Judge criticises lawyer fees as “out of kilter” – Daily Telegraph

Posted February 17th, 2012 in costs, fees, legal profession, news, personal injuries by sally

“A senior judge has warned there is ‘something out of kilter’ in the civil justice system after hearing a case in which lawyers were paid almost six times more than their client.”

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Daily Telegraph, 16th February 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Ratings scheme for advocates will be misused by criminals, judge warns – The Guardian

Posted February 14th, 2012 in advocacy, judges, legal profession, news, quality assurance by sally

“A senior judge has warned that a new ratings scheme for advocates will encourage more criminals to appeal against their convictions and create a generation of sycophantic barristers desperate to impress judges at the expense of their clients’ interests.”

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The Guardian, 13th February 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

The bar can bridge the gap – The Guardian

Posted February 10th, 2012 in advocacy, legal profession, news by tracey

“Barristers should stop insulting solicitor advocates and take steps to merge the two professions.”

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The Guardian, 8th February 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Protect legal privilege, bar urges government – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted February 10th, 2012 in investigatory powers, legal profession, news, privilege by tracey

“The Bar Council has urged the government to protect the right of citizens to hold private conversations with their lawyers. The call, supported the Law Society, comes as the proposed Protection of Freedoms Bill, intended to protect people from unwarranted state intrusion in their private lives, goes through parliament.”

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Law Society’s Gazette. 9th February 2012

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Are lawyers in right-to-die cases breaking the law? – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted February 1st, 2012 in assisted suicide, judicial review, legal profession, news, prosecutions by sally

“Albert Camus famously wrote: ‘there is but one truly serious philosophical problem and that is suicide.’ However profound a philosophical problem, the question of suicide or, more precisely, assisted suicide is proving quite a legal conundrum.”

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UK Human Rights Blog, 31st January 2012

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Lawyers in right-to-die case can act without fear of prosecution – The Guardian

Posted January 30th, 2012 in assisted suicide, judicial review, legal profession, news by sally

“Lawyers for a stroke victim who wants help to end his life can continue to act on his behalf without fear of prosecution or disciplinary action following a high court ruling.”

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The Guardian, 27th January 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Lawyers make millions from NHS negligence claims – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 30th, 2012 in costs, fees, hospitals, legal profession, negligence, news by sally

“Lawyers are earning ‘success fees’ totalling £66 million a year for helping patients to sue the NHS, new figures have revealed.”

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Daily Telegraph, 29th January 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Law Society president: split in profession to end – Law Society’s Gazette

“The president of the Law Society expects the 180-year-old division between solicitors and barristers to wither away as a result of the reforms set in motion by the Legal Services Act.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 25th January 2012

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Cameron extends PI fees cap in attack on ‘albatross’ safety culture – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted January 6th, 2012 in fees, health & safety, legal profession, news, personal injuries by tracey

“David Cameron today announced plans to cap lawyers’ fees from personal injury claims at £25,000. Speaking to an audience of small companies, the prime minister launched an attack on the so-called compensation culture and blamed it for holding back the growth of UK businesses.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 5th January 2012

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Coalition plans to kill off ‘health and safety monster’ with limits on lawyers’ fees – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 6th, 2012 in fees, health & safety, insurance, legal profession, news, personal injuries by tracey

“David Cameron said the move would provide protection for employers facing claims over workplace accidents and help end a ‘culture of fear’ among businesses over health and safety. Insurance companies suggested the change could lead to reduced premiums for motorists by reducing the number of ‘friviolous’ damages claims arising from traffic accidents. Existing limits on legal fees in personal injury cases will now be extended to claims for up to £25,000, officials said. For the first time, caps on lawyers’ fees will also apply to claims brought against employers.”

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Daily Telegraph, 6th January 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

PI lawyers risk conflict claims under ABS – Law Society Gazette

Posted December 16th, 2011 in conflict of interest, insurance, legal profession, news, personal injuries by tracey

“The legal profession is unprepared for conflicts of interest in personal injury law that will occur from 2012, the Gazette has been told. Such conflicts could leave PI lawyers open to negligence claims and increase professional indemnity insurance premiums.”

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Law Society Gazette, 15th December 2011

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Supreme Court lawyers allowed to dress down – The Independent

Posted November 22nd, 2011 in court dress, legal profession, news, Supreme Court by sally

“Lawyers appearing at the UK’s highest court will no longer have to wear traditional dress, it was announced today.”

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The Independent, 21st November 2011

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Lady Justice Hallett: profile – Daily Telegraph

Posted November 8th, 2011 in judges, legal profession, news, sex discrimination by sally

“Lady Justice Hallett, one of the country’s most senior judges, has claimed she encountered ‘horrific’ sexism during her rise through the judiciary.”

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Daily Telegraph, 8th November 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Generation game – the young lawyers following in their parents’ footsteps – Legal Week

Posted November 3rd, 2011 in families, legal profession, news by sally

“Despite seeing the long hours and hard work their parents put in, many offspring are not put off from following them into the legal profession, writes Georgina Stanley.”

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Legal Week, 3rd November 2011

Source: www.legalweek.com

Justice in a time of economic crisis and in the age of the internet – Speech by Lord Neuberger of Abbotsbury, Master of the Rolls

Posted October 19th, 2011 in civil justice, courts, internet, legal profession, speeches by sally

Justice in a time of economic crisis and in the age of the internet (PDF)

Speech by Lord Neuberger of Abbotsbury, Master of the Rolls

High Sheriff’s Lecture 2011, 13th October 2011

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

New dawn in legal sector will give boost to UK business and customers – Ministry of Justice

“The public are set to benefit from modern, joined-up legal services after Justice Minister Jonathan Djanogly announced the start of radical changes to the sector today (6 October).”

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Ministry of Justice, 6th October 2011

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Legal advisers must not alter their opinions to suit politicians, says leading international lawyer – The Guardian

Posted October 6th, 2011 in attorney general, legal profession, news, rendition, torture, war by sally

“Philippe Sands says lawyers bear some responsibility for enabling torture, rendition and the war in Iraq – and must in future be brought to account.”

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The Guardian, 5th October 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Fixed legal fees- can they change the face of the legal profession? – The Lawyer

Posted October 5th, 2011 in fees, legal profession, news by sally

“The system of hourly billing by lawyers has come under scrutiny for some time, and whilst this might not be a new phenomenon, the increased move towards fixed fees and what this might mean for the sector, certainly is.”

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The Lawyer, 4th October 2011

Source: www.thelawyer.com

Baroness Shackleton: legal watchdog warns lawyer fees market needs ‘urgent reform’ – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 3rd, 2011 in consumer protection, fees, legal profession, legal services, news by sally

“Exclusive: Lawyers are under pressure to adopt more ‘consumer friendly’ fee structures amid thousands of complaints from clients about inflated billing charges, the legal watchdog has warned. ”

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Daily Telegraph, 1st October 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Stress and the City – the charity on call for struggling legal professionals – Legal Week

Posted September 8th, 2011 in charities, legal profession, mental health, news by sally

“In an increasingly competitive legal sector it is understandable that many lawyers are unwilling to admit to human weakness, but those counselling struggling legal professionals believe that the number failing to cope has risen notably in recent years.”

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Legal Week, 8th September 2011

Source: www.legalweek.com