Motorway middle lane ‘hoggers’ and careless drivers to face on-the-spot £100 police fines – The Independent

“Drivers who hog the middle lane of the motorway or tailgate other drivers could face on-the-spot fines of £100 and three points on their licences under new measures announced by the government.”

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The Independent, 5th June 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Practice makes perfect for young lawyers studying international law – The Guardian

Posted June 5th, 2013 in international law, legal education, news by sally

“A recent roundtable discussion on the state of legal education in the UK revealed that our fledgling lawyers are better prepared for the workplace than their US counterparts.”

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The Guardian, 4th June 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Insemination case: Chances missed to check on adopted daughter – BBC News

“A review into how a mother was able to force her adopted child to impregnate herself has found agencies missed opportunities to intervene.”

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BBC News, 5th June 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Two British soldiers admit sexual and racial abuse of Afghan citizens – The Independent

“Two British servicemen were disciplined and fined today for carrying out, respectively, a sexual offence on a young boy and being engaged in racist insults while serving in Afghanistan.”

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The Independent, 4th June 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Diplomat awarded £300,000 following accusations of inappropriate behaviour – Daily Telegraph

“A former diplomat has won £320,000 from the government after he was accused of behaving ‘inappropriately’ towards a senior politician’s wife.”

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Daily Telegraph, 4th June 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Crime victims allowed to challenge prosecutors – The Guardian

“Victims are to be given new rights to challenge the Crown Prosecution Service’s decision not to charge a suspect or to drop a prosecution.”

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The Guardian, 5th June 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Pamela Anderson TV ad banned for being ‘sexist and degrading to women’ – The Guardian

Posted June 5th, 2013 in advertising, complaints, news, ombudsmen, women by sally

“A raunchy TV ad featuring ex-Baywatch star Pamela Anderson has been banned for being sexist and degrading to women.”

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The Guardian, 5th June 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

BBC Hall probe to be lead by former High Court judge – BBC News

Posted June 4th, 2013 in BBC, children, inquiries, judges, news, sexual offences by sally

“Retired High Court judge Dame Linda Dobbs is to lead an investigation for the BBC into broadcaster Stuart Hall’s conduct at the corporation.”

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BBC News, 4th June 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Legal aid residency tests ‘will leave migrant children destitute’ – The Guardian

“Abandoned migrant and trafficked children will be left destitute and at risk of exploitation if the government goes ahead with a plan to introduce residency tests to determine whether they qualify for legal aid, child protection experts are warning.”

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The Guardian, 2nd June 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Inspectors call for streamlined criminal justice process – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted June 4th, 2013 in criminal justice, Crown Prosecution Service, news, police, reports by sally

“Inspectors of police service and prosecutors have called for decisive action to streamline the criminal justice process and end ‘the spectre of unnecessary bureaucracy’.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 4th June 2013

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Expert: ruling gives ‘very little comfort’ to employers looking to defend compulsory retirement age in partnership case – OUT-LAW.com

“Employers looking to defend or reintroduce a mandatory retirement age will find ‘very little comfort’ in last week’s decision allowing a law firm to force a partner to retire at 65, an expert has said.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 4th June 2013

Source: www.out-law.com

Man jailed for contempt after attacking judge who had just jailed his brother – The Independent

Posted June 4th, 2013 in assault, contempt of court, judges, news, sentencing by sally

“A fitness instructor who attacked a judge and knocked off his wig has been jailed for 18 months after admitting contempt of court.”

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The Independent, 4th June 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Blowing the Budget – an early warning – Zenith Chambers

Posted June 4th, 2013 in budgets, case management, civil procedure rules, costs, news by sally

“The Costs Management Rules, now set out at Section II of CPR 3, will apply to the majority of multi-track cases issued on or after 1st April 2013.”

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Zenith Chambers, 30th May 2013

Source: www.zenithchambers.co.uk

Statutory Wills Update – Thirty Nine Essex Street

Posted June 4th, 2013 in Court of Protection, mental health, news, wills by sally

“This paper addresses the exercise by the Court of Protection of its power under s.18(1)(i) Mental Capacity Act 2005 (‘MCA 2005’) to execute a will for P where P is incapable of making a valid will for him or herself. Such so-called statutory wills (although the phrase does not in fact appear in the MCA 2005) are a very powerful tool that the Court can deploy to protect P and, in particular, P’s estate. Having set the statutory scene, this paper address two key aspects of the Court’s jurisdiction in this regard: (1) the assessment of P’s best interests; and (2) the assessment of P’s testamentary capacity (and, linked, how this assessment relates to the assessment that is undertaken outside the Court’s jurisdiction).”

Full story (PDF)

Thirty Nine Essex Street, May 2013

Source: www.39essex.com

Bar Council responds to legal aid consultation – The Bar Council

“The Bar Council, which represents barristers in England and Wales, has today published its full response to the Ministry of Justice’s (MoJ) controversial consultation paper, Transforming Legal Aid. The response, which runs to over 150 pages, incorporates expert economic and statistical analysis, which forensically examines the Government’s proposals, highlighting major flaws.”

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The Bar Council, 4th June 2013

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Government’s justice reforms could push innocent people to plead guilty, warns regulator – Bar Standards Board

“Plans to pay legal aid lawyers the same amount for a ‘guilty’ or ‘not guilty’ plea could lead to defendants being pressurised into pleading guilty, warns the Bar Standards Board (BSB). The BSB is responsible for regulating barristers in the public interest, upholding the rule of law and protecting consumers.”

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Bar Standards Board, 3rd June 2013

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Growing amount of legal work can be “de-lawyered”, says LSB director – Legal Futures

“A growing amount of legal work could be ‘de-lawyered’ and provided by organisations that offer a wide range of legal and non-legal services, the strategy director of the Legal Services Board (LSB) has suggested.”

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Legal Futures, 4th June 2013

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Lift off for Budgetary Control – New Law Journal

Posted June 4th, 2013 in budgets, case management, costs, news by sally

“HH Simon Brown QC continues his exclusive NLJ online series on costs management post-Jackson.”

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New Law Journal, 31st May 2013

Source: www.newlawjournal.co.uk

Barristers attack legal aid plans from government – BBC News

Posted June 4th, 2013 in barristers, competition, criminal justice, legal aid, news, solicitors, tenders by sally

“Barristers have attacked plans to cut £220m from the annual criminal case legal aid budget in England and Wales.”

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BBC News, 4th June 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Minister tells profession to adapt to “the new circumstances” of life in the law – Legal Futures

Posted June 4th, 2013 in consultations, legal aid, legal profession, news, parliament by sally

“Solicitors and barristers will have to adjust to ‘the new circumstances’ they are facing as a result of legal aid and other reforms ‘if they are going to survive’, justice minister Lord McNally said yesterday.”

Full story

Legal Futures, 4th June 2013

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk