Ethics in International Arbitration: The Big Debate – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted November 21st, 2013 in arbitration, international courts, legal representation, news by sally

“International arbitration has something of a reputation as the ‘Wild West’ of the law; a land where personalities are at least as important (or perhaps more so) than procedural rules, and legal representatives can be viewed by their clients as hired guns.”

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Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 21st November 2013

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

Consultation Paper “Transforming Legal Aid: Next Steps” Response on Behalf of the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple – The Inner Temple

“This response is made by the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, one of the four Inns of Court, to which all barristers must belong.”

Full story (PDF)

The Inner Temple, November 2013

Source: www.innertemple.org.uk

Top judge calls for fixed legal fees to cut bills – Daily Telegraph

Posted November 18th, 2013 in barristers, costs, fees, judges, legal representation, news, solicitors by sally

“Lord Neuberger, president of the Supreme Court, wants to see lawyers paid fixed sums to prevent spiralling legal costs.”

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Daily Telegraph, 15th November 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Extradition: why the government is wrong to remove the automatic right to appeal – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

“The government has come under fire from extradition and human rights practitioners for seeking to remove the automatic right of appeal in extradition cases.”

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Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 15th November 2013

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.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.”

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The Guardian, 16th November 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Regina (Elosta) v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis (Law Society and another intervening) – WLR Daily

Regina (Elosta) v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis (Law Society and another intervening): [2013] EWHC 3397 (Admin);   [2013] WLR (D)  422

“A person detained for examination under Schedule 7 to the Terrorism Act 2000 had the right to consult a solicitor privately ‘in person, in writing or on the telephone’ before being interviewed.”

WLR Daily, 6th November 2013

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Sneller v DAS Nederlandse Rechtsbijstand Verzekeringsmaatschappij NV – WLR Daily

Posted November 8th, 2013 in EC law, insurance, law reports, legal representation by tracey

Sneller v DAS Nederlandse Rechtsbijstand Verzekeringsmaatschappij NV: Case C-442/12;   [2013] WLR (D)  426

“Article 4(1) of Council Directive 87/344 on legal expenses insurance precluded a legal expenses insurer, which stipulated in its insurance contracts that legal assistance would in principle be provided in-house, from also providing that the costs of legal assistance provided by a legal representative chosen by the insured would be covered only if the insurer took the view that the handling of the case had to be subcontracted to an external lawyer.”

WLR Daily, 7th November 2013

Source: www.iclr.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

The Bar in society: A vital force for good – Speech by Maura McGowan QC, Chairman of the Bar

The Bar in society: A vital force for good (PDF)

Speech by Maura McGowan QC, Chairman of the Bar

Annual Bar Conference, 2nd November 2013

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

‘Family Law Reform: Some Missing Views’ by Rebekah Wilson – Garden Court Family Law Blog

“It is with interest, as a barrister committed to representation of parties in care proceedings that I read the monthly, View from the President’s Chambers (available online). And more recently an interview with the President himself in Counsel Magazine (Justic Delayed is Justice Denied, Chris McWatters talks to Sir James Munby, Counsel October 2013).”

Full story

Garden Court Family Law Blog, 25th October 2013

Source: www.gcfamily.wordpress.com

R. v. Farooqi – Has the Court of Appeal Compounded an Injustice? – Criminal Law and Justice Weekly

“Can a defendant ever have a fair trial or be safely convicted if his advocate is incompetent, asks Matthew Scott.”

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Criminal Law and Justice Weekly, 19th October 2013

Source: www.criminallawandjustice.co.uk

Lord Neuberger: Don’t restrict right to judicial review – Daily Telegraph

“The Government should not restrict people from seeking judicial review, the UK’s most senior judge has warned.”

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Daily Telegraph, 15th October 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

‘A rank denial of justice’ for vulnerable people: Senior judge attacks plan to cut legal aid by £350m – The Independent

“Britain’s most senior judge has warned the Government that its proposed cuts to the legal aid budget could mean ‘a rank denial of justice’ for vulnerable people.”

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The Independent, 15th October 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Surviving LASPO: ‘Be creative, be out there’ – LegalVoice

“Now that legal aid is diminished, is it possible to find new sources of public funding for legal advice? Yes, if you work at it, writes Sue Bent.”

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LegalVoice, 31st July 2013

Source: www.legalvoice.org.uk

Lawyers of refugees who were wrongly jailed criticised by Appeal Court – The Independent

“The Appeal Court has criticised the lawyers of five refugees who were wrongly jailed for carrying false documents after fleeing their countries under the threat of persecution.”

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The Independent, 30th July 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Legal aid reforms could undermine fundamental principles of justice, warns CPS – The Independent

“Government plans to reform legal aid for criminal suspects could undermine the fundamental principles of justice in England and Wales, the official prosecuting body has suggested.”

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The Independent, 16th July 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

McNally under fire over Lips claim – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted July 16th, 2013 in delay, legal representation, litigants in person, news by sally

“Justice minister Lord McNally is facing criticism from lawyers over a claim that cases involving litigants in person (LiPs) are ‘normally’ completed more quickly than those where parties have legal representation.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 15th July 2013

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Interview: Lucy Scott-Moncrieff – Law Society’s Gazette

“It was a fitting end to a year’s presidency that has witnessed unprecedented changes in the way legal services are funded and delivered. On 1 July, just 10 days before she is to step down, Lucy Scott-Moncrieff was able to tell the profession that government has at last bowed to Law Society pressure and agreed to retain client choice at the heart of the criminal legal aid system.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 8th July 2013

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Now is the time for a total review – The Bar Council

“Barristers are such an easy target. Trite sneers are instantly available to the disappointed litigant, failed pupil or populist politician. We are ‘fat cats’ sitting in ‘Georgian terraces’ bleating about the ‘racket’ coming to an end. The natural response of the practitioner to these comments is anger and frustration.”

Full story (PDF)

The Bar Council, July 2013

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

The Judicial Working Group on Litigants in Person – Judiciary of England and Wales

“The Judicial Working Group on Litigants in Person – Report, July 2013.”

Full report

Judiciary of England and Wales, 5th July 2013

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk