All News articles – Page 1654
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Law Society launches election manifesto
The Law Society today published a policy manifesto ahead of the forthcoming general election, urging all political parties to respect the rule of law and safeguard access to justice. The 24-page document, contains a detailed and wide-ranging ‘wishlist’ of recommendations, ranging from support for the ...
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Referral ban ‘will not reduce costs’
Banning referral fees will harm the legal profession and will have no effect on reducing law firms’ marketing costs, the chair of the Claims Standards Council (CSC) said last week. Speaking at the CSC annual conference in Manchester, Accident Advice Helpline managing director Darren Werth said ...
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Government use of ADR falls – but settlement rate increases
The use of alternative dispute resolution by government departments fell last year, though settlement rates increased, a report published by the Ministry of Justice has revealed. In 2008/09 ADR was used in 314 cases, leading to settlement in 259 (82%), saving costs estimated at £90.2m, the ...
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The state we are in
It is perhaps fortunate that your lead letter 'Tools of the trade' writer (see [2009] Gazette, 18 February, 11) withheld their personal details...
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Why Lexcel needs a rebrand
I read with little surprise at the Law Society being voted strongest Business Superbrand in its sector, or at its overall 75th placing. The Law Society is an internationally recognised brand with an enviable heritage.
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Concerns over terminating retainer
I refer to the Court of Appeal decision in Buxton v Mills-Owen [2010] EWCA Civ 122 which seems to me to raise some issues of general concern to the profession.
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Time to embrace back-office outsourcing
The term ‘outsourcing’ is hardly new to the legal world: there has been much discussion over several years about legal process outsourcing (LPO)...
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A new judicial architecture for Europe
The reference to judicial architecture in the title is not to the buildings in which judges sit and decide cases – although if that is your interest, there is a European group for people who share your hobby. There is a European group to cater for nearly every taste.
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Lawyers work ‘extreme’ overtime, study reveals
Lawyers are among the most likely workers to do ‘extreme’ unpaid overtime, figures have revealed. Research by the Trades Union Congress found that 18% of legal professionals did more than 10 hours of unpaid overtime a week. The study found that ...
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Assisted suicide: a mercy killing charter?
The new policy on assisted suicide is not the mercy killing charter that some religious groups, charities and newspapers have painted it.
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Only one solicitor among new QC appointments
Just one solicitor was among the 129 Queen’s Counsel appointments announced by the lord chancellor today in the fourth competition run by the independent selection panel. George Trinick, energy partner at national firm Eversheds, was the only solicitor of the 10 who applied to be appointed. Only four solicitors applied ...
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Lost in translation
Obiter’s mailbox has been inundated following last week’s request for amusing dictaphone bloopers.
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When life is worth more
I would like to comment on the letter of 11 February from Guy Otten of Hempsons, Manchester, headed ‘A licence to die’, [2010] 11 February, 13.
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Memory lane
The details of a legal battle over lemon juice packaging, and typing blunders... draft, not daft. Law Society’s Gazette, February 1990 ...
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MoJ research has vindicated the jury system, but jurors need more help
by Ian Kelceychairman of the Law Society criminal law committee The publication of an important piece of Ministry of Justice-commissioned research by Professor Cheryl Thomas into the fairness of juries has aroused significant media interest.
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Local government
Environmental health – Buildings – Burials and cremation – Religions R (on the application of Ghai) (appellant) v Newcastle City Council and Others (respondent) and Secretary of State for Justice (interested party) and (1) Ramgharia Gurdwara, Hitchin (2) ...
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Freedom of information: exemptions and vetoes
The tax status of the Conservative Party’s major donor and deputy chairman, Lord Ashcroft, has been the subject of much controversy and media headlines over the past few years.
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Employment
Local government – Bonus payments – Equal pay – Sex discrimination Gibson and Others v Sheffield City Council: CA (Civ Div) (Lords Justice Pill, Maurice Kay, Lady Justice Smith): 10 February 2010 ...
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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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Solicitors ‘key’ to increasing judicial diversity
Persuading more solicitors to apply for judicial posts is ‘absolutely key’ to increasing diversity in the judiciary, the chairwoman of the Advisory Panel on Judicial Diversity told the Gazette this week, as the panel published a raft of recommendations aimed at improving diversity on the bench. ...