Law Society notices

Election of members of the Council for non-constituency seats designated environmental law, immigration law and voluntary sector

The election scrutineer's (Electoral Reform Services) report of the voting in the above elections is as follows:

Environmental law seat*Total number of voting papers returned by the due date 417 Number of invalid voting papers (unsigned) 18Number of invalid voting papers (changed address) 0Number of invalid voting papers (blank) 0Number of invalid voting papers (voter not eligible) 0Number of invalid voting papers (spoilt/ambiguous) 0Thus, number of valid voting papers 399Result: Sean David Humber Elected

Immigration law seat*Total number of voting papers returned by the due date 354Number of invalid voting papers (unsigned) 26Number of invalid voting papers (changed address) 0Number of invalid voting papers (blank) 0Number of invalid voting papers (voter not eligible) 0Number of invalid voting papers (spoilt/ambiguous) 1Thus, number of valid voting papers 327Result: Muhammad Imran Shah Khan Elected

Voluntary sector seat*Total number of voting papers returned by the due date 116 Number of invalid voting papers (unsigned) 12Number of invalid voting papers (changed address) 0Number of invalid voting papers (blank) 0Number of invalid voting papers (voter not eligible) 0Number of invalid voting papers (spoilt/ambiguous) 0Thus, number of valid voting papers 104Result: Sara Jean Mary Chandler Elected

*These elections were counted by the single transferable vote.

For full result sheets contact Barbara Gastrell, Head of Corporate Administration, The Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1PL (LDE 56), fax: 020 7320 5685 or e-mail: barbara.gastrell@lawsociety.org.uk

Cybercrime - could law firms be victims?

The Fraud Advisory Panel has produced a publication Cybercrime - what every SME [small/ medium enterprise] should know.

Any organisation which uses a computer to conduct its business could fall victim to cybercrime.

Solicitors have duties of confidentiality, and under the Data Protection Act 1998 they are under an obligation to hold data securely.

Breach of the Act could result in the commission of a criminal offence.

Solicitors will wish to increase their staff awareness of this problem, and to review their systems to ensure that electronically held client information is secure.

The panel's publication identifies high-risk areas, and provides practical advice as to how to avoid problems.

It is available on the Internet at: www.lawsociety.org.uk or by e-mail from the Fraud Advisory Panel: fap@icaew.co.uk

Recent information from the Law Society's library

Courts

Inland Revenue proceedings for unpaid debts will now be issued via the Court Service County Court Bulk Centre.

Claims using the Bulk Centre will be issued in the name of Northampton County Court.

Any queries should be directed to the office shown in the claimant box on the claim form.

This item was compiled by the Law Society's library.

For information about the contents, or other research enquiries, 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 for a photocopy application form, or download it from the Internet at: www.library.lawsociety.org.uk

Consultation - modernising stamp duty system

The Inland Revenue is currently consulting on modernising the stamp duty system for land and buildings in the UK.

Information about the consultation can be found on the Inland Revenue's Web site: www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/so/modern.htm

The Law Society's tax law committee is actively involved in the consultation process.

A written response was submitted to the consultation document Modernising stamp duty on land and buildings in the UK, which was published in April 2002.

The Society is also represented on the steering group and consultative committees set up by the Revenue.

Changes to the stamp duty system will have an impact on practitioners.

Therefore, solicitors with any views about the proposals should contact the committee.

Send contributions to: Edward Troup, chairman of the tax law committee, 113 Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1PL, or by e-mail to the secretary: louise.speke@lawsociety.org.uk

Return of allotment of shares

The Law Society has been seeking clarification from Companies House of its practice in relation to documentation to be submitted with a form 88(2).

There has been a change of policy and Companies House will no longer accept extracts from contracts.

In future, the whole of the relevant contract must be submitted and forms without copies of the contract are now being returned.

However, it is not necessary to file the original contract - Companies House will accept a plain photocopy.

Any queries can be directed to: smorgan@companieshouse.gov.uk