All News articles – Page 1440
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News
Londoners will fare worst from legal aid cuts - survey
Londoners will be hit hardest by the government’s planned legal aid cuts, a survey published by the Legal Action Group (LAG) has found. It has calculated that the capital will lose £9.33m under the proposed reforms in funding for housing, employment, debt, welfare benefits and immigration ...
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Obscenity trial shows up outdated law
In 1961, the case of R v Penguin books, more commonly known as the Lady Chatterley trial, exposed the gulf between what the English establishment and the public considered to be obscene. On Friday, it happened again when defendant Michael Peacock was found not guilty of publishing ‘obscene’ gay BDSM ...
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US giant sets up English law practice
Major US firm Davis Polk & Wardwell is to set up an English law practice in a bid to break new markets from London. The move marks a new stage in the rivalry between New York and London jurisdictions. The firm, which opened in London ...
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Marvo Dave and the albatross trick
David Cameron truly is a magician. Not in the Paul Daniels sense, of course, although I’m sure SamCam would make an equally lovely Debbie McGhee. His main trick is the power of persuasion. He has convinced the working man and woman to sneer at the words health and safety in ...
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Family lawyers renew attack on ‘devastating’ legal aid cuts
Removing legal aid for private family cases could lead to thousands of children losing contact with a parent and many families being left dependant on welfare benefits, family lawyers warn today. In a renewed attack on provisions of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of ...
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Legal aid cuts are false economy, says study
Planned cuts to legal aid in private family work, social welfare law and clinical negligence will save less than half the sum predicted by the government, according to an independent economic study published today. The Law Society’s chief executive, Desmond Hudson, said the report’s findings ‘fatally undermine’ Ministry of Justice ...
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What to do about the Syrian Bar?
We should spare a thought for lawyers in Syria. I know that we have large issues like alternative business structures and legal aid to concern us, but they have a life-and-death struggle on their hands.
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European and US lawyers warn IMF on threats to independence
Two bodies representing 1.4m lawyers across Europe and the US have formally warned the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that reforms imposed as part of economic rescue measures could undermine the independence of the legal profession.
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Should doom merchants have gone to Specsavers?
With the new year came the long-awaited announcement that the Solicitors Regulation Authority has begun processing applications from companies looking to become alternative business structures.
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Quality hallmark for HSBC’s conveyancing mini-panel
HSBC has established a conveyancing panel of solicitors and licensed conveyancers to provide legal services to its residential mortgage customers. Solicitor member firms must have the Law Society’s Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS) accreditation. The panel, managed by Countrywide, will launch on Monday across the UK. Of ...
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Profits flat at Allen & Overy
Relocating staff to a single central London site cost magic circle firm Allen & Overy almost £25m, it has emerged. The full cost of the move was revealed in its LLP annual report and financial statements for 2010/11. The one-off outlays meant that continuing costs rose ...
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No to trial by television
At the risk of antagonising a good proportion of our readers, we begin 2012 by praising Kenneth Clarke. He has decided that plans to televise criminal trials will be limited to judges’ comments. The dispensation will not extend to filming juries, victims and witnesses ‘under any circumstances’ - nor to ...
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Retention rate for trainees up
The number of trainees staying with their firms after qualifying recovered in 2011 after a two-year dip, according to a survey of more than 120 commercial firms. The Chambers Student Guide found that 1,813 of the 2,251 trainees who qualified in 2011 stayed on. That retention ...
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Online PC renewals open
The online practising certificate (PC) and registration renewals process begins today for firms and individuals whose full name starts with the letters E to Z, the Solicitors Regulation Authority has announced. Renewals for names beginning with the letters A to D have already started. Alphabetical placing ...
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Short memory
Let me say at the outset, I am not a luddite. My firm is quite happy to work in a paperless environment and we have for many years been asking the Crown Prosecution Service why we cannot receive evidence by electronic means. In fact, our first request mentioned floppy disks!
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Landlord and tenant
Recovery of possession - Order for possession Francis v Southwark London Borough Council: Court of Appeal, Civil Division (Lord Justices Carnwath, Lloyd and Toulson): 1 December 2011 The Court of ...