Queen’s Speech confirms that unfair rules on logbook loans are being sent to the scrapheap – Law Commission

Posted June 22nd, 2017 in bills, loans, news, parliament, press releases, repossession by sally

‘The Law Commission welcomes plans outlined in today’s Queen Speech to close a legal loophole which means buyers of second-hand vehicles are at risk of having them repossessed due to unfair logbook loans.’

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Law Commission, 21st June 2017

Source: www.lawcom.gov.uk

Bar Council cautions over online guilty pleas – The Bar Council

Posted June 22nd, 2017 in barristers, electronic filing, guilty pleas, news, press releases by sally

‘Using a smartphone to plead guilty to a criminal offence may seem convenient, but the Bar Council has warned that Government plans to roll out online pleas, outlined in today’s Queen’s Speech, risk down-playing potentially serious consequences for defendants.’

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The Bar Council, 21st June 2017

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Queen’s speech confirms whiplash reform and court modernisation – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted June 22nd, 2017 in bills, courts, electronic filing, news, parliament, personal injuries by sally

‘Fresh reforms to personal injury claims are back on the agenda following today’s Queen’s speech. The government’s slimmed-down wishlist of legislation includes a Civil Liability Bill to address the ‘compensation culture’ around motor insurance claims.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 21st June 2017

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Costs: Appeal court backs Merrix stance on budget status – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted June 22nd, 2017 in budgets, civil procedure rules, costs, news, proportionality by sally

‘An approved budget cannot be re-opened by a costs judge at detailed assessment unless there is “good reason” to do so, the Court of Appeal held today in a much-awaited ruling in Harrison v University Hospitals Coventry & Warwickshire NHS Trust.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 21st June 2017

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

UK hacker exploits online bank loophole to steal £100,000 – BBC News

Posted June 22nd, 2017 in banking, computer crime, fraud, news, sentencing by sally

‘A UK hacker has been jailed for stealing almost £100,000 from a bank by exploiting a bug in the bank’s online banking system.’

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BBC News, 21st June 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

SFO granted a reprieve from plans to scrap it a day after Barclays charges – Daily Telegraph

Posted June 22nd, 2017 in banking, fraud, news, prosecutions, Serious Fraud Office by sally

‘The Serious Fraud Office appears to have been granted a reprieve from plans to abolish it in a U-turn that came just a day after the organisation targeted Barclays with the first criminal charges ever brought against a bank over the financial crisis. Controversial proposals in the Conservative manifesto to fold the SFO into the National Crime Agency were quietly dropped from the Queen’s Speech on Wednesday.’

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Daily Telegraph, 21st June 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Man and daughter jailed for killing neighbour over burst football – BBC News

Posted June 22nd, 2017 in homicide, news, sentencing by sally

‘A father and daughter who launched a fatal attack on a neighbour who punctured a child’s football have each been jailed for seven years.’

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BBC News, 21st June 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Queen’s Speech: Chief Inspector of Prisons expresses fury after penal reform dropped from agenda – The Independent

Posted June 22nd, 2017 in bills, news, parliament, prisons by sally

‘The Chief Inspector of Prisons has expressed fury and disappointment after the Government’s commitment to prison reform, which was given high prominence in 2016, was omitted from the Queen’s Speech.’

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The Independent, 21st June 2017

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Lord Chancellor swearing-in speech: David Lidington – Ministry of Justice

Posted June 21st, 2017 in lord chancellor, Ministry of Justice, news, parliament, speeches by sally

‘Full text of the speech given by the Rt Hon David Lidington at his Lord Chancellor swearing-in ceremony in June 2017.’

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Ministry of Justice, 19th June 2017

Source: www.gov.uk

Becoming a barrister remains highly competitive, new report shows – Bar Standards Board

Posted June 21st, 2017 in barristers, legal education, news, statistics by sally

‘The BSB has today published the third annual edition of its statistical information on student performance on the Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC).’

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Bar Standards Board, 19th June 2017

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Surrogacy Law / HFEA Update – Family Law Week

‘Andrew Powell, barrister of 4 Paper Buildings, considers recent surrogacy judgments and the latest cases concerning administrative errors relating to consent forms and the HFEA.’

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Family Law Week, 21st June 2017

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Theresa May faces legal challenge over proposed deal with DUP – The Guardian

‘Theresa May is facing a landmark legal challenge over her proposed deal with the Democratic Unionist party on the grounds that it breaches the Good Friday agreement.’

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The Guardian, 20th June 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Stephen Lawrence murder inquiry: IPCC delays corruption probe – BBC News

Posted June 21st, 2017 in corruption, evidence, inquiries, London, murder, news, police by sally

‘An investigation into evidence given to the Stephen Lawrence murder inquiry will only be concluded after a separate corruption investigation is completed, the police watchdog has announced.’

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BBC News, 20th June 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Failure to pay correct court fee not an abuse of process – Litigation Futures

‘The Court of Appeal has refused to consider a circuit judge ruling which held that failure by a solicitor to correctly value a personal injury claim and pay the right court fee did not amount to an abuse of process.’

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Litigation Futures, 20th June 2017

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Working in a heatwave: your legal rights – The Guardian

Posted June 21st, 2017 in employment, health & safety, news by sally

‘Have you been sweltering at work this week in a suit and tie? You may have already ditched the office dress code, but what does the law say about wearing a uniform during a heatwave?’

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The Guardian, 21st June 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Revealed: Jackson’s fixed fees pilot to cap costs at £80k – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted June 21st, 2017 in civil justice, civil procedure rules, costs, judges, news, pilot schemes by sally

‘Pointers for the potential level of fixed costs for civil claims have been revealed on the eve of a pilot scheme to test how the idea will work.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 20th June 2017

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Law firms, legal executives and licensed conveyancers join forces to lobby for leasehold reform

Posted June 21st, 2017 in conveyancing, housing, law firms, Law Society, leases, legal executives, news by sally

‘A new property law alliance, the Legal Sector Group (LSG), has written to the government, with a detailed set of proposals on leasehold reform.’

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Legal Futures, 21st June 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

English courts’ willingness to uphold parties’ choice of law provides certainty in Brexit world, says expert – OUT-LAW.com

‘A Court of Appeal decision upholding the parties’ choice to use English law under a swap agreement will provide some relief to financial firms despite the ongoing uncertainty around the UK’s decision to leave the EU, an expert has said.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 21st June 2017

Source: www.out-law.com

Brexit: Butlins owner Peter Harris gets EU referendum fine – BBC News

Posted June 21st, 2017 in advertising, elections, fines, news, Northern Ireland, political parties by sally

‘Millionaire Butlins owner Peter Harris has been given the Electoral Commission’s biggest financial penalty for breaking spending return rules during the EU referendum.’

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BBC News, 20th June 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Bar aims to tackle pupillage crisis – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted June 21st, 2017 in legal education, news, pupillage, statistics by sally

‘More than 60% of students who completed the Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC) fail to get pupillage, statistics from the Bar Standards Board have shown as the regulator ponders reforms to training.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 20th June 2017

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk