Memory lane

Gazette 20 May 2013

Chris Grayling interview: Right way?

In his foreword to the consultation on ‘transforming’ legal aid, justice secretary Chris Grayling explains that change is needed to ‘boost public confidence’ and cut costs, which he claims have ‘spiralled out of control’. But speaking to the Gazette, he offers no empirical evidence that the public has lost confidence in the system.

22 May 2003

‘Arrogant’ City could hand advantage to Europe

City lawyers’ arrogance is pushing legal work away from London and into the hands of competitors around Europe – and problems with the Commercial Court are exacerbating the issue, a high-powered conference heard this week. Michael Brindle, chairman of the Commercial Bar Association, said the facilities in the Commercial Court give an impression of neglect and indifference by the authorities.

18 May 1983

Cases of petty crime

His Honour Judge Henry Garrard decided at the Stafford Crown Court that the alleged theft of a two-cwt sack of coal was too light a matter for the full weight of British justice. It is in my view a dangerous precedent not to prosecute people in theft cases because the theft is small, but surely the day has now come when the right of election for jury trial must be withdrawn in theft cases involving such small amounts?

23 May 1973

Solicitors and the Monopolies Commission

In the House of Commons on 17 May, Sir Geoffrey Howe, minister for trade and consumer affairs, stated that he was proposing to refer solicitors’ restrictions upon advertising to the Monopolies Commission. The Law Society has already explained to the Monopolies Commission exactly why the present restrictions are thought to be in the public interest and it is noted that Sir Geoffrey Howe himself has emphasised that it should not be assumed that the commission’s conclusions would necessarily be adverse.