Lawyers demand better rights for cohabitees who separate – The Times

Posted July 30th, 2007 in cohabitation, news by sally

“A powerful group of family solicitors is calling on the Government to make a commitment to giving cohabiting couples new financial protection if they split up, and to make time for an early Bill.”

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The Times, 30th July 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

MPs oppose terror detention plans – BBC News

Posted July 30th, 2007 in detention, news, terrorism by sally

“A cross-party committee of MPs and peers has opposed government plans to detain terror suspects without charge beyond 28 days.”

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BBC News, 29th July 2007

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Family courts appeal wins backing of MPs – Daily Telegraph

Posted July 30th, 2007 in family courts, miscarriage of justice, news by sally

“A campaign for a public inquiry into miscarriages of justice in family courts has won the backing of 23 MPs, writes Ben Leapman.”

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Daily Telegraph, 29th July 2007

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Justice delayed as courts short of judges – Daily Telegraph

Posted July 30th, 2007 in criminal justice, delay, news by sally

“A shortage of judges is causing delays in bringing criminal trials to court, putting more pressure on prisons and delaying justice for victims of crime.”

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Daily Telegraph, 30th July 2007

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Designer-baby rules ‘should be relaxed to save more siblings’ – The Independent

Posted July 30th, 2007 in embryology, news by sally

“Strict rules permitting the birth of so-called ‘sibling saviours’ should be relaxed, a powerful parliamentary committee will say this week. The relaxation could lead to greater numbers of designer babies being born in order to save the lives of living brothers and sisters.”

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The Independent, 29th July 2007

Source: www.independent.co.uk

One in 15 top police under investigation – The Guardian

Posted July 30th, 2007 in news, police by sally

“Almost one in 15 senior police officers in England and Wales is being investigated over criminal or disciplinary offences, The Observer can reveal. The Police Superintendents’ Association (PSA) said that 100 of its members are under investigation for claims ranging from high-level corruption to harassment.”

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The Observer, 29th July 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

‘Happy slap’ killing gang jailed – BBC News

Posted July 28th, 2007 in murder, news, sentencing by sally

“Three men have been jailed for beating a homeless man to death in a ‘happy slapping’ incident.”

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BBC News, 27th July 2007

Source: www.bbc.co.uk  

Pair convicted of viaduct murder- BBC News

Posted July 28th, 2007 in murder, news by sally

“A man and a teenage girl have been found guilty of the murder of a man with learning disabilities.”

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BBC News, 27th July 2007

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Judiciary shake up sees seven in new roles – The Lawyer

Posted July 28th, 2007 in judiciary, news by sally

“The judiciary is set for an overhaul, with the control of seven posts changing hands.”

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The Lawyer, 27th July 2007

Source: www.thelawyer.com

Law Society lands shock legal aid review win – Legal Week

Posted July 28th, 2007 in judicial review, legal aid, legal services, news by sally

“The Law Society has dealt a major blow to the Government’s controversial plans to reform the £2bn legal aid system after a High Court judge upheld the bulk of the body’s objections to the proposals.”

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Legal Week, 27th July 2007

Source: www.legalweek.com

Victory for animal rights group against testing – The Independent

Posted July 28th, 2007 in animals, experiments, news, vivisection by sally

“An anti-vivisection campaign group won a partial victory yesterday in its High Court claim that the Government was failing in its legal duty to ensure animal suffering was kept to a minimum in UK laboratories.”

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The Independent, 28th July 2007

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Lords end NHS trust’s legal battle over source – The Guardian

Posted July 28th, 2007 in confidentiality, medical records, news by sally

The NHS trust that has been fighting a seven-and-a-half-year legal battle to force a freelance journalist to name a source for a story has been refused further leave to appeal by the House of Lords.

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The Guardian, 27th July 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Legal giants pour scorn on Labour’s record – The Times

Posted July 28th, 2007 in criminal justice, judiciary, legal aid, Ministry of Justice, news by sally

“A group of the UK’s most influential barristers has severely criticised the Labour Government’s treatment of the UK legal system over the past ten years.”

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The Times, 27th July 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

A bit of plain speaking can go a long way – The Times

Posted July 28th, 2007 in legal language, special report by sally

“The US and the UK – so the saying goes – are ‘two countries divided by a common language’. The same could be said for lawyers and non-lawyers. Lawyers talk in a language which must seem like gobbledygook to everyone else. Take the word ‘tort’. Any law student knows that it means ‘civil wrong’. But ask a non-lawyer to give you a sentence with the word ‘tort’ in it and they might as well say: ‘I tort I tore a puddy cat!’ for all the sense it will mean to them.”

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The Times, 26th July 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Lies, scams and threats – banks are condemned – The Times

Posted July 28th, 2007 in banking, news by sally

“Britain’s banks and building societies have lied to and threatened customers who complain about overdraft charges, the Government’s financial regulator said.”

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The Times, 28th July 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Cleaner cleared of blackmailing judge in sex video case – The Independent

Posted July 27th, 2007 in blackmail, judges, news, theft by sally

“The Brazilian cleaner Roselane Driza walked free from court today after charges that she stole two sexy videos from a male judge and blackmailed a female judge were dropped.”

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The Independent, 27th July 2007

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Fountain Court silk to succeed Vos as Bar chair – Legal Week

Posted July 27th, 2007 in barristers, news by sally

“The Bar Council has elected Timothy Dutton QC of Fountain Court Chambers as its new chairman the body announced today (27 July).”

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Legal Week, 27th July 2007

Source: www.legalweek.com

Recent Statutory Instruments – OPSI

Posted July 27th, 2007 in legislation by sally

The Gambling Act 2005 (Amendment of Schedule 6) Order 2007

The Excise Duties (Small Non-Commercial Consignments) Relief (Amendment) (Revocation) Regulations 2007

The Insurance Companies (Overseas Life Assurance Business) (Compliance) (Amendment) Regulations 2007

The Insurance Companies (Taxation of Reinsurance Business) (Amendment) Regulations 2007

The Insurance Companies (Overseas Life Assurance Business) (Excluded Business) (Amendment) Regulations 2007

The Value Added Tax (Amendment) (No. 5) Regulations 2007

The Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2007

The Income Tax (Pay as You Earn) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations 2007

The Social Security (Contributions) (Amendment No. 5) Regulations 2007

Source: www.opsi.gov.uk

Commissioners for Revenue and Customs v. Thorn Baker Ltd., Paradise and Another interested parties – Times Law Reports

Posted July 27th, 2007 in law reports, statutory sick pay by sally

No sick pay for short-term agency worker

Commissioners for Revenue and Customs v. Thorn Baker Ltd., Paradise and Another interested parties

“An agency worker who had entered into a contract of service for a period of less than three months was not entitled to statutory sick pay.”

The Times, 27th July 2007 

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk  

Please note the Times Law Reports are only available free on Times Online for 21 days from the date of publication.

McLaughlin v. Governor of the Cayman Islands – Times Law Reports

Posted July 27th, 2007 in law reports by sally

Void dismissal entitles officeholder to full salary and pension rights

McLaughlin v. Governor of the Cayman Islands

“Where a court of competent jurisdiction had held that a decision to dismiss a public office holder was void, the officeholder remained entitled to his full salary and pension rights until such time as his tenure of office was lawfully ended.”

The Times, 27th July 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Please note the Times Law Reports are only available free on Times Online for 21 days from the date of publication.