Law careers from restorative justice, to legal ombudsman, to media – OUP Blog

‘What range of career options are out there for those attending law school? In this series of podcasts, Martin Partington talks to influential figures in the law about topics ranging from restorative justice to legal journalism.’

Full story

OUP Blog, 19th August 2014

Source: www.blog.oup.com

What’s happened since the Family Justice Review: a brighter future for family justice – Ministry of Justice

Posted August 21st, 2014 in civil justice, family courts, reports by tracey

‘This update from the government sets out the progress made since the family justice review was published in 2011.’

Full update

Ministry of Justice, 20th August 2014

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Guidance for the instruction of experts in civil claims 2014 – Civil Justice Council

‘Civil Justice Council issues new guidance on instructing experts in civil claims.’

Full guidance

Civil Justice Council, 13th August 2014

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Legislation passed to ban PI inducements – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The government has introduced legislation to clamp down on personal injury inducements from lawyers offering clients money or gifts such as iPads in exchange for pursuing claims.’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 25th July 2014

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Regina (Public Law Project) v Secretary of State for Justice (Office of the Children’s Commissioner intervening) – WLR Daily

Posted July 17th, 2014 in civil justice, law reports, legal aid, regulations, ultra vires by tracey

Regina (Public Law Project) v Secretary of State for Justice (Office of the Children’s Commissioner intervening); [2014] EWHC 2365 (Admin); [2014] WLR (D) 316

‘The proposed statutory instrument, the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (Amendment of Schedule 1) Order 2014, amending Schedule 1 to the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 by introducing a residence test, was unlawful as it was ultra vires and discriminatory.’

WLR Daily, 15th July 2014

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Legal aid residence test ‘discriminatory and unlawful’, high court rules – The Guardian

Posted July 15th, 2014 in appeals, civil justice, legal aid, news, regulations, ultra vires by tracey

‘The government’s attempt to introduce a residence test for legal aid has been struck down by the high court on the grounds that it is discriminatory and unlawful.’

Full story

The Guardian, 15th July 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Bar Council reveals preliminary findings of its impact of LASPO survey – The Bar Council

‘The Bar Council, which represents barristers in England and Wales, has today presented its preliminary findings from a major survey conducted to assess the impact of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act (LASPO) 2012.’

Full story

The Bar Council, 12th July 2014

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Revenge porn – are we in need of stronger laws? – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

‘Calls have been prompted largely by the rise of revenge porn itself, which in turn is attributable to the omnipresence of smartphones that allow photographs to be taken and uploaded to the internet within seconds. No specialist knowledge is required and many “apps” allow pictures to be uploaded at the click of a button. Once an image is on the internet in digital form it can be reproduced time and time again. The call for a specific criminal sanction follows considerable lobbying by campaigners and the issue receiving national attention following the revelation that the prime minister’s nanny was the victim of revenge porn. At present there is no specific criminal offence that adequately addresses the problem. Legal action and publicity in the US have also put pressure on the government to act.’

Full story

Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 14th July 2014

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

Exceptional cases: High Court widens scope of LASPO and declares guidance unlawful – Legal Aid Handbook

‘The High Court recently gave judgement in Gudanaviciene & Ors v Director of Legal Aid Casework & Anor [2014] EWHC 1840 (Admin).’

Full story

Legal Aid Handbook, 1st July 2014

Source: www.legalaidhandbook.com

Supreme Court to rule on status of Sikh ‘saint’ – The Independent

‘Britain’s finest legal minds have been asked to make sense of some of life’s thorniest problems, but few compare to that posed by the followers of Sant Baba Jeet Singh Ji Maharaj – specifically whether he is a Sikh saint, the Third Holy Saint in fact.’

Full story

The Independent, 8th June 2014

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Jackson rules High Court erred in refusing more time – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted May 21st, 2014 in civil justice, disclosure, interpretation, news, time limits by tracey

‘Lord Justice Jackson, architect of the civil justice reforms, has overturned a High Court decision which wrongly interpreted his own changes to the system.’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 19th May 2014

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Response of the Judicial Executive Board to the Justice Committee Inquiry: Civil Legal Aid – Judiciary of England and Wales

Posted May 15th, 2014 in civil justice, judiciary, legal aid, litigants in person, news by tracey

‘Response of the Judicial Executive Board, drafted with input from the Association of Her Majesty’s District Judges and the Council of Her Majesty’s Circuit Judges.’

Full text

Judiciary of England and Wales, 13th May 2014

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Leading judges in damning attack on civil aid cuts – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Senior judges have launched their most scathing attack yet on the government’s cuts to civil legal aid. In written evidence responding to the government’s consultation on the first year of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders (LASPO) Act, the Judicial Executive Board said courts have faced an ‘unprecedented increase’ in numbers of litigants in person (LiPs).’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 14th May 2014

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Judge’s anger adds to acrimony of £500m divorce acrimony of Laura Ashley boss Khoo Kay Peng – The Independent

Posted May 12th, 2014 in civil justice, contempt of court, costs, divorce, news by sally

‘Mr Justice Holman was angry. Pauline Chai, the Miss Malaysia wife of Laura Ashley tycoon Khoo Kay Peng had filed to divorce her husband in a £500m case – yet earlier this month the businessman failed for the second time to turn up at the High Court.’

Full story

The Independent, 9th May 2014

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Bar Council Calls on Peers to Reject Civil Legal Aid Regulations – The Bar Council

Posted May 7th, 2014 in barristers, budgets, civil justice, legal aid, news, remuneration by sally

‘The Bar Council, which represents barristers in England and Wales, has urged Peers to reject the Civil Legal Aid (Remuneration) (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations, which severely limit the availability of legal aid for proceedings for Judicial Review.’

Full story

The Bar Council, 7th May 2014

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Cuts will not damage family justice, says Munby – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Legal aid cuts will not undermine family justice, the head of the Family Division insisted last week as he mooted plans for judge-free divorces and greater legal rights for separating cohabitees.’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 5th May 2014

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

R v O’Brien (Appellant) – Supreme Court

R v O’Brien (Appellant) [2014] UKSC 23 (YouTube)

Supreme Court, 2nd April 2014

Source: www.youtube.com/user/UKSupremeCourt

Government confirms court fees increase within weeks – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted April 3rd, 2014 in civil justice, consultations, courts, fees, news by tracey

‘The Ministry of Justice has confirmed it will go ahead with a series of changes to court fees from 22 April.’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 2nd April 2014

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Domestic violence victims helped as injunction fees are scrapped – Ministry of Justice

Posted April 2nd, 2014 in civil justice, consultations, domestic violence, fees, injunctions, news by sally

‘Vulnerable domestic abuse victims will be helped by the scrapping of fees for domestic violence injunctions, Courts Minister Shailesh Vara has announced.’

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 1st April 2014

Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice

Legal aid cuts: six lawyers on why they will damage our justice system – The Guardian

‘Why have lawyers taken to the streets to protest against legal aid cuts? Self-interest or because they care about the havoc they see being wrought on our legal system?’

Full story

The Guardian, 1st April 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk