Law Society notices

Criminal litigation accreditation scheme - re-accreditation of passported members

Under the transitional arrangements in the criminal litigation accreditation scheme (CLAS) accreditation and assessment procedures (annex C), all solicitors registered with the Legal Services Commission as duty solicitors during the period 1 January 2001 to 1 April 2001 were passported to CLAS membership.

Those solicitors were informed that they would be called for re-accreditation in due course.

The Law Society intends to begin the re-accreditation programme for transitional members in June 2002, in accordance with the procedures and plan set out in the CLAS re-accreditation criteria and procedures.

These procedures, as well as the questionnaire that is to be used, are available on the Law Society Web site at: www.panels.lawsociety.org.uk

Hard copies are available from the Society's information services department on + 44(0) 1527 504433.

The Law Society invites any comments from members of the profession.

However, it is not intended that there should be any alterations to the standards of competence against which questionnaires will be marked (please refer to the CLAS standards of competence for the police station and magistrates' court qualifications at annexes E and F to the CLAS procedures).

Direct any feedback to: The Panel Administrator, the Law Society, Ipsley Court, Redditch, Worcestershire B98 0TD; or Dx 19114 Redditch.

Alternatively, e-mail: panels@lawsociety.org.uk

Young Solicitors Group executive elections

Nominations are sought from young solicitors (younger than 36 or having fewer than five years' post-qualification experience) wishing to be executive members of the Young Solicitors Group (Company No 4338883) during 2002/2003.

For further information and an application form (to be returned before 29 May 2002), please contact Judith McDermott at the Law Society, tel: 020 7320 5793 or e-mail: Judith.McDermott@lawsociety.org.uk

Recent information from the Law Society's library

EmploymentWalton v Independent Living Organisation Ltd, The Times, 10 May 2002 (EAT).

A live-in carer was held to be engaged in 'unmeasured work' for the purposes of regulation 6 of the National Minimum Wage Regulations (SI 1999 584) rather than 'time work'.

A report is available under 'Law' on The Times Web site at: www.thetimes.co.uk

Human rightsA fact sheet on the Freedom of Information Act 2000 has been issued by the Local Government Association on 14 May 2000.

It sets out detailed implementation of the Act which received Royal Assent on 30 November 2000.

MedicineHuman fertilisation and embryology: regulating the reproductive revolution by Robert G Lee and Derek Morgan (Blackstone, 2001, ISBN 1841741191).

A guide for the practitioner on issues such as abortion, embryo research and cloning, as well as an overview of the legislation relating to assisted conception.

NegligenceGorringe v Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council, The Times, 16 May 2002 (CA).

A highway authority was not negligent for failing to paint warning markings on the surface of the road as it was under no duty to do so by virtue of section 41 of the Highways Act 1980.

Available under 'Law' on The Times Web site at: www.thetimes.co.uk

Police On 8 May 2002, the Home Office issued draft guidelines governing the visual recording of police interviews with suspects - introduction of pilot scheme and code of practice (F).

The relevant Acts are section 67 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 and Terrorism Act 2000.

www.homeoffice.gov.uk/pcrg/pace_codef.pdf

This list has been compiled by the Law Society's library.

For further information about the contents, or other legal research enquiries, please contact the library, tel: 0870 606 2511 or e-mail: Lib-Enq@lawsociety.org.uk Copies of most items are available via the library's charged document delivery service: telephone us for a photocopy application form, or download it from the Internet at: www.library.lawsociety.org.uk