All News articles – Page 1619
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Regime change
The coalition government is scrapping the Financial Services Authority as a result of the latter’s comprehensive failure to provide effective regulation.
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Human rights test case call for sharia law
A ‘parallel’ system of justice based on Islamic law should face a test case under the Human Rights Act, a group campaigning against religious laws said this week. The One Law for All Campaign called for a case to be initiated to determine whether Muslim arbitration tribunals and sharia councils ...
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Wake-up call
I cannot help but comment on the relative health of the legal profession compared with the medical profession.
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Chancery Lane warning over budget tax hike
The capital gains tax (CGT) increase announced in this week’s budget will mean trustees and personal representatives administering the estates of the deceased could feel the full brunt of the rise, the Law Society has warned, as gains made will be at risk of exposure to the new higher rate. ...
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A spot of bother
Typical. Even a celebrity England football team manage to blow it from the penalty spot. Worse, they lose with the winning penalty taken by a Yank. Captained by crooner Robbie Williams (pictured), this Soccer Aid England team, also comprising boxer Ricky Hatton, X Factor something-or-other Olly Murs and a good ...
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‘Data corruption’ blamed for duty solicitor rota errors
The Legal Services Commission has blamed ‘data corruption issues’ for errors in the duty solicitor rotas published last week. Following publication of the new rotas for the six-month slots running from July to December, firms across the country found themselves on rotas in the wrong areas, or missed off the ...
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European Parliament backs equal treatment for suspects
The European Parliament has backed proposals that will, for the first time, set common standards to secure rights for suspects in criminal proceedings. It voted last week to approve plans from the European Commission to ensure translation and interpretation rights. The ...
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Government wields axe over court estate
The Ministry of Justice today outlined proposals to shut nearly a third of the courts in England and Wales and confirmed it will be looking at ways to make ‘efficiency’ savings in the legal aid budget. A consultation document details plans for the closure of 157 ...
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The deficiencies of the legal aid payment regime
Jon Robins freelance journalist and editor of Closing the Justice Gap ‘A breathtaking risk’ was the damning assessment of the cross-party constitutional affairs select committee of Lord Carter’s plan to scrap the hourly ...
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Legal aid payment regime blamed for RMJ collapse
The Law Society has hit back at government claims that inefficiencies at legal advice charity Refugee and Migrant Justice (RMJ) led to its collapse – while third sector groups have warned that all legal aid suppliers are facing funding difficulties. The charity, which was one of ...
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MPs' expenses abuse case raises issues fundamental to the rule of law
Three former MPs and a peer will ask the Court of Appeal next week to rule that the Crown court has no jurisdiction to try them on charges of false accounting. Elliott Morley, David Chaytor, Jim Devine and Lord Hanningfield deny supplying false information in support of their expenses claims. ...
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ABI launches third-party code for insurers
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has launched a voluntary code of practice for insurers taking part in so-called third-party capture. The practice, referred to by the ABI as ‘third-party assistance’, involves an insurance company settling a claim directly with a personal injury victim of a policyholder, without the victim ...
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Fees up at top 50 law firms
Solicitors at top 50 law firms are earning nearly 20% more in fees than they were a year ago, new research has found.On average, each fee-earner in the top 50 firms brought in £77,000 in the quarter ended 30 April, compared with £65,000 over the same period in 2009, according ...
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35 years and counting
Obiter thinks it is high time we revived our celebration of loyal legal PAs. Step forward Sharon Charters, who has clocked up 35 years at Stephensons in Bolton. Sharon joined what was then Berry’s Solicitors as an office junior straight from school, before ...
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New international hub to promote pro bono work
A new online service to promote pro bono legal work around the world and provide an international hub for information on anti-corruption and good governance was launched today by the Thomson Reuters Foundation TrustLaw provides: an online database of national legislation; international conventions; news; country profiles; ...
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Mental health and disability discrimination protection
A person has a ‘disability’ if he or she has a mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse impact on his or her ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities – section 1 of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. Alcohol and drug addiction as well as five ...
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Could Beethoven have been a lawyer?
As the euro and the idea of Europe go into freefall, as the UK’s debts mount and swingeing cuts take place, let us talk about something really important: why is it that so few great artists have been lawyers?
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Solicitors ‘should enter into partnership with estate agents’
The future for the conveyancing market in England and Wales lies in partnerships between solicitors and estate agents to provide a one-stop shop for sellers, the new president of the E-Homebuying Forum has told the Gazette. Sir Bryan Carsberg, who is also a former director of ...
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Can advertising boost the solicitor brand?
The Law Society has dipped its toes in the water in terms of attempting to advertise the solicitor brand for some years. But last year it really took the plunge, investing £211,000 in the Help I need somebody campaign. And this time round it has doubled that amount.