All News articles – Page 1828
-
News
Trial by ordeal
The letter from Kat Gibson, chair of the Junior Lawyers Division, concerning newly qualified solicitors appearing in court interested me (see [2008] Gazette, 18 September, 9). In the old days we were not given any training in this field. However, for my sins, I was asked to do a trial ...
-
News
For richer, for poorer...
Adding back – but when and how? Christopher Tromans reviews the court’s powers when family assets have been dissipated. If a party to a marriage squanders part of the family assets before the final hearing of an ancillary relief application, what can the court do to ...
-
News
A question of priorities
Government plans to slash the courts service budget will have a damaging effect on the public’s access to justice. Black holes in space are a scientific fact, but black holes in public sector budgets are often a matter of dispute. This is the case with the ...
-
News
Seeing red
‘A criminal crime simply does not make sense!’ shouted an exasperated Russian interpreter in front of stunned delegates, before slamming the door shut on his sound booth. Following an already fiery exchange regarding the recent conflict in Georgia, the Russia & Rule of Law seminar at the Bar Council’s Holborn ...
-
News
Water warriors
It was no baptism of fire for trainee solicitor Ashley King. It was more a dunking in freezing, peat-stained water. The trainee at 11-partner Black Country commercial law firm George Green was part of a four-man team competing in the Lakes Challenge – a gruelling seven hours of mountain biking, ...
-
News
CDS Direct advice was appropriate
I do not agree with Matthew Coxall’s view of the advice provided by CDS Direct (see [2008] Gazette, 4 September, 9). In his letter, Mr Coxall questioned the advice provided by CDS Direct to his client. I have investigated the case concerned and I am ...
-
News
Lawyers to advise professions group
An official body set up to advise the chancellor of the exchequer on future challenges facing the professional services sector is looking for input from lawyers. Michael Snyder, chairman of the professional services global competitiveness group, said last week that he would ‘welcome ideas from any of the legal professions’ ...
-
News
Training must top the agenda
Newly qualified solicitors should not use clients as guinea pigs to gain advocacy experience. I was pleased to read that the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has backtracked over plans for automatic rights of audience for solicitors (see [2008] Gazette, 11 September, 2). ...
-
News
Free for ale
With its pale, smooth straw colour born from marris otter, lager and crystal malts, malted wheats and citrus hops, Davenports IPA original bitter sounds like an ale-enthusiast’s dream. But those already diving out of the door and heading to the Dog and Duck should stay put, because Walsall firm Enoch ...
-
News
'Offer of amends' could lead to fewer libel cases at trial
The settlement of a high-profile libel case between supermarket giant Tesco and The Guardian newspaper will encourage the use of ‘offers of amends’ as an alternative to trials, libel lawyers said this week. Tesco Stores Ltd had sued Guardian News & Media Ltd ...
-
News
Firms face assigned risk pool threat
A far greater number of solicitors could end up in the assigned risks pool (ARP) and face paying up to half their fee income in solicitors’ professional indemnity insurance (PII) premiums as the crisis in the market deepens. Industry sources have predicted that more small firms ...
-
News
To Hellespont and back
Leander did it for love; Byron for glory. Lucy Scott-Moncrieff, London mental health and human rights specialist, and Law Society Council member, did it for the Howard League for Penal Reform. Swam the Hellespont, of course: 4.5 kilometres from shore to shore. At a steady ...
-
News
South-west lawyers battle the credit crunch
A decade of benign growth has seen leading firms in south-west England attract national clients. It is getting tough on the high street, however. Polly Botsford reports. The outlook for the south-west can perhaps best be described as ‘bright sunshine, with a few dark clouds on ...
-
News
Are you being served?
Robert Hill looks at the new regime for service of documents as outlined in the changes to the Civil Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2008 The Civil Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2008 (S.I 2008 no 2178) come into force on 1 October. The most important change is to repeal ...
-
News
Lawyers blamed for negligence fees rise
Clinical negligence practitioners have hit back at claims they are fuelling a‘compensation culture’ by charging too much, after it emerged that the NHS’s bill for patients’ lawyers has more than doubled in the last four years. The NHS paid out £90.7m in costs to claimant solicitors ...
-
News
Inquest cash gap fears
Inadequate levels of legal aid funding for inquests mean too many grieving families have to attend coroner’s court without representation, lawyers have warned. Amanda Stevens, president of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL), criticised government proposals contained in a consultation, which closed last week, ...
-
News
JAC 'can change history'
The Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) ‘has the potential to alter the historical pattern of under-representation of certain groups among the judiciary’, but a broader range of people need to apply, the Employment Tribunals president said last week. Speaking at an event hosted by the Society of ...