Law Society Gazette 11 January 2016

Firm to face SDT over Iraq claims

One of two firms investigated by the SRA for its role in handling allegations of British army abuses in Iraq revealed last week that it had been referred to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal. London claims firm Leigh Day ‘strongly denies’ allegations made by the SRA [Editor’s note: Leigh Day was later cleared of all allegations]. 

12 January 2006

Red tape ‘threatens’ ABS reform

Plans for alternative business structures to deliver legal services could be derailed by the additional regulatory burden they would impose and by confusion over what level of privilege will apply to them, the government was warned this week. 

Lesson from history

The white paper on the reform of legal services envisages the creation of a Legal Services Board to regulate the Law Society. The chairman and members of the LSB would be direct appointees of the secretary of state for constitutional affairs. One historical parallel that springs to mind is the creation in the USSR of a class of political commissars to regulate the Red Army. 

14 January 1976

Breathalyser offences

We have all had jolly fun and made money out of the breathalyser. But it is time for concern when a defendant escapes conviction merely because the arresting officer mis-stated the sub-section of the act under which the defendant was arrested. I know that we are British and that cricket is cricket, but is it not, to quote Mr Gormley, ‘bloody silly’?  

January 1966

The adult offender

The government white paper on the adult offender makes fascinating, if at times slightly disturbing, reading. The modern concept of punishment, with the death penalty abolished and the ‘cat’ discarded, leaves either incarceration or a limitation of liberty the only sanctions which a court can impose in dealing with those who break the criminal law. The white paper recognises, as it must, this difficulty.

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