CA rejects drug-dealer’s criticism of legal team over conviction – Legal Futures

‘The Court of Appeal has rejected criticisms of his legal team by a man jailed for possessing cocaine with intent to supply.’

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Legal Futures, 19th August 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Qualified Legal Representatives – the challenges so far – Becket Chambers

‘For cases issued after 21 July 2022, the Court has jurisdiction to appoint a Qualified Legal Representative (“QLR”). In family cases, the necessity for such an appointment usually arises upon application of section 65 of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 or amendments to the Matrimonial and Family Proceedings Act 1984 which restricts litigants in person from cross-examining parties or witnesses in certain circumstances.’

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Becket Chambers, 2nd July 2024

Source: becket-chambers.co.uk

Law Society calls for civil legal aid increase over unrepresented parties in family court – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted April 26th, 2024 in families, family courts, fees, Law Society, legal aid, legal representation, news by sally

‘The Law Society today expressed its ‘extreme concern’ over the increased number of litigants in person in private family law cases in the decade since the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act came in to force.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 26th April 2024

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Making final determinations in the Court of Protection – Local Government Lawyer

‘Clare Middleton analyses a Court of Protection judgment concerning an important decision taken at a procedural hearing.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 5th April 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Man denied fair trial after ditching counsel has conviction quashed – Legal Futures

Posted April 4th, 2024 in appeals, assault, legal representation, news by tracey

‘The Court of Appeal has quashed the conviction of a man who dispensed with counsel on the second day of trial after finding he was then denied a fair hearing.’

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Legal Futures, 4th April 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Inability to afford a lawyer “cannot delay proceedings”, says master – Legal Futures

Posted March 21st, 2024 in delay, fiduciary duty, legal representation, news, stay of proceedings by sally

‘An impecunious defendant seeking to stay an action because they cannot afford legal representation must show they are trying to rectify the situation, a High Court master has said.’

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Legal Futures, 21st March 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Case Law Update: Re Z (Prohibition on Cross-Examination: No QLR) [2024] EWFC 22 – Parklane Plowden Chambers

Posted March 13th, 2024 in chambers articles, families, family courts, legal representation, news by sally

‘Sir Andrew McFarlane (President of the Family division) has handed down a very helpful and hotly anticipated judgment regarding the approach the court should adopt when it has directed a QLR be appointed for a party but no QLR has been found. Sir Andrew McFarlane took the opportunity to provide this judgment following a substantive judgment given at the conclusion of a fact-finding hearing.’

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Parklane Plowden Chambers, 19th February 2024

Source: www.parklaneplowden.co.uk

Litigant misled court over response from other side’s solicitors – Legal Futures

Posted February 27th, 2024 in auctioneers, disclosure, legal representation, litigants in person, news by tracey

‘A litigant in person who made a ‘without notice’ application to move property transactions to completion, blaming the other side’s solicitors for not replying to him, mislead the court, a judge has found.’

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Legal Futures, 27th February 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Appeal judges reject attempts to blame lawyers for convictions – Legal Futures

‘The Court of Appeal has rejected two separate attempts by convicted criminals to blame poor performance by lawyers for their convictions.’

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Legal Futures, 22nd February 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Civil case over £237m collapse of London Capital & Finance opens – with counsel leaving – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted February 20th, 2024 in barristers, fees, insolvency, legal representation, news, unfair commercial practices by tracey

‘Counsel for a defendant in a civil case concerning the £237m collapse of mini bond issuer London Capital & Finance excused themselves from court on the first hearing day this morning – stating that there was no prospect of their fees being paid.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 19th February 2024

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Wasted costs against representative acting according to client’s instructions refused – Law Society’s Gazette

‘An employment judge has refused an application for wasted costs against a lay representative after finding he only “did his client’s bidding.”’

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Law Society's Gazette, 22nd January 2024

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Qualified legal representatives will now get expenses but Law Soc says fees ‘still too low’ – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The Law Society has welcomed the announcement that expenses will be added to the qualified legal representative (QLR) scheme in domestic abuse cases, but says fees are still too low.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 11th December 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Litigation friend ordered to pay £42,000 costs for ‘wholly inadequate’ performance – Law Society’s Gazette

‘A litigation friend who was said to be suffering from depression has been ordered to pay more than £42,000 in costs after a judge found his performance “wholly inadequate.”’

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Law Society's Gazette, 23rd November 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

High Court refuses Indian lawyer right to address court – Legal Futures

Posted October 23rd, 2023 in banking, India, legal representation, news by tracey

‘The High Court has refused an Indian lawyer permission to appear for an Indian company that had dismissed its English solicitors and barristers shortly before trial.’

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Legal Futures, 23rd October 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

“Relatively straightforward” for barristers to avoid cab-rank rule – Legal Futures

‘It seems “relatively straightforward” for barristers to avoid the cab-rank rule by relying on exemptions, the Legal Services Board (LSB) has said.’

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Legal Futures, 17th October 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Applications for Anti-Social Behaviour Injunctions and Gang-Related Violence Injunctions – Local Government Lawyer

‘Richard Dewsbery reports on an important recent change to the Civil Procedure Rules that affects the N16A application form.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 1st September 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Is it time to re-assess the cab rank rule? – Doughty Street Chambers

‘In March, 2023, many lawyers, including 18 barristers, signed a “declaration” that they will not prosecute climate-change activists or act for those promoting new fossil fuel projects. Is the ‘cab rank rule’ [Code rC28 -29] under threat?’

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Doughty Street Chambers, 20th July 2023

Source: insights.doughtystreet.co.uk

Judge was wrong to allow 14-year-old boy in care proceedings instruct own solicitor, Court of Appeal rules – Local Government Lawyer

Posted August 1st, 2023 in care orders, children, family courts, legal representation, news by sally

‘The Court of Appeal has allowed a mother’s appeal against an order permitting a 14-year-old boy in care proceedings to instruct his own solicitor.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 31st July 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Judge wrong to let 14-year-old boy instruct solicitor – Legal Futures

Posted July 27th, 2023 in care orders, children, family courts, legal representation, news by sally

‘A family court judge was wrong to order that a 14-year-old boy be allowed to instruct his own solicitor in care proceedings, the Court of Appeal has ruled.’

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Legal Futures, 27th July 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Boosted UK legal aid rates ‘not enough’ to deal with Rwanda asylum cases – The Guardian

‘The Law Society has warned that a proposed 15% increase in legal aid rates will not be enough to ensure that there are sufficient immigration lawyers to deal with the government’s controversial scheme to send asylum seekers to Rwanda.’

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The Guardian, 5th July 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com