Solicitor-advocates finally put on wigs in court – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted January 11th, 2008 in court dress, news, solicitors by sally

“A Yorkshire criminal law specialist has laid claim to being the first solicitor-advocate to wear a wig in court after appearing at 10am last Wednesday at Doncaster Crown Court.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 10th January 2008

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Pressure grows to raise ‘lenient’ 4½ -year term given to terrorist – The Times

Posted January 11th, 2008 in news, sentencing, terrorism by sally

“The Government is facing pressure from police and prosecutors to challenge the perceived leniency of a jail term imposed on a terrorist who planned to kill British troops in Afghanistan.”

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The Times, 11th January 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Gordon Brown ditches Respect agenda on youth crime – The Times

Posted January 11th, 2008 in criminal justice, news, young offenders by sally

“Tony Blair’s drive against antisocial behaviour has been scrapped by the Government.”

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The Times, 11th January 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Government piles file-sharing pressure on UK ISPs – OUT-LAW.com

Posted January 11th, 2008 in copyright, internet, news by sally

“The government turned up the heat on internet providers today, warning that laws to force disconnection of illegal filesharers are already being drafted for a parliamentary debut in November.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 10th January 2008

Source: www.out-law.com

Baby death blamed on government – BBC News

Posted January 11th, 2008 in health & safety, inquests, news by sally

“An inquest jury has blamed government failures for the death of a baby who was scalded when a water tank burst above her cot.”

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BBC News, 10th January 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Smith meets parents and promises to ban deactivated guns – The Guardian

Posted January 11th, 2008 in firearms, news by sally

“The home secretary, Jacqui Smith, yesterday announced plans to ban the possession of deactivated guns by the end of the year during a visit to Liverpool, where she met the parents of 11-year-old Rhys Jones, who was shot dead near his home last summer. Smith said the weapons, which can be converted back into lethal use, were ‘turning up more and more’ in gun-related crime.”

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The Guardian, 11th January 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Lottery winner who took holiday instead of giving evidence is jailed – The Guardian

Posted January 11th, 2008 in contempt of court, news, witnesses by sally

“A chip shop worker who won £1m on a national lottery scratchcard in October has been jailed for contempt of court after she flew off on holiday instead of appearing as a witness in a criminal trial.”

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The Guardian, 11th January 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

SRA ponders test for non-lawyer partners – Legal Week

Posted January 11th, 2008 in law firms, news, partnerships by sally

“The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) is to consult on plans for a ‘suitability test’ for non-lawyer partners in law firms in the wake of the Legal Services Act.”

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Legal Week, 10th January 2008

Source: www.legalweek.com

MPs may lose right to set own pay – The Guardian

Posted January 11th, 2008 in news, parliament, remuneration by sally

“Ministers want to strip MPs of the right to set their own salaries, the leader of the Commons, Harriet Harman, said today.”

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The Guardian, 10th January 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

666 church motion doomed – The Independent

Posted January 11th, 2008 in Church of England, news, parliament by sally

“A motion calling for the disestablishment of the Church of England appeared on the House of Commons order paper today – bizarrely numbered 666, the number associated with the Antichrist.”

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The Independent, 10th January 2008

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Barclays chairman loses £10,000 in identity scam – The Times

Posted January 11th, 2008 in identity fraud, news by sally

“The high-profile chairman of Barclays Bank has become the latest victim of identity fraud after a conman stole £10,000 from his personal account in a credit card scam.”

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The Times, 10th January 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

New Bar Council head Dutton moves to ensure revamped silk round really is an annual event – Legal Week

Posted January 10th, 2008 in news, queen's counsel by sally

“Newly-appointed Bar Council chairman Timothy Dutton QC has called for an improvement in the QC selection process to make sure it is completed annually, warning that an overly bureaucratic system could put candidates off.”

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Legal Week, 10th January 2008

Source: www.legalweek.com

Ministerial compromise averts backbench revolt over repeal of blasphemy offence – The Guardian

Posted January 10th, 2008 in blasphemy, news by sally

“The Church of England gave a cautious welcome last night to the government’s pledge to consult it before taking a final decision on repealing the ancient offence of blasphemy.”

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The Guardian, 10th January 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Civil servant who leaked rendition secrets goes free – The Guardian

Posted January 10th, 2008 in civil servants, news, official secrets act by sally

“Secrets charges against a Foreign Office civil servant were dramatically dropped at the Old Bailey yesterday after it emerged that senior figures within his own department had privately admitted no harm was done by his leaking a series of Whitehall documents.”

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The Guardian, 10th January 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Banks set to fight back against sub-prime law suits – The Times

Posted January 10th, 2008 in banking, news by sally

“Investment banks are facing a wave of litigation bigger than the Enron scandal but are unlikely to roll over this time, lawyers said.”

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The Times, 9th January 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

‘Neighbour from hell’ is banned by court from living in his own home – The Times

Posted January 10th, 2008 in harassment, news, restraining orders by sally

“A homeowner who terrorised his next-door neighbours for five years has been banned from living and sleeping in his own house in what could be a legal first.”

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The Times, 10th January 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

UK bank charges hearing to kick-start test case – The Guardian

Posted January 10th, 2008 in banking, news by sally

“A test case on whether British bank charges are legal and fair begins in earnest next week when the High Court hears evidence on the fees in a key phase of a potentially long legal battle.”

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The Guardian, 9th January 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Brown cooling towards compulsory ID cards, MPs believe – The Guardian

Posted January 10th, 2008 in identity cards, news by sally

“Senior Labour MPs yesterday seized on comments by Gordon Brown to suggest that he intends to shelve a compulsory universal identity card scheme. They interpreted his remarks at prime minister’s questions as a sign that he is cooling towards a compulsory scheme and may instead settle for a scheme that applies to foreign nationals.”

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The Guardian, 10th January 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Temple opens doors to mark 400 years of autonomy – The Guardian

Posted January 9th, 2008 in news by sally

“London’s centre of law seeks higher profile with four months of festivities.”

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The Guardian, 27th December 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk


 

MPs push to abolish blasphemy law – BBC News

Posted January 9th, 2008 in blasphemy, news by sally

“MPs are expected to debate whether to abolish the ‘outdated’ blasphemy law.”

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BBC News, 9th January 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk