The Law Society’s Gazette, 7 July 1999 City warning over information billObtaining information from public bodies could become more difficult and expensive when the Freedom of Information Bill becomes law, City law firm Clifford Chance has warned. Richard Thomas, the firm’s director of public policy, said informal requests, currently answered without problem, might be treated formally in future. This could lead to increased legalistic scrutiny, bureaucracy and expense.

The Law Society’s Gazette, July 1969 Random ramblings An event as successful as it was unique in the annals of the law took place on 28 May when Holborn Law Society held a Garden Party on the north lawn of Lincoln’s Inn in aid jointly of the Barristers Benevolent Association, Solicitors Benevolent Association and the London Solicitors and Families Association. I hear the Lord Chancellor not only bought a bottle of champagne but even shared it with mere solicitors. Can democracy go further? I prefer it to the Prime Minister appearing on television and referring to one of his Ministers by her Christian name of Barbara.

The Law Society’s Gazette, July 1949 Capital punishment The Royal Commission on Capital Punishment has asked for evidence from representatives of the Law Society on the matters covered by their terms of reference. These are: ‘To consider and report whether liability under the criminal law in Great Britain to suffer capital punishment for murder should be limited or modified.’ The Commission have also agreed, at the request of the Prime Minister, to consider the question of methods of execution.