20 November 2008

Warning over video link for defendants

Government plans for defendants to make their first appearance before magistrates via video from the police station will lead to more people being remanded into custody, practitioners have warned. The Law Society will issue a practice note advising solicitors that the best interest of their client requires them to take instructions face to face.

18 November 1998

Lord Irvine unveils contracting dates

In a dramatic development, the lord chancellor, Lord Irvine, last week revealed that all certificated legal aid work would be brought under exclusive contracts by April 2001 and all criminal green form work would be contracted by the end of 2000.

16 November 1988

Legal laughs

A ‘stuffy and boring’ image has plagued lawyers for far too long. So say the organisers of the National Legal Humour Awards, whose panel of judges is determined to uncover the profession’s wit and sense of humour. Ned Sherrin, Gyles Brandreth and Michael Burton QC are among the panel on the lookout for humorous stories, jokes and funny remarks by judges, lawyers and legal correspondents.

November 1948

Notes of the month

The event of the month is undoubtedly the fact that the King’s Speech foreshadowed the introduction in this session of parliament of the Legal Aid and Justice Bill. This long-awaited measure to give effect to the recommendations of the Rushcliffe Committee will, we are confident, be warmly welcomed both by practitioners and by the members of the public whom they serve.

Topics