Opinion – Page 326
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Opinion
Positive results
Michael Haran’s unfortunate experience of a civil mediation case should not prevent other practitioners from using this valuable resource in dispute resolution. During my early years in practice I had extremely positive results from using civil mediation in a variety of seemingly intractable disputes, ranging from libel, to personal injury ...
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Opinion
Farming out
I recently received a letter from the Law Society inviting me to have a meeting to explore methods of ‘farming’ existing business. Is this an indication of the depth to which the profession has sunk? Harold Immanuel, London W6
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OpinionVictim surcharge: unintended consequences
I have always felt uneasy about the victim surcharge
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OpinionVulnerable people are most at risk from PCT
The legal profession has been up in arms over the proposed introduction of price-competitive tendering. But no one should be more concerned than individuals living with learning difficulties and disabilities such as autism, because they are the ones most at risk as a result of the changes. Criminal defence specialists ...
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Opinion
Leader: Legal Education and Training Review does not set the pulse racing
When the legal professions’ regulators published the terms of reference for the Legal Education and Training Review...
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Opinion
Mediation is still misunderstood
I read Michael Haran’s letter ‘Shortcomings of mediation’ (Gazette, 17 June) with some disappointment. Clearly his was an unfortunate experience, but it did not seem to be typical of mediation. I would not like to see it result in either Mr Haran or any other practitioner having a negative view ...
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Opinion
Mediation - quicker and cheaper
It was disappointing to read Michael Haran’s criticisms of a recent mediation with which he had been involved. Mediation is the way forward. It will lead to quicker and cheaper settlements in all forms of litigation. If mediation is carried out correctly, then the mediator should act to facilitate an ...
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Opinion
PCT: choice words
I cannot let Alexander McCulloch’s letter pass without comment. His comparison of the old duty solicitor scheme with Grayling’s price-competitive tendering is invidious. I was a duty solicitor for many years; the scheme was never about restriction of choice. Both at the police station and at the magistrates’ court the ...
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Opinion
Legal walks have come to exemplify all that is best about the profession
In our exclusive interview with the justice secretary last week, Chris Grayling stressed that he would never use the term ‘fat-cat lawyer’.
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Opinion
Russian evolution: right to choose a lawyer
Your feature on Russia put me in mind of the time I hosted two Russian lawyers in 1995.
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Opinion
Wounded legal aid firms fight back
We are being invited to enter a brave new world of price competition
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Opinion
Unsolicited criticism
I write in response to the letter entitled ‘A sad day for the profession’
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Opinion
MoJ online costs forms seriously flawed, says CLAN chair
Online forms for submitting litigation costs budgets are ‘seriously flawed
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OpinionWorkplace giving could help your firm demonstrate its CSR credentials
Charitable giving can be a very personal thing, and at a time when we all have our hands on the purse strings charities need extra support now more than ever.
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OpinionEU withdrawal would be dire for profession
Withdrawal from the EU is staring us in the face. It is a good time to spell out what the consequences might be for lawyers.
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Opinion
Tilting the scales of justice in favour of the relatively disadvantaged
We have seen huge cuts in public funding for many areas of law, particularly family; fees introduced for employment tribunal cases; and we await the impact of substantial changes and cuts to criminal legal aid. No one appears to have carried out a proper exercise and costing regarding the long-term ...
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Opinion
Trade deal downside
The article entitled Trading Places concerning the US-EU transatlantic free trade agreement, omitted to mention the huge democratic implications of this agreement. Ordinary people will experience the ‘reduction in trade barriers’ and ‘regulatory harmonisation’ as a reduction of protections in a range of areas, including in the environmental and labour ...
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OpinionThe NHS blame game and legal accountability
In the House of Commons, in media studios, in the pages of national newspapers and on Twitter the NHS and its regulator are the subject of a fairly fierce blame game, still spilling over from last week. In summary, did the Care Quality Commission (CQC) cover up hospital failings, did ...
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Opinion
Whole-life tariffs ruling: criticism misunderstands the law
The decision has been met with rabid political apoplexy and commentary. In this article we strip out the vitriol and rhetoric.