Volume disputes set for huge upheaval as MoJ backs Jackson on civil litigation reform – Legal Week

Posted April 7th, 2011 in costs, fees, news by sally

“Success fees look set to be ushered in for complex commercial cases, ironically just as the Government unveiled reforms expected to severely restrict their widespread use in volume personal injury claims.”

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Legal Week, 7th April 2011

Source: www.legalweek.com

Government ‘not liable for torture’ – The Independent

Posted April 7th, 2011 in colonies, Kenya, news, summary judgments, torture by sally

“The Government cannot be held legally liable for British colonial atrocities committed during the Mau Mau Uprising, the High Court heard today.”

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The Independent, 7th April 2011

Source: www.independent.co.uk

New rules for solicitors focus on ends, not means – The Guardian

Posted April 7th, 2011 in legal ombudsman, news, solicitors, Solicitors Regulation Authority by sally

“Changes in regulation to emphasise outcomes that solicitors need to deliver for clients, rather than how they achieve them.”

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The Guardian, 7th April 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Separation mediation plan ‘rushed and flawed’ – The Guardian

Posted April 7th, 2011 in dispute resolution, divorce, families, news by sally

“Last week the government’s independent Justice Review Panel published its interim report on the family justice system in England and Wales.”

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The Guardian, 7th April 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Bar Council Holds Inaugural ‘Bar Debate’: “Bang ‘Em Up Britain”: Are We Taking A Rational Approach To Sentencing Policy? – The Bar Council

Posted April 7th, 2011 in barristers, news, sentencing by sally

“The iconic Court One of the Old Bailey will this evening play host to the inaugural ‘Bar Debate’, arranged by the Bar Council, which represents barristers in England and Wales.”

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The Bar Council, 7th April 2011

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Solicitors Regulation Authority unveils handbook – Law Society’s Gazette

“The Solicitors Regulation Authority published the final version of its new solicitors handbook this week, as it revealed it had received ‘quite a number’ of enquiries from potential new market entrants about becoming alternative business structures.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 7th April 2011

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Sentencing plans ‘would not reflect severity of crimes’ – BBC News

Posted April 7th, 2011 in detention, guilty pleas, news, sentencing by sally

“Planned reforms to sentencing policy could lead to criminals spending too little time behind bars, according to several top judges.”

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BBC News, 7th April 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Heroic police and firefighters protected from health and safety laws, says CPS – Daily Telegraph

Posted April 7th, 2011 in fire services, health & safety, news, police by sally

“Police officers and firefighters will not be prosecuted for breaking health and safety laws by putting their lives on the line, the Crown Prosecution Service said yesterday.”

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Daily Telegraph, 7th April 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Male solicitor suffered sex discrimination – The Guardian

“Employers must act ‘proportionately’ when they provide women who are pregnant or on maternity leave with special treatment at work, an employment appeals tribunal has ruled.”

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The Guardian, 6th April 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Harry Potter and the Order of the High Court – The Lawyer

Posted April 6th, 2011 in costs, news, payment into court, plagiarism by sally

“The man who is suing Harry Potter author JK Rowling and publishers Bloomsbury has been ordered by the High Court to pay £1.6m as security for costs or the claim will be struck out.”

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The Lawyer, 6th April 2011

Source: www.thelawyer.com

Stowe school porter cleared of poisoning soup – BBC News

Posted April 6th, 2011 in food, news, poisoning by sally

“A kitchen porter at a public school in Buckinghamshire has been cleared of pouring drain cleaner into pupils’ soup.”

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BBC News, 6th April 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Sumption delays Supreme Court elevation to act in oligarch case – The Lawyer

Posted April 6th, 2011 in barristers, news, Supreme Court by sally

“Brick Court silk Jonathan Sumption QC is to act as lead counsel for Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich in his legal showdown with rival Boris Berezovsky, delaying his expected appointment to the Supreme Court.”

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The Lawyer, 6th April 2011

Source: www.thelawyer.com

Public backs compulsory mediation assessments – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted April 6th, 2011 in dispute resolution, divorce, news by sally

“Two-thirds of the public support the new enforced mediation assessments being introduced for divorcing and separating couples tomorrow, according to research published by City firm Charles Russell.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 5th April 2011

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Guidance on agency workers’ rights leaves crucial questions unanswered, says expert – OUT-LAW.com

Posted April 6th, 2011 in casual workers, EC law, news, tribunals by sally

“Government guidance on the rights of agency workers leaves some questions unanswered that will only be cleared up through employment tribunals, according to an employment law expert.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 5th April 2011

Source: www.out-law.com

Kenyans sue UK for alleged colonial human rights abuses – The Guardian

Posted April 6th, 2011 in disclosure, government departments, human rights, Kenya, news by sally

“Highly embarrassing colonial-era files detailing the British army’s repressive tactics against Mau Mau insurgents in Kenya during the 1950s will be revealed in a landmark compensation case.”

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The Guardian, 5th April 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Consumers warned over deregulation of legal services – The Guardian

Posted April 6th, 2011 in complaints, consumer protection, legal ombudsman, legal services, news by sally

“The legal ombudsman has warned that consumers will need to take even greater care checking the regulatory status of firms offering legal services when the legal world experiences its equivalent of the big bang this autumn.”

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The Guardian, 6th April 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Terror suspect order overturned – The Independent

Posted April 6th, 2011 in control orders, news, terrorism by sally

“The Home Secretary must revoke a control order imposed on a terror suspect, the Court of Appeal ruled today.”

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The Independent, 5th April 2011

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Ex-director given permanent ban on revealing confidential information – OUT-LAW.com

Posted April 6th, 2011 in company directors, confidentiality, injunctions, news, patents by sally

“A businessman has been ordered never to improperly reveal confidential information belonging to a company where he used to be a director.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 5th April 2011

Source: www.out-law.com

Digital Economy Act: filesharing code delayed by six months – The Guardian

Posted April 6th, 2011 in codes of practice, copyright, electronic commerce, internet, news by sally

“The government’s code to clamp down on illegal filesharing will not come into force for another six months as the Digital Economy Act is held up by a high court challenge.”

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The Guardian, 5th April 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

MoD lobbied secretly to cut legal aid for cases against its treatment of detainees in Iraq and Afghanistan – The Guardian

Posted April 6th, 2011 in Afghanistan, disclosure, Iraq, legal aid, news, terrorism, torture by sally

“The Ministry of Defence lobbied behind closed doors to restrict the provision of legal aid to claimants questioning the treatment of military detainees in Iraq and Afghanistan, the high court has heard.”

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The Guardian, 5th April 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk