Royal Marines challenge naming ruling after Afghan case – BBC News

Posted November 18th, 2013 in Afghanistan, anonymity, appeals, armed forces, courts martial, murder, news by sally

“Five Royal Marines have lodged a challenge against a ruling they can be named, after one of them was convicted of the murder of an Afghan insurgent, the Judicial Office has said.”

Full story

BBC News, 15th November 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

‘Update law on child cruelty’: Family experts demand changes to increase protection for minors – The Independent

Posted November 18th, 2013 in child cruelty, mental health, news, police, psychiatric damage, statistics by sally

“Emotional cruelty to children should be made illegal, according to almost 70 per cent of police officers in England and Wales.”

Full story

The Independent, 17th November 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Gay rights group challenges Charity Commission refusal – The Guardian

Posted November 18th, 2013 in appeals, charities, homosexuality, human rights, news, public interest by sally

“A human rights organisation that supports gay and lesbian individuals in countries where homosexuality is outlawed has been denied charitable status on the grounds that it is not sufficiently of ‘public benefit’.”

Full story

The Guardian, 17th November 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

‘Awful conflict’: Judge despairs as couple’s divorce after 43 years leads to £700,000 bill – The Independent

Posted November 18th, 2013 in costs, dispute resolution, divorce, judges, news by sally

“A wealthy family seems to be ‘tearing itself apart’ in a legal battle which has already cost more than £700,000, a High Court judge has said.”

Full story

The Independent, 15th November 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Barristers threaten strike action over cuts to legal aid – The Guardian

Posted November 18th, 2013 in barristers, budgets, demonstrations, legal aid, legal representation, news by sally

“Criminal barristers are threatening strike action if the government does not drop plans to slash legal aid, a senior QC has said.”

Full story

The Guardian, 16th November 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Doctors, nurses and managers to face five years in jail if they neglect patients – The Guardian

“Doctors, nurses and NHS managers will face up to five years in jail if they are found to have wilfully neglected or mistreated patients under a new law aimed at stopping a repeat of the Mid Staffordshire hospital scandal.”

Full story

The Guardian, 16th November 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Five disabled people win independent living fund appeal – The Guardian

“Five disabled people have won their court of appeal bid to overturn the government’s decision to abolish the independent living fund (ILF).”

Full story

The Guardian, 6th November 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Dog attack laws and statistics – Daily Telegraph

“The number of people admitted to hospital due to dog bites has risen in the last five years prompting calls for changes in the law.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 6th November 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

A proud profession – The Bar Council

“Addressing lazy journalism; recognising what really motivates members of the Bar; looking at the pro bono work carried out on all fronts by so many; and the need for wider understanding of this contribution by all, especially the Government.”

Full story (PDF)

The Bar Council, October 2013

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

EVENT: IALS – Historicising Criminal Responsibility: Mapping the Legal and Scholarly Terrain

Posted November 6th, 2013 in Forthcoming events by sally

“Criminal responsibility is now the focus of a rich socio-historical scholarly discussion. Working within that tradition, and with a focus on twentieth century developments, this paper seeks to sketch out some of the major legal developments, setting them against broader social changes in responsibility practices.”

Date: 21st November 2013, 6.00-9.00pm

Location: Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Charles Clore House, 17 Russell Square, London WC1B 5DR

Charge: See website for details

More information can be found here.

EVENT: The Law Society – Best practice debate: Experts and lawyers discussion

Posted November 6th, 2013 in Forthcoming events by sally

“After the sell out success of this event in May 2013 we are repeating this special evening at the Law Society. The debate will bring together some of the UKs most prominent lawyers and experienced experts in a discursive forum to discuss best practice.

EWI Governor and renowned expert Chris Easton will chair the panel along with EWI Governor and Forensic Accountant Kay Linnell. Special addresses will be given by Paul Garlick QC Barrister at Furnival Chambers. Also delivering an address will be Catherine Leech, partner in the Serious Injury Team at Pannone LLP. Together they lead the discussion providing advice and guidance on the following:

How lawyers choose an expert
What lawyers expect from experts
Deciding between two experts or an SJE
Terms and conditions of engagement
Expert’s meetings
Case management
Hot-tubbing
Impact of the Jackson Reforms
Fee level assessments and Legal Aid funding”

Date: 19th November 2013, 6.30-9.00pm

Location: The Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1PL

Charge: EWI Members: £60, Law Society Section Members: £60, Non-members: £70

More information can be found here.

EVENT: IALS – “Respect for law and sausages”: how Parliament made section 31 of the Growth and Infrastructure Act 2013 on the sale of employment rights

Posted November 6th, 2013 in Forthcoming events by sally

“Annual SLS Lord Renton Lecture.
Speaker: Lord Pannick QC”

Date: 28th November 2013, 6.00-7.00pm

Location: Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Charles Clore House, 17 Russell Square, London WC1B 5DR

Charge: Free, registration required

More information can be found here.

EVENT: The Law Society – Public debate series: Protecting diversity: belief, conscience and the new definition of marriage

Posted November 6th, 2013 in Forthcoming events by sally

“The coalition government has announced an intention to review civil partnerships, changed the law on gay marriage and introduced tax breaks for married couples.

The shifting landscape of marriage and civil partnerships means the current protections for diversity, belief and conscience in the state’s definition of marriage is changing.

Our high-profile panel will discuss ‘Protecting diversity – belief, conscience and the state’s new definition of marriage’.”

CPD hours 1.5

Date: 12th November 2013, 6.00-8.45pm

Location: The Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1PL

Charge: Free

More information can be found here.

EVENT: IALS – ‘Seen to be Done? Transparency and Opacity in Courts: Developments and Issues’

Posted November 6th, 2013 in Forthcoming events by sally

“Proceedings in the Supreme Court are already televised, and broadcasting of other courts is imminent. Courts dealing with families have become more open after journalistic campaigns. Defendants and witnesses in some proceedings and courts martial are identified only by initials, and sexual assault witnesses and children are anonymous, while those charged are named upon arrest. Some witnesses testify behind screens, and the face of a defendant in a criminal case was covered for most of the trial. Magistrates complain that minor offences are increasingly dealt with by administrative cautions rather than proceedings in open court. Meanwhile, in the United States secret rulings by secret courts have extended electronic surveillance. Was Bentham right that ‘Where there is no publicity there is no justice’?”

Date: 25th November 2013, 6.00-7.30pm

Location: Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Charles Clore House, 17 Russell Square, London WC1B 5DR

Charge: See website for details

More information can be found here.

EVENT: The United Kingdom Association of Jewish Lawyers & Jurists – Should the UK be a safe haven for those accused of crimes of universal jurisdiction?

Posted November 6th, 2013 in Forthcoming events by sally

“Special Guest Speaker Michael Caplan QC will trace the position both here and elsewhere and give his views on this emotional and controversial subject.”

Date: Monday 25th November 2013, 6.00-8.00pm

Location: Central London venue

Charge: £15 per delegate, £10 UKAJLJ members or if you are retired, £5 students/trainees

More information can be found here.

EVENT: The BAILII Lecture 2013: “Decision-making in the UK’s top court”

Posted November 6th, 2013 in Forthcoming events by sally

“The Trustees of the British and Irish Legal Information Institute (BAILII) are delighted to announce that the Second Annual BAILII Lecture will be given by Professor Alan Paterson OBE, the 2010 Hamlyn lecturer, on the topic of ‘Decision-making in the UK’s top court’.

The lecture will coincide with the launch of Professor Paterson’s new book entitled Final Judgment: The Last Law Lords and the Supreme Court (Hart Publishing, 2013) which is based on interviews with over 40 Law Lords and Justices of the UK Supreme Court.

Lord Neuberger, the President of the Supreme Court will provide a brief introduction to the lecture and launch of the book.”

Date: Monday 9th December 2013, 5:30pm

Location: Freshfields, 65 Fleet Street, London EC4Y 1HT

Charge: Free, advance registration essential

More information can be found here.

EVENT: Statute Law Society – Statute Law and Alternative Solutions: Codification, Restatement, Common Law

Posted November 6th, 2013 in Forthcoming events by sally

“Statute Law Society Annual Conference: Statute Law and Alternative Solutions: Codification, Restatement, Common Law

The speakers and topics are as follows:

Prof Andrew Burrows QC: Restatements and Judicial Law Reform;
Prof Ian Dennis: Is there still a case for codifying the law and, if there is, what might a modern Evidence Code look like?;
Dr Deirdre Ahern: Codification of Company Law;
Prof Hugh Beale QC: The European Contract Law Project: the drafting challenges;
Prof Robert Hazell: The Constitutional Reform Act 2005 and its consequences.

Chairs:

Lord Dyson, Master of the Rolls and President of the Statute Law Society;
Lord Justice Lloyd Jones, Chairman of the Law Commission.”

Date: 15th November 2013

Location: House of Parliament, London SW1

Charge: Statute Law Society Member – £110. Academic/Retired – £70. Student/Pupil – £35.

More information can be found here.

EVENT: IALS – After the LETR, what should we be researching and how?

Posted November 6th, 2013 in Forthcoming events by sally

“The Legal Education and Training Review (LETR) published in June 2013 is the most comprehensive review of legal and education and training for over 40 years. Did you know that amongst its key findings was that policy development is seriously inhibited by a lack of research in key areas of legal education? The Review is but the first stage of a review process, so you can make your mark by developing projects that are both needed and will have impact.”

Date: 13th November 2013, 12.30-4.30pm

Location: Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Charles Clore House, 17 Russell Square, London WC1B 5DR

Charge: £40

More information can be found here.

Command Papers – official-documents.gov.uk

Posted November 6th, 2013 in parliamentary papers by sally

Annual Energy Statement 2013, Cm 8732 (PDF)

The Government Response to the Annual Report on the Operation of the Terrorism Acts in 2012 by the Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation, Cm 8745 (PDF)

Reducing the number and costs of whiplash claims: A Government response to consultation on arrangements concerning whiplash injuries in England and Wales, Cm 8738 (PDF)

Responding to human rights judgments Report to the Joint Committee on Human Rights on the Government response to human rights judgments 2012–13, Cm 8727 (PDF)

Government response to the Justice Committee’s Second Report of Session 2013-14 Female Offenders, Cm 8729 (PDF)

Source: www.official-documents.gov.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted November 6th, 2013 in law reports by sally

High Court (Queen’s Bench Division)

Alegro Capital Llp v Allproperty Media PTE Ltd [2013] EWHC 3376 (QB) (05 November 2013)

JS & Ors, R (on the application of) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions & Ors [2013] EWHC 3350 (QB) (05 November 2013)

Mileform Ltd v Interserve Security Ltd [2013] EWHC 3386 (QB) (05 November 2013)

High Court (Chancery Division)

Dahabshiil Transfer Services Ltd. v Barclays Bank Plc [2013] EWHC 3379 (Ch) (05 November 2013)

ARM Asset Backed Securities SA, Re [2013] EWHC 3351 (Ch) (09 October 2013)

High Court (Technology and Construction Court)

Caucedo Investments Inc & Anor v Saipem SA & Anor [2013] EWHC 3375 (TCC) (04 November 2013)

High Court (Commercial Court)

Arts & Antiques Ltd v Richards & Ors [2013] EWHC 3361 (Comm) (05 November 2013)

Source: www.bailii.org