Very High Cost Criminal Cases – the future – Ministry of Justice

Posted February 5th, 2008 in costs, criminal justice, legal profession, press releases by sally

“The Legal Services Commission and Ministry of Justice today announced steps that are being taken in order to proceed with the tender to establish a Panel of solicitors and barristers to represent defendants in major criminal cases.”

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 5th February 2008

Source: www.wired-gov.net

Lawyers’ salaries catch up with investment bankers’ – The Lawyer

Posted February 5th, 2008 in news, remuneration, solicitors by sally

“Trainee solicitor pay has finally caught up with the graduate salaries on offer at investment banks, a new survey reveals.”

Full story

The Lawyer, 5th February 2008

Source: www.thelawyer.com

Legal flaw in power of attorney revealed – The Times

Posted February 5th, 2008 in news, powers of attorney by sally

“Thousands of people who took steps to protect their affairs or those of elderly relatives if they become incapable could unwittingly be in breach of the law.”

Full story

The Times, 5th February 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted February 5th, 2008 in law reports by sally

High Court (Administrative Court)

Cable & Wireless Services UK Ltd, R (on the application of) v Central Arbitration Committee & Anor [2008] EWHC 115 (Admin) (04 February 2008)

Williams, Re [2008] EWHC 154 (Admin) (01 February 2008)

Tran, Re [2008] EWHC 159 (Admin) (01 February 2008)

Johnson, Re [2008] EWHC 160 (Admin) (01 February 2008)

Secretary of State for the Home Department v AE [2008] EWHC 132 (Admin) (01 February 2008)

Fretwell, Re [2008] EWHC 155 (Admin) (01 February 2008)

Wealleans, Re [2008] EWHC 161 (Admin) (01 February 2008)

High Court (Admiralty Division)

Parrott v Parkin [2007] EWHC 210 (Admlty) (08 February 2007) 

High Court (Commercial Court)

Golden President Shipping Corporation v Bocimar NV [2008] EWHC 130 (Comm) (31 January 2008)

High Court (Family Division)

VB v JP [2008] EWHC 112 (Fam) (29 January 2008)

High Court (Patents Court)

M-Systems Flash Disk Pioneers Ltd v Trek 2000 International Ltd & Anor [2008] EWHC 102 (Pat) (28 January 2008)

Source: www.bailii.org

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted February 5th, 2008 in law reports by sally

Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

Secretary of State for Justice v Walker [2008] EWCA Civ 30 (01 February 2008)

Wragg & Ors v Surrey County Council [2008] EWCA Civ 19 (01 February 2008)

Brooke & Ors , R (on the application of) v The Parole Board & Anor [2008] EWCA Civ 29 (01 February 2008)

Ravengate Estates Ltd v Horizon Housing Group Ltd & Anor [2008] EWCA Civ 16 (31 January 2008)

Glaxo Group Ltd v Genentech Inc & Anor [2008] EWCA Civ 23 (31 January 2008)

Drake v Harbour [2008] EWCA Civ 25 (31 January 2008)

Gloucestershire County Council v Evans & Ors [2008] EWCA Civ 21 (31 January 2008)

The County Homesearch Company (Thames & Chilterns) Ltd. v Cowham [2008] EWCA Civ 26 (31 January 2008)

Gab Robins (UK) Ltd v Triggs [2008] EWCA Civ 17 (30 January 2008)

P (A Child) [2008] EWCA Civ 15 (30 January 2008)

Davies v Meadwestvaco Calmar Ltd [2008] EWCA Civ 8 (30 January 2008)

Ofulue & Anor v Bossert [2008] EWCA Civ 7 (29 January 2008)

Batey v Jewson Ltd & Anor [2008] EWCA Civ 18 (29 January 2008)

Leonard & Anor v Byrt & Ors [2008] EWCA Civ 20 (29 January 2008)

Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

Trinity Mirror & Ors, R (on the application of) v Croydon Crown Court [2008] EWCA Crim 50 (01 February 2008)

Source: www.bailii.org

Speaker promises ‘root and branch’ review of MPs’ expenses – The Guardian

Posted February 5th, 2008 in expenses, news, parliament by sally

“The Commons speaker, Michael Martin, promised last night a ‘root-and-branch’ review of parliamentary allowances as he added his weight to the clamour inside and outside parliament for MPs’ expenses to be made more transparent.”

Full story

The Guardian, 5th February 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Regina (Brooke and Another) v Parole Board and Another – Times Law Reports

Posted February 5th, 2008 in human rights, law reports, parole by sally

Regina (Brooke and Another) v Parole Board and Another; Regina (O’Connell) v Same Regina (Murphy) v Same

“The Parole Board’s relationship with the executive was such that it did not have the independence required when determining whether convicted prisoners should remain in prison or be released on licence.”

The Times, 5th February 2008

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.

Martin v Triggs Turner Barton (a Firm) and Others – Times Law Reports

Posted February 5th, 2008 in civil procedure rules, disclosure, law reports by sally

Martin v Triggs Turner Barton (a Firm) and Others

“The court was entitled to make an order to ensure that specific disclosure was carried out properly.”

The Times, 5th February 2008

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. 

Police to urge cannabis regrading – BBC News

Posted February 5th, 2008 in drug offences, news by sally

“Senior police officers are to tell government advisers that cannabis should be upgraded from a Class C to a more dangerous Class B drug.”

Full story

BBC News, 5th February 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Demand for legal advice surges amid growing threat of credit-crunch lawsuits – Financial Times

Posted February 5th, 2008 in banking, news by sally

“Big banks and their clients are gearing up for possible post-credit crunch lawsuits that may start hitting the courts within six months, leading lawyers said yesterday.”

Full story

Financial Times, 5th February 2008
Source: www.ft.com 

Lords hear damages claim over failed Equatorial Guinea coup – The Times

Posted February 5th, 2008 in conspiracy, damages, jurisdiction, news by sally

“In a dramatic opening to a landmark case, the barrister of alleged plotter Simon Mann confirmed he is in prison in West Africa.”

Full story

The Times, 4th February 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Carers for disabled people could be protected by discrimination law – OUT-LAW.com

Posted February 5th, 2008 in disability discrimination, news by sally

“The European Court of Justice has been advised to extend protection against disability discrimination to carers and not just those with disabilities. A ruling to that effect could force a change in UK law.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 4th February 2008
Source: www.out-law.com

Police officer says he was forced into bugging Muslim MP – The Independent

Posted February 5th, 2008 in investigatory powers, news, police, terrorism by sally

“A police officer last night claimed he was forced by the Metropolitan Police to carry out the bugging of a meeting in prison between Babar Ahmed, a terrorist suspect, and his MP, Sadiq Khan.”

Full story

The Independent, 5th February

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Prisoners routinely bugged as jails fall in shadowy area of surveillance – The Times

Posted February 5th, 2008 in interception, news, prisons, telecommunications by sally

“Dozens of prisoners in British jails are routinely under covert electronic surveillance, security sources told The Times last night.”

Full story

The Times, 5th February 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Does Islam fit with our law? – The Times

Posted February 5th, 2008 in islamic law, special report by sally

“Is a clash of civilisations looming? It’s now time to find the links rather than the conflicts between English and Islamic law”

Full story

The Times, 5th February 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Oral statement on HMP Woodhill inquiry – Ministry of Justice

Posted February 5th, 2008 in press releases, prisons by sally

“Jack Straw has made an oral statement to the House of Commons on an inquiry into alleged events at Woodhill Prison.”

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 4th February 2008

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Convicted barrister wins gagging order – The Times

Posted February 5th, 2008 in anonymity, barristers, news by sally

“A barrister convicted of a criminal offence has won a gagging order preventing him from being identified in the press in order to protect his children.”

Full story

The Times, 4th February 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Abuse victims win historic ruling on compensation – The Independent

Posted February 5th, 2008 in damages, news, personal injuries, sexual offences, time limits by sally

“Two young women have won a key ruling in their legal battle to secure compensation from the man who sexually abused them when they were children. The case is the first to benefit from last week’s landmark House of Lords ruling against the man known as the ‘Lotto Rapist’.”

Full story

The Independent, 5th February 2008

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Ofcom approves sale of £20 billion-worth of new spectrum – OUT-LAW.com

Posted February 5th, 2008 in news, telecommunications by sally

“Up to £20 billion-worth of radio spectrum will be released on to the open markets because of a decision by Ofcom to allow public sector bodies including the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to trade or sell their allocated spectrum.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 4th February 2008

Source: www.out-law.com

Illegal bug uncovered in second UK prison – The Times

Posted February 5th, 2008 in interception, news, prisons, telecommunications by sally

“Bugging devices planted in a prison telephone were illegally used to record privileged conversations between an inmate and his solicitor, The Times has learnt.”

Full story

The Times, 5th February 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk