A stroll down Gazette memory lane

Gazette 23 June 2011

Legal aid cuts – the fight goes on

The Law Society and legal profession this week vowed to continue campaigning against the government’s legal aid cuts, following publication of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill by justice secretary Kenneth Clarke.

21 June 2001

Solicitor-general Harman goes on to become a silk

Harriet Harman has become the sixth solicitor QC as a result of her appointment as solicitor-general. Harman is the first solicitor to hold the post. Since solicitors were allowed to apply for silk in 1996, only five out of 45 applications have succeeded.

26 June 1991

Insanity bill to get royal assent

Considering it was the first time the Law Society had initiated legislation, the parliamentary road could not have been smoother for the private member’s bill which proposes reforms to the law on unfitness to plead. Having had its third reading in the House of Lords, the Procedure (Insanity and Unfitness to Plead) Bill is scheduled to receive royal assent on 27 June.

June 1971

Professional indemnity insurance

As solicitors will be only too aware, the cost of professional indemnity insurance has been rising at an alarming rate over the past few years. I believe it has now reached a level where it may actually have the effect of discouraging solicitors from taking out adequate cover. In view of this could not the Law Society itself arrange such insurance?

June 1941

Death duties

The council are glad to record that, following representations made to the chancellor of the exchequer and financial secretary to the Treasury, the Finance Bill contains, in clause 37, a provision giving relief from death duties in the case of deaths of civilians due to operations of war.

 

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