Court chaos as hard-up couples try DIY divorce – The Guardian

“The biggest shake-up of divorce in a generation is in danger of creating a two-tier system, with wealthier couples benefitting far more than less well-off couples. The warning comes as a survey of more than 6,500 divorce lawyers found that new guidelines, requiring couples to look at mediation as an alternative to using courts, were largely being ignored.”

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The Guardian, 22nd April 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Postal workers’ union backs new dangerous dogs law – The Independent

Posted April 23rd, 2012 in consultations, dogs, electronic monitoring, news by sally

“The Government has been accused of ‘dragging its feet’ over cracking down on dangerous dogs ahead of an expected announcement of action to tackle the problem of attacks by violent animals.”

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The Independent, 23rd April 2012

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Will writing: call for industry-wide regulation – The Guardian

Posted April 23rd, 2012 in administrators, consumer protection, Legal Services Board, news, wills by sally

“All firms offering will writing and estate administration should be regulated to protect consumers from falling victim to fraudsters and cowboy companies offering badly drafted documents, according to latest research.”

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The Guardian, 23rd April 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Improving the odds: how to write a good pupillage application – The Guardian

Posted April 20th, 2012 in news, pupillage by sally

“Pupillage deadline is imminent. Pupil barrister Daniel Sokol’s main advice is not to be dull.”

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The Guardian, 20th April 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Prison is not working – it’s time for a rehabilitation revolution – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted April 20th, 2012 in community service, imprisonment, news, rehabilitation by sally

“For generations we have locked up people who have been convicted of committing criminal offences. It is expensive and hopeless and, for all but the most dangerous offenders, it is a waste of time and money. Countless schemes across the world have shown that cheaper community penalties have had the effect of rehabilitating offenders and reducing crime rates, as well as saving money. This month, Scotland will lead the way in proposing a radical overhaul of the treatment of female offenders that could be applied across the board.”

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Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 20th April 2012

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

Redressing the Democratic Deficit in Human Rights – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted April 20th, 2012 in human rights, judicial review, news, parliament by sally

“Who should decide questions of human rights, Parliament or the courts? Is there a democratic deficit in human rights? If so, how do we go about addressing it? These are just some of the many questions asked at the conference hosted by the Arts and Humanities Council on Redressing the Democratic Deficit in Human Rights.”

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UK Human Rights Blog, 20th April 2012

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Man jailed for photographing defendants in Truro court – BBC News

Posted April 20th, 2012 in contempt of court, news, photography by sally

“A man has been jailed for a day and fined £750 for contempt after taking a picture of two defendants inside a Cornwall court.”

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BBC News, 20th April 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Earl of Cardigan loses paintings court battle – The Independent

Posted April 20th, 2012 in artistic works, leases, news, trusts by sally

“An aristocrat whose family name is famed for its link to the Charge of the Light Brigade today failed in a bid to prevent dozens of portraits of his ancestors being sold.”

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The Independent, 20th April 2012

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Sofyen Belamouadden stabbing: three jailed for tube station murder – The Guardian

Posted April 20th, 2012 in murder, news, sentencing by sally

“Three men have been jailed for at least 18 years each for murdering a 15-year-old schoolboy at a tube station.”

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The Guardian, 20th April 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Footballer rape trial: Ched Evans jailed five years, Clayton McDonald cleared – BBC News

Posted April 20th, 2012 in news, rape, sentencing by sally

“Footballer Ched Evans has been jailed for five years for raping a 19-year-old woman, while another player, Clayton McDonald, has been cleared.”

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BBC News, 20th April 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Family Mediation: a safe place to have a difficult conversation – Carol Rawlence – Ministry of Justice

Posted April 20th, 2012 in dispute resolution, divorce, news by sally

“I originally came across mediation through Stephen Ruttle QC from Brick Court; he asked me to sit in on mediation and I could immediately see the positive and creative application of mediation for families. Family breakdown is not a legal issue but a relationship issue.”

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Ministry of Justice, 19th April 2012

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted April 20th, 2012 in law reports by sally

High Court (Queen’s Bench Division)

Gutermann Messtechnik & Anor v Hartley & Anor [2012] EWHC 1013 (QB) (19 April 2012)

High Court (Administrative Court)

HA (Nigeria)), R (on the application of) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2012] EWHC 979 (Admin) (17 April 2012)

Wilby v The Municipal Court Prague Czech Republic [2012] EWHC 1006 (Admin) (19 April 2012)

Source: www.bailii.org

The Law Society Family Mediation event – Ministry of Justice

Posted April 20th, 2012 in human rights, speeches by sally

“Justice Minister Jonathan Djanogly speaks at The Law Society Family Mediation event.”

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Ministry of Justice, 16th April 2012

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Command Papers – official-documents.gov.uk

Posted April 20th, 2012 in parliamentary papers by sally

Rules governing enforced removals from the UK, Cm 8342 (PDF)

Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the United States of America concerning a Hydroacoustic Monitoring Facility on Ascension Island, Cm 8340 (PDF)

UK Border Controls, Cm 8341 (PDF)

Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of Australia concerning Air Services, Cm 8343 (PDF)

Source: www.official-documents.gov.uk

This other life – the strains of managing a work/life balance at the Bar – Legal Week

Posted April 20th, 2012 in barristers, news by sally

“Without the institutional support seen at law firms, many barristers find the feast or famine nature of the job makes the work/life balance difficult to achieve.”

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Legal Week, 20th April 2012

Source: www.legalweek.com

Justice Secretary opening remarks to Brighton conference – Ministry of Justice

Posted April 20th, 2012 in human rights, speeches by sally

“Kenneth Clarke’s opening remarks to the Brighton conference on the European Court of Human Rights, including contribution from Lord William Wallace, FCO minister.”

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Ministry of Justice, 19th April 2012

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Why Should Family Lawyers be Interested in the Brighton Conference on the European Court of Human Rights? – Family Law Week

Posted April 20th, 2012 in families, human rights, news by sally

“Deirdre Fottrell, Barrister, of Coram Chambers considers the proposed reforms of the ECHR which are under consideration at the Brighton Conference and explains why they are of particular importance to family lawyers.”

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Family Law Week, 19th April 2012

Source: www.familylawweek.com

Recent Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk

Posted April 20th, 2012 in legislation by sally

The Sexual Offences (Northern Ireland) Order 2008

The School Governance (Federations) (England) Regulations 2012

The School Governance (Constitution) (England) Regulations 2012

The General Osteopathic Council (Application for Registration and Fees) (Amendment) Rules Order of Council 2012

The Education Act 2011 (Commencement No. 4 and Transitional and Savings Provisions) Order 2012

The Wireless Telegraphy (Licence Charges) (Amendment) Regulations 2012

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

View from Brighton offers little cheer for Abu Qatada – The Guardian

Posted April 20th, 2012 in deportation, human rights, news, terrorism by sally

“If Strasbourg turns him down, the cleric could be deported more quickly than if he’d gone to the English appeal courts.”

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The Guardian, 19th April 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

BOA expects to lose court battle with Wada over drugs ban – BBC News

Posted April 20th, 2012 in drug abuse, news, sport by sally

“The British Olympic Association (BOA) believes it is likely to lose its legal battle with the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada), BBC Sport understands.”

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BBC News, 20th April 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk