Recent items of interest from the Law Society's Library

ContractPrivity of contract: the impact of the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999, edited by Robert Merkin (LLP, 2000, ISBN 1859785980).

This volume looks at how the change in law has affected commerce, in particular, construction, shipping, insurance and personal liability.

CourtsPractice Direction (Administrative Court: Establishment), The Times, 27 July 2000 (QBD)The Crown Office List would be renamed 'The Administrative Court' to reflect its principle work of dealing with public and administrative law cases.

Available at: http://www.the-times.co.uk/

CrimeCalling Time on Crime.

Report of a comprehensive review of crime reduction activity.

HM Inspectorate of Constabulary.

Summary available at: http://www.crimereduction.gov.uk/HMICreport.htm

Guidelines for the assessment of general damages in personal injury cases.

Judicial Studies Board.

5th ed, Blackstone Press, 2000.

ISBN 1841740314Shelved in the Library at bookcase 12E.

Criminal procedureDelay in the Criminal Justice System: Evaluation of the Pilot Schemes, Home Office Report.

Available at: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/cpd/pvu/delay1.htm

DamagesLawrence v Chief Constable of Staffordshire, The Times, 25 July 2000 (CA)There was no reason to increase the guideline rate of interest of 2 per cent to be awarded in personal injury cases on the amount of general damages for pain, suffering and loss of amenity.

The guideline rate set down in Wells v Wells served a different purpose.

Available at: http://www.the-times.co.uk/Electronic CommerceElectronic Communications Act 2000 (Commencement No.

1) Order SI 2000: 1798 (C.

46).

Brings various sections into force on 25 July 2000.

Available at: http://www.hmso.gov.uk/si/si2000/20001798.htm

European Union Electronic Commerce Directive 2000/31/EC published in Official Journal L 178 of 17 July 2000, p.1.

Available at: http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/en/oj/2000/l_17820000717en.htmlConvention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters between the Member States of the European Union.

Published in Official Journal C 197 of 12 July 2000, p.1 Available at: http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/en/oj/2000/c_19720000712en.html

HousingHousing and Land: Proposed New Procedures.

A Lord Chancellors Department consultation paper.

Proposals for reforming procedures for housing and land claims in the High Court and county courts.

Responses by 15 September 2000.

Available at: http://www.open.gov.uk/lcd/consult/civ-just/handlfr.htm

Human rightsHuman Rights Act 1998 (Commencement No.

2) Order 2000 SI 2000: 1851 (C.

47).

Brings the provisions, which are not already in force, into force on 2 October 2000.

Available at: http://www.hmso.gov.uk/si/si2000/20001851.htm

R v Chauhan and Hollingsworth.

Unreported (Birmingham Crown Court).A requirement in the Road Traffic Act 1988, that drivers notify police if they were driving a car at the time of an offence breaches article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights which safeguards the rights of those suspected of a crime not to incriminate themselves.

The ruling questions the legality of routine police letters sent out to motorists caught breaking the law on TV cameras.'Ruling exposes loophole for drivers,' The Guardian, 15 July 2000 available at: http://www.guardianunlimited.co.uk/Archive/Article/0,4273,4040695,00.html

Legal aidLegal Aid in Criminal and Care Proceedings (Costs) (Amendment) Regulations 2000 SI 2000: 1802.

Available at: http://www.hmso.gov.uk/si/si2000/20001802.htm

Legal Aid (Notification of Very High Cost Cases) Regulations 2000 SI 2000: 1801Available at: http://www.hmso.gov.uk/si/si2000/20001801.htm

LimitationsLiverpool Roman Catholic Archdiocese Trustees Inc v Goldberg, The Times, 18 July 2000 (ChD)A barrister was held to have deliberately concealed a relevant fact to the claimant's right of action under section 32 Limitation Act 1980 where he had deliberately committed an unlikely-to-be-discovered breach of his duty to the claimant.

Available at: http://www.the-times.co.uk/

PensionsConsultation documents, draft regulations and statutory instruments, model rules and guidance concerning the proposed stakeholder pensions are available on the Inland Revenue website at: http://www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/consult/stk.htm

The Inland Revenue has added background information and detailed advice on the provisions of the Welfare and Pensions Reform Act 1999 concerning pension sharing on divorce which come into force on 1 December 2000.

Available at: http://www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/nic/coegpsod.htm#background

Professional negligenceArthur J S Hall & Co (a Firm) v Simons; Barratt v Woolf Seddon (a Firm); Harris v Scholfield Roberts & Hill (a Firm), The Times 21 July 2000 (HL)Advocates should no longer have immunity from suit for negligence for acts concerned with the conduct of either civil or criminal litigation.

There had been many changes since Rondel v Worsley was decided over 30 years ago.

Available at: http://www.the-times.co.uk/

SolicitorsIn re L (Minors) (Care proceedings: Cohabiting solicitors), The Times, 27 July 2000 (FamD)The court could remove from the record two solicitors who were acting on both sides of a case on the grounds that they were cohabiting and that their relationship could give rise to a perception of bias.

Available at: http://www.the-times.co.uk/

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

For further information about items or other legal research enquiries please telephone the Library's Enquiry Service 0870 606 2511 or email Lib-Enq@lawsociety.org.uk.

Copies of most items are available via the Library's charged document delivery service: a photocopying application form is available on the Library's web page at www.library.lawsociety.org.uk