Leaders’ talks must stay secret – Blair adviser – The Guardian

Posted April 26th, 2007 in confidentiality, news, official secrets act by sally

“Sir Nigel Sheinwald, the prime minister’s top foreign policy adviser, told an Old Bailey jury yesterday that private talks between world leaders must remain secret however illegal or morally abhorrent the nature of their discussions.”

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The Guardian, 26th April 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Access to Justice Alliance week of action – Legal Action Group

Posted April 26th, 2007 in legal aid, news by sally

“The Access to Justice Alliance (AJA) is organising a week of action from 14 May 2007 to 18 May 2007 to raise awareness of the vital role that legal aid plays for people seeking to enforce or defend their rights. ‘Justice – access denied’ will involve demonstrations outside local county courts, tribunals and the Royal Courts of Justice.”

Access to Justice Alliance

Legal Action Group, 26th April 2007 

Source: www.lag.org.uk

Lords back phone-taps in trial – BBC News

Posted April 26th, 2007 in evidence, interception, news by sally

“Peers have voted in favour of allowing telephone intercept evidence to be used in court in organised crime cases.” 

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BBC News, 26th April 2007

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Early defence of gay rights discovered on dusty parchment – The Times

Posted April 26th, 2007 in homosexuality, news by sally

“A passionate defence of gay rights written more than two centuries before homosexuality became legal has been discovered.”

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The Times, 26th April 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Solicitors swing behind Neuberger’s controversial Bar diversity drive – Legal Week

Posted April 26th, 2007 in barristers, legal education, news by sally

“A survey of senior partners has uncovered strong support from solicitors for a raft of measures designed to open up the Bar to people from less privileged backgrounds.”

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Legal Week, 26th April 2007

Source: www.legalweek.com

OFT proposal to encourage civil disputes ignites fierce debate – Legal Week

Posted April 26th, 2007 in competition, fees, law firms, news by sally

“Controversial proposals to encourage private competition claims by introducing larger success fees have sparked intense debate among the UK’s legal profession.”

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Legal Week, 26th April 2007

Source: www.legalweek.com

Memory aid for crime witnesses boosts recall – Daily Telegraph

Posted April 26th, 2007 in news, witnesses by sally

“A new psychological tool that helps witnesses ‘freeze’ the memory of crime scenes was revealed by scientists yesterday.”

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Daily Telegraph, 26th April 2007

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Unmarried couples come closer to winning legal divorce rights – The Times

Posted April 26th, 2007 in cohabitation, news by sally

“Unmarried couples who separate moved a step closer to acquiring the “divorce rights” of married couples yesterday with a House of Lords ruling that they can win a half-share in their joint home.”

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The Times, 26th April 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Law student win £8,000 for unfairly dismissed mother – The Guardian

Posted April 26th, 2007 in compensation, news, unfair dismissal, women by sally

“A businesswoman told to choose between her job and having a baby won more than £8,000 compensation yesterday after taking legal action with the help of a group of law students.”

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The Guardian, 26th April 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

‘Lenient’ child-fight sentence is reviewed – The Times

Posted April 26th, 2007 in child abuse, news, sentencing by sally

“The Attorney General is to review the suspended prison sentences given to four women who goaded two toddlers into fighting and then filmed them.”

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The Times, 25th April 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Dinner ladies win equal pay battle – The Times

Posted April 26th, 2007 in compensation, equal pay, news, sex discrimination, victimisation by sally

“A group of school dinner ladies who claimed they were victimised by their local council after bringing equal pay claims has won their case at the House of Lords.”

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The Times, 25th April 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Unmarried couples win rights to half of shared properties – The Times

Posted April 25th, 2007 in cohabitation, news by sally

“Unmarried couples who split have won equal rights to a share in their home – but only if they put it in joint names, the House of Lords ruled this morning.”

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The Times, 25th April 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Government sued over Carter reforms – The Lawyer

Posted April 25th, 2007 in legal aid, legal services, minorities, news by sally

“Black and Asian lawyers have taken legal action against the Department of Constitutional Affairs (DCA) and the Legal Services Commission (LSC) over the legal aid reforms, it was revealed today (25 April).”

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The Lawyer, 25th April 2007

Source: www.thelawyer.com

Open Wi-Fi proves no defence in child porn case – OUT-LAW.com

Posted April 25th, 2007 in computer crime, news, pornography by sally

“A man has been found guilty of possessing child pornography despite arguing that his open wireless internet network meant that the case against him could not be proved.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 25th April 2007

Source: www.out-law.com

Miners’ compensation ‘exploited’ – BBC News

Posted April 25th, 2007 in compensation, industrial injuries, miners, news, solicitors by sally

“A scheme for sick miners has been exploited by a few unscrupulous solicitors, a report has claimed.” 

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BBC News, 25th April 2007

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Police lose fight over witness murder – The Times

Posted April 25th, 2007 in news, police, witnesses by sally

“Police forces face a multi-million-pound bill for establishing witness protection schemes after senior judges ruled yesterday that they are legally bound to ensure the safety of witnesses. Sir Anthony Clarke, the Master of the Rolls, found that the right to life enshrined in the Human Rights Act required police forces to protect vulnerable witnesses in criminal cases.”

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The Times, 25th April 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Home Office to be split up ‘after Blair’s departure’ – The Independent

Posted April 25th, 2007 in government departments, news by sally

“John Reid has admitted that the timetable for breaking up the Home Office is slipping and that the complete split will not take effect until after Tony Blair announces his resignation.”

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The Independent, 25th April 2007

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Judges’ ultimatum to Falconer – Daily Telegraph

Posted April 25th, 2007 in judges, Ministry of Justice, news by sally

“Senior judges have warned Lord Falconer that they will not support the planned Ministry of Justice unless he guarantees their financial independence in the next six days.”

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Daily Telegraph, 25th April 2007

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Ministers back bill giving FoI exemption for parliament – The Guardian

Posted April 25th, 2007 in freedom of information, news, parliament by sally

“Senior ministers are backing a controversial bill to exempt parliament from the Freedom of Information Act as a second attempt is made on Friday to push the legislation through the Commons.”

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The Guardian, 25th April 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Diana inquest judge quits, admitting she was the wrong person for the job – The Times

Posted April 25th, 2007 in coroners, inquests, news by sally

“The inquests of Diana, Princess of Wales, and Dodi Fayed suffered a fresh blow yesterday when Baroness Butler-Sloss dramatically announced that she was stepping down as coroner.”

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The Times, 25th April 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk