Human rights court reforms called into question by London’s litigators – Legal Week

Posted February 24th, 2011 in courts, human rights, judgments, judiciary, news by sally

“City litigators have questioned Justice Secretary Ken Clarke’s calls to reform the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in the wake of its ruling that serving prisoners should be given the right to vote.”

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Legal Week, 22nd February 2011

Source: www.legalweek.com

Proposals for the Reform of Legal Aid in England and Wales – Judiciary of England and Wales

Posted February 24th, 2011 in consultations, judiciary, legal aid, news by sally

“The judiciary’s co-ordinated response to the Government’s legal aid consultation paper is published today. It was drawn up by a sub-committee of the Judges’ Council (the body which represents all levels of the judiciary, and is chaired by the Lord Chief Justice).”

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Judiciary of England and Wales, 24th February 2011

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Judge criticises CPS for prosecuting man for pictures available in bookshops – Daily Telegraph

“A top judge has queried why a man was prosecuted for possessing ‘indecent’ images of children – when the photos were available for sale in a string of respectable mainstream bookshops.”

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Daily Telegraph, 24th February 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Justice system delays endemic, research shows – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted February 24th, 2011 in criminal justice, criminal procedure, delay, legal profession, news, police, probation by sally

“Law Society research submitted to the government last week has identified a ‘lack of communication’ pervading the justice system that is causing delays throughout the process.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 24th February 2011

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

MPs’ expenses: David Chaytor to challenge sentence – BBC News

Posted February 24th, 2011 in appeals, expenses, false accounting, news, sentencing by sally

“Former Labour MP David Chaytor has launched a bid to challenge his jail sentence for fiddling his expenses.”

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BBC News, 23rd February 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Bar leaders warn of impact of tuition hikes on diversity – Legal Week

Posted February 24th, 2011 in barristers, education, equality, fees, news, universities by sally

“Leading figures at the Bar including former Lord Chancellor Lord Falconer, Bar council chairman Nicholas Green QC and chair of the Bar Standards Board Baroness Ruth Deech have called for the Bar to take action to improve diversity in anticipation of hikes in university tuition fees.”

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Legal Week, 24th February 2011

Source: www.legalweek.com

George Davis in court 40 years after robbery that sent him to jail – The Guardian

“Judges will finally decide whether ‘George Davis Is Innocent OK’ as they look again at notorious miscarriage of justice case.”

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The Guardian, 24th February 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

How a lawyer can change their specialist practice area – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted February 24th, 2011 in legal profession, news, solicitors by sally

“It is a common observation among middle-aged lawyers that the increasing need to specialise very early in a legal career has changed the face of the profession. Time spent in a more general or rounded practice has been much reduced, leading to a situation where lawyers are making key decisions about their future specialism much earlier.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 24th February 2011

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Plymouth hospital threatened with safety prosecution – BBC News

Posted February 24th, 2011 in health & safety, hospitals, news, standards by sally

“The Plymouth NHS Hospitals Trust must improve safety – including preventing swabs being left in patients – or risk prosecution, a watchdog has said.”

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BBC News, 23rd February 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Crisis of identity: why English law needs to protect our personalities – The Guardian

Posted February 24th, 2011 in confidentiality, defamation, freedom of expression, media, news by sally

“Portrayals of real people in docudramas and novels have made millions for authors and film-makers. But what of their subjects?”

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The Guardian, 23rd February 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Rival guilty of paedophile slur against MP Mike Hancock – BBC News

Posted February 24th, 2011 in defamation, elections, fines, news by sally

“A rival who falsely claimed a Liberal Democrat MP was a paedophile has been convicted of attempting to affect a result in the general election.”

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BBC News, 23rd February 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

NHS chiefs back calls to reform assisted suicide law – Daily Telegraph

Posted February 24th, 2011 in assisted suicide, euthanasia, hospitals, news by sally

“One of England’s largest health authorities has said it is not opposed to assisted suicide and called for a change in the law to give patients more ‘choice’ over how they die.”

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Daily Telegraph, 24th February 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Tuition fees: Teenagers seek human rights judicial review – The Guardian

Posted February 24th, 2011 in education, fees, human rights, judicial review, news, universities by sally

“Two teenagers are seeking a judicial review into the government’s decision to allow university tuition fees to almost treble to up to £9,000 from next year.”

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The Guardian, 24th February 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

More separating couples to be spared court battles – Ministry of Justice

Posted February 23rd, 2011 in dispute resolution, divorce, news by sally

“Anyone setting out to contest the terms of their separation in court will first be required to consider mediation, under a new protocol agreed with the Judiciary.”

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Ministry of Justice, 23rd February 2011

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Torture inquiry is legally flawed, say rights groups as NGOs ponder boycott – The Guardian

Posted February 23rd, 2011 in inquiries, news, rendition, torture by sally

“An inquiry set up by David Cameron to examine Britain’s involvement in torture and rendition since 9/11 is running into trouble even before it has begun hearing evidence, with human rights organisations warning that it will fail to meet the UK’s obligations under international and domestic law.”

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The Guardian, 23rd February 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Oversupply of lawyers to drive down costs, says Green – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted February 23rd, 2011 in legal services, news, paralegals, remuneration by sally

“The oversupply of qualified lawyers denied entry to the profession has led to a ‘burgeoning body of paralegals’ that will have a profound effect on solicitors and barristers, former bar chairman Nick Green QC said last week.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 23rd February 2011

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Library cuts in Somerset and Gloucestershire challenged – BBC News

Posted February 23rd, 2011 in budgets, judicial review, libraries, local government, news by sally

“A High Court challenge is being launched over public library closures.”

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BBC News, 23rd February 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Appeal Court rules in favour of homeowner sued over “cowboy” builder accident – Daily Telegraph

Posted February 23rd, 2011 in compensation, construction industry, health & safety, news, personal injuries by sally

“Home owners are not responsible for the safety of workmen on their property, the Court of Appeal has ruled, throwing out a Polish builder’s claim for compensation from a woman who refused to let him walk on her pristine white carpets.”

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Daily Telegraph, 23rd February 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

News release: More separating couples to be spared court battles – Ministry of Justice

Posted February 23rd, 2011 in dispute resolution, divorce, news by sally

“Anyone setting out to contest the terms of their separation in court will first be required to consider mediation, under a new protocol agreed with the Judiciary.”

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Ministry of Justice, 23rd February 2011

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Julian Assange is very likely to be extradited, says Matrix barrister – The Guardian

Posted February 23rd, 2011 in EC law, extradition, news, sexual offences, warrants by sally

“It is ‘very likely’ that a senior district judge will order the extradition of Julian Assange to Sweden to face sexual assault charges, a barrister at Matrix Chambers predicted this week.”

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The Guardian, 23rd February 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk