Reforming advocates’ graduated fees and very high cost cases – Ministry of Justice

Posted April 7th, 2010 in fees, legal aid, Ministry of Justice, news by sally

“The Ministry of Justice and Legal Services Commission have today outlined new steps that aim to rebalance the legal aid budget, reduce costs and increase value for money for legal aid.”

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Ministry of Justice, 6th April 2010

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Superinjunctions inquiry to start work next month – The Guardian

Posted April 7th, 2010 in freedom of expression, injunctions, inquiries, media, news by sally

“Superinjunctions are to be examined by a powerful committee of judges and lawyers, it was announced today, after months of speculation about the impact of the legal restrictions on press freedom.”

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The Guardian, 6th April 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Scramble to save Bills at end of parliament – The Independent

Posted April 7th, 2010 in bills, news, parliament by sally

“Moves to stage a referendum on scrapping the first-past-the-post electoral system have been abandoned as the parties wrangle over legislation to be rushed into law ahead of the general election. The Government has also dropped proposals to phase out the right of hereditary peers to sit in the House of Lords.”

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The Independent, 7th April 2010

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Unions call for ‘Cadbury law’ to protect British industry – The Guardian

Posted April 7th, 2010 in news, takeovers, trade unions by sally

“Unions today called for a ‘Cadbury law’ to protect the crown jewels of British industry following a damning verdict by MPs on the chocolate maker’s takeover by US food conglomerate Kraft.”

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The Guardian, 6th April 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Jury still out in care home deaths trial – The Independent

Posted April 7th, 2010 in care homes, drug abuse, drug offences, murder, news by sally

“A jury will resume its deliberations today in the trial of a former care home manager accused of murdering two elderly residents.”

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The Independent, 7th April 2010

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Digital Economy bill faces further scrutiny – BBC News

Posted April 7th, 2010 in bills, copyright, internet, news by sally

“Controversial elements of the Digital Economy Bill will face further scrutiny even if the bill is passed later, Commons Leader Harriet Harman has said.”

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BBC News, 6th April 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Crucifix ban nurse Shirley Chaplin loses NHS discrimination case – The Times

Posted April 7th, 2010 in news by sally

“A Christian nurse who refused to remove a crucifix at work has lost her claim for discrimination after an employment tribunal panel ruled that she should have reached a compromise with her hospital employers.”

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The Times, 7th April 2010

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Leeds man spared jail after drunkenly urinating beside war memorial – The Guardian

Posted April 7th, 2010 in monuments, news, outraging public decency, sentencing by sally

“A man who urinated beside a war memorial only weeks after a student prompted a national furore by doing the same thing was ordered to work 160 hours of unpaid community service.”

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The Guardian, 6th April 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Q&A: The Digital Economy bill – BBC News

Posted April 6th, 2010 in bills, copyright, internet, news by sally

“The Digital Economy Bill is due for its second reading in the House of Commons and could become law during the wash-up period, which sees outstanding legislation rushed through before a general election.”

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BBC News, 6th April 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Historic Liberalisation of Permitted Practice at the Bar – Bar Standards Board

Posted April 6th, 2010 in barristers, law firms, legal profession, legal services, news by sally

“The Legal Services Board approves Bar Standards Board applications designed to relax provisions in Code of Conduct for barristers’ working practices.”

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Bar Standards Board, 1st April 2010

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Damages award for rights breach drug dealer – The Independent

Posted April 6th, 2010 in bail, damages, drug offences, news by sally

“A convicted drug dealer was awarded £880 compensation by a European court which ruled her human rights were breached by a British judge.”

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The Independent, 2nd April 2010

Source: www.independent.co.uk

SFO counters critics with improved conviction rate – The Guardian

Posted April 6th, 2010 in compensation, fraud, news, Serious Fraud Office by sally

“The Serious Fraud Office published figures today showing its conviction rate had jumped over the last year despite steep budget cuts in a direct riposte to critics who have called for the crime agency to be scrapped.”

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The Guardian, 1st April 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Call for ‘fuller’ debate on Digital Economy Bill – BBC News

Posted April 6th, 2010 in bills, copyright, internet, news by sally

“Opponents of the controversial Digital Economy Bill have urged MPs to give it ‘the debate it deserves’ when it is discussed in the Commons later.”

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BBC News, 6th April 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Exclusive: Britain: A ‘safe haven’ for war criminals – The Independent

Posted April 6th, 2010 in news, war crimes by sally

“Record numbers of alleged mass murderers and torturers have found safe haven in the UK, making this country one of the war criminal capitals of the world, it is claimed today.”

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The Independent, 6th April 2010

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Judges given free rein by ‘pitifully loose’ sentencing law – The Guardian

Posted April 6th, 2010 in legislation, news, sentencing by sally

“New legislation guiding judges on sentencing criminals is so ‘pitifully loose’ that judgments could become idiosyncratic and inconsistent, according to the head of the Sentencing Advisory Panel.”

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The Guardian, 5th April 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Privacy watchdog can issue £500,000 fines from 6 April – OUT-LAW.com

Posted April 6th, 2010 in data protection, fines, news, privacy by sally

“Privacy regulator the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) will have the power to fine organisations for serious data protection breaches from Tuesday, 6th April. Organisations could receive fines of up to £500,000 under the new powers.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 1st April 2010

Source: www.out-law.com

Ministry of Justice orders legal review of superinjunctions – The Guardian

Posted April 6th, 2010 in freedom of expression, injunctions, media, Ministry of Justice, news by sally

“A legal review of the use of superinjunctions to suppress media reporting has been ordered by the Ministry of Justice.”

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The Guardian, 5th April 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Lap-dancing club rules change comes into force – BBC News

Posted April 6th, 2010 in licensing, local government, news, sex establishments by sally

“Lap-dancing clubs in England must apply to councils for a licence under new rules which have come into force.”

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BBC News, 6th April 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

MP fights libel fee change – The Times

Posted April 6th, 2010 in news by sally

“Plans to reduce the huge fees charged by libel lawyers who bring successful cases could be scuppered by one of the prime minister’s closest allies this week.”

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The Times, 4th April 2010

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

National rail strike off as court grants injunction – The Guardian

Posted April 6th, 2010 in industrial action, injunctions, news, railways by sally

“A high court judge today (1 April) granted Network Rail a temporary injunction to block next week’s planned four-day rail strike by signal workers.”

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The Guardian, 1st April 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk