ‘Breaking the class ceiling’ (see [2010] Gazette, 11 February, 10).
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‘Stretched resources’ to blame for poor CPS performances
‘Stretched resources’ at the frontline across the Crown Prosecution Service in London have resulted in ‘poor’ performance ratings for five boroughs and lower than average conviction rates in the capital, according to the organisation’s chief inspector. Reports of inspections in nine London boroughs by the HM ...
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Companies face publicity threat over corporate manslaughter
Judges will have the power to force companies convicted of corporate manslaughter to publicise their conviction after new measures came into force this week. Courts will be able to hand out publicity orders to companies and public bodies where gross corporate health and safety failures caused ...
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Microsoft to outsource general legal work to India
Software giant Microsoft will begin outsourcing general legal work to India after signing a deal with legal process outsourcing (LPO) company CPA Global. The news comes as CPA outlined plans to expand its Indian workforce from 600 to 1,000 by the end of 2011, and hinted at opening another outsourcing ...
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Survey reveals civil legal aid solicitors are ‘starved of cash'
A survey of law firms carried out by the newly launched Alliance for Legal Aid (AfLA) has revealed solicitors doing civil legal aid work are being ‘starved of cash to assist clients in desperate need’. AfLA launched this week to voice concerns about the provision of ...