March 2011 – Page 3 – Current Awareness

“Changes to employment laws announced in last week’s budget are encouraging for small employers but could disproportionately affect women, solicitors have warned.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 30th March 2011

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Kenneth Clarke unveils plans to tackle compensation culture – The Guardian

Posted March 30th, 2011 in compensation, costs, fees, lord chancellor, news, small claims by sally

“Proposals to tackle Britain’s ‘damaging compensation culture’, control legal costs and divert cases from courtrooms into online resolution have been unveiled by the justice secretary.”

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The Guardian, 29th March 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Independent press crucial to the administration of justice, says lord chief justice – The Guardian

Posted March 30th, 2011 in judges, judiciary, lectures, media, news by sally

“An independent press is crucial to the administration of justice, the lord chief justice of England and Wales said during a lecture in Israel on Monday night.”

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The Guardian, 29th March 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Related link: The Judiciary and the Media (PDF)

Cyber-stalking should be a criminal offence, MPs say – BBC News

Posted March 30th, 2011 in harassment, internet, news by sally

“Cyber-stalking should be made a criminal offence, says a group of MPs calling for an overhaul of the law.”

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BBC News, 30th March 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

We need a more diverse supreme court – The Guardian

Posted March 30th, 2011 in diversity, news, Supreme Court, women by sally

“Just two weeks after it was reported that women in the legal professions are still finding it difficult to break through the glass ceiling, here comes another setback. Though an official announcement has yet to be made, it seems that the next two appointments to the supreme court will be men.”

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The Guardian, 29th March 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Beshenivsky killer Mustaf Jama loses appeal – BBC News

Posted March 30th, 2011 in appeals, gangs, murder, news, police by sally

“A man who murdered a Bradford policewoman during a bungled robbery has lost an appeal against his conviction.”

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BBC News, 28th March 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Drug runners to avoid prison under sentencing guidelines – Daily Telegraph

Posted March 30th, 2011 in detention, drug offences, drug trafficking, news, sentencing by sally

“Drug runners and small–scale dealers could escape prison even if caught with a 50–gram bag of cocaine or heroin or dozens of Ecstasy pills, under planned new guidance for courts.”

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Daily Telegraph, 28th March 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

MoD pays £1.3m compensation to Afghans for death, injury and damage – The Guardian

Posted March 30th, 2011 in Afghanistan, compensation, news, war by sally

“Afghan civilians compensated for deaths, injuries and property damage caused by British forces received £1.3m last year from the Ministry of Defence – but this was, on average, less than half of what they asked for.”

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The Guardian, 28th March 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Politicians to blame for human rights rulings, says judge – Daily Telegraph

Posted March 30th, 2011 in human rights, judges, judgments, news, sentencing by sally

“Politicians should stop criticising human rights ruling as they are to blame for tying the hands of courts, the country’s most senior judge signalled yesterday.”

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Daily Telegraph, 29th March 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Lords reject government bid to bin Youth Justice Board – BBC News

Posted March 30th, 2011 in bills, news, young offenders, Youth Justice Board by sally

“The government has been defeated in a vote in the House of Lords over plans to abolish the Youth Justice Board.”

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BBC News, 28th March 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Digital Economy Act: further delay to illegal downloading measures – The Guardian

Posted March 30th, 2011 in copyright, internet, judicial review, news by sally

“Plans to send thousands of warning letters to alleged illegal downloaders have been delayed until next year as the government’s embattled Digital Economy Act is held up by a high court judicial review.”

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The Guardian, 28th March 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Service announcement

Posted March 29th, 2011 in news by sally

We wish to apologise for the unavailability of our site for part of a day on Tuesday March 29. The site was taken down and then restored by WordPress without any warning or explanation.

Drug lord Curtis Warren’s conviction stands after supreme court rejects plea – The Guardian

Posted March 28th, 2011 in appeals, drug trafficking, evidence, interception, news by sally

“One of Britain’s most notorious drug dealers, Curtis Warren, has lost a legal battle that would have led to his conviction being overturned.”

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The Guardian, 28th March 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Police may be given new powers after cuts protest, says home secretary – The Guardian

Posted March 28th, 2011 in demonstrations, news, police, public order by sally

“The government will consider giving the police new powers, including the banning of face coverings, following the weekend’s anti-cuts march, the home secretary, Theresa May, has said.”

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The Guardian, 28th March 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Six people jailed in ‘severed thumb’ case – BBC News

Posted March 28th, 2011 in conspiracy, false imprisonment, kidnapping, murder, news, sentencing by sally

“Six people involved in the abduction, torture and murder of a restaurant worker from Hertfordshire have been jailed.”

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BBC News, 28th March 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Employment Tribunal unequivocal on discrimination stance as gay lawyer wins action – The Lawyer

Posted March 28th, 2011 in employment, news, sexual orientation discrimination by sally

“A gay lawyer who discovered a note from one of his firm’s partners that accused him of giving work to his ‘batty boy mate’ has won a discrimination fight against the firm.”

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The Lawyer, 28th March 2011

Source: www.thelawyer.com

Sharon Shoesmith in appeal over sacking – The Independent

Posted March 28th, 2011 in appeals, child abuse, news, social services, unfair dismissal by sally

“Sharon Shoesmith has launched a Court of Appeal battle over her sacking after the Baby P tragedy.”

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The Independent, 28th March 2011

Source: www.independent.co.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted March 28th, 2011 in law reports by sally

Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

Harrison, R (on the application of) v Birmingham Magistrate’s Court & Anor [2011] EWCA Civ 332 (25 March 2011)

Secretary of State for the Home Department v MK (Tunisia) [2011] EWCA Civ 333 (25 March 2011)

Brook v Reed [2011] EWCA Civ 331 (25 March 2011)

High Court (Queen’s Bench Division)

Bowker & Anor (t/a Lagopus Services) v The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds [2011] EWHC 737 (QB) (25 March 2011)

Inventors Friend Ltd v Leathes Prior (a firm) [2011] EWHC 711 (QB) (25 March 2011)

High Court (Chancery Division)

Amin & Anor v Amin & Ors [2011] EWHC 641 (Ch) (25 March 2011)

Uniq Plc, Re [2011] EWHC 749 (Ch) (25 March 2011)

High Court (Administrative Court)

Festiva Ltd, R (on the application of) v Highbury Corner Magistrates Court & Anor [2011] EWHC 723 (Admin) (25 March 2011)

Levy v Solicitors Regulation Authority [2011] EWHC 740 (Admin) (25 March 2011)

Save Historic Newmarket Ltd & Ors v Forest Heath District Council & Ors [2011] EWHC 606 (Admin) (25 March 2011)

High Court (Commercial Court)

Fortis Bank SA NV v Stemcor UK Ltd [2011] EWHC 538 (Comm) (17 March 2011)

Britannia Bulk Plc v Pioneer Navigation Ltd & Anor [2011] EWHC 692 (Comm) (25 March 2011)

Source: www.bailii.org

Possible changes to the Qualified Lawyers Transfer Scheme (QLTS) regulations – Bar Standards Board

Posted March 28th, 2011 in barristers, legal education, news by sally

“The SRA Board has approved changes to the QLTS Regulations which, if approved by the Legal Services Board, will put part-time students who began their BVC in 2009 in the same position as full-time 2009 BVC students, with regard to qualifying via the QLTR.”

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Bar Standards Board, 24th March 2011

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk