Latest news – Page 835
-
News
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.
-
News
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).
-
News
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.
-
News
Tools of the trade
I write further to Pat McFadden's article entitled ‘Breaking the class ceiling’ (see [2010] Gazette, 11 February, 10).
-
News
‘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 ...
-
News
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 ...
-
News
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 ...
-
News
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 ...
-
News
Insurance tracking plans welcomed by personal injury lawyers
Personal injury lawyers have welcomed government plans to help people obtain compensation if they cannot trace their employers’ liability insurance policies. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has launched a consultation on setting up an Employers’ Liability Tracing Office (ELTO), which will manage an electronic ...
-
News
Miners' solicitors bombard government with FoI requests
The government has been overloaded with freedom of information (FoI) requests made by solicitors acting for former coal miners ahead of the first coordinated negligence action for alleged under-settlement of government compensation claims. In a letter to coalfield communities MPs, seen by the Gazette, junior energy ...
-
News
Government ‘actively assessing’ Jackson report
The government and the opposition have hinted that they would implement some of Lord Justice Jackson’s recommendations on civil litigation costs, following the first parliamentary exchange on the judge’s report since its publication a month ago. Justice secretary Jack Straw said: ‘Lord Justice Jackson’s proposals… are ...
-
News
Conveyancing solicitors ‘failing’ clients over survey advice
Conveyancing solicitors are running the risk of potential negligence actions by failing to advise buyers to obtain a survey before purchasing a property, an expert has claimed. Mike Ockenden, chief executive of the Federation of Property Information Providers, said: ‘The Council of Mortgage Lenders’ handbook recommends ...
-
News
Cafcass in ‘meltdown’, report claims
The organisation tasked with safeguarding the interests of vulnerable children is in ‘meltdown’, a report has suggested. However, the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass) has hit back at the claims, which it says are ‘not based on fact’ and undermine the ...
-
News
Large firms in legal aid talks
The Ministry of Justice has met representatives from some of the larger criminal legal aid firms to discuss more ambitious plans for best value tendering (BVT), it has emerged. The news has sparked fears among smaller firms that they could be cut out of the market. ...
-
News
Women jurors more likely to change their minds than men
Women jurors are more likely to change their minds as a result of jury deliberations than men, a Ministry of Justice report has revealed. The research showed that while female jurors were significantly more likely to convict at the start of deliberations, when discussions were completed ...
-
News
SRA approves sweeping changes to practising fee charging regime
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has this week approved sweeping changes to the way the practising certificate (PC) is charged, which will come into force this October. The SRA board has pressed ahead with a new charging regime that will shift more of the PC fee burden ...
-
News
HIPs reduce failed transactions and benefit solicitors, provider claims
Home Information Packs (HIPs) have reduced the number of failed conveyancing transactions, figures have suggested. Conveyancer and HIP provider myhomemove said the packs had caused the number of failed property transactions it was involved in to dip to 9% since the full introduction of HIPs ...
-
News
Law Society Diversity Access Scheme calls for funds
An initiative designed to boost social mobility and help talented students become lawyers has appealed for greater financial support to help raise funds to assist candidates in need. The Law Society's Diversity Access Scheme (DAS), which is supported by the Law Society Charity, supports promising entrants ...
-
News
APIL attacks government over eligibility for bereavement damages
The Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) has criticised the government for ignoring Law Commission recommendations to increase general damages in personal injury cases. Responding to a Ministry of Justice consultation on the draft Civil Law Reform Bill, APIL said that ‘injured people will bear the ...
-
News
Linklaters launches fast-track LPC
Magic circle firm Linklaters has launched an accelerated legal practice course designed to cut four and a half months from the typical LPC course length. The accelerated LPC, available to the firm’s trainees from January 2011, will take seven and a half months to complete. Linklaters ...