Local authority apologises to councillor cleared of unlawfully handling newts – Local Government Lawyer

‘A Forest of Dean councillor has been cleared both of unlawfully handling protected newts and of swearing at other councillors.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 16th August 2017

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Mail on Sunday censured for ‘misleading’ attack on top QC – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted August 8th, 2017 in barristers, complaints, media, news, professional conduct, queen's counsel by sally

‘The independent press regulator has ruled in favour of a leading QC after she complained about an article which appeared in the Mail on Sunday.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 7th August 2017

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Police helicopter crew cleared of using chopper to spy on couple having sex – Daily Telegraph

Posted August 7th, 2017 in aircraft, news, police, professional conduct, video recordings by sally

‘Two police officers and two pilots accused of misusing a force helicopter to film naked sunbathers and a couple having sex have been cleared of all charges.’

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Daily Telegraph, 4th August 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

BSB increases efficiency in handling complaints – Bar Standards Board

‘The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has today published its Enforcement Annual Report for 2016-17.’

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Bar Standards Board, 1st August 2017

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

SRA shuts down law firm referred by Court of Appeal after it revoked £500,000 costs order – Legal Futures

‘A law firm referred to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) by the Court of Appeal earlier this year has been shut down by the regulator.’

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Legal Futures, 4th July 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Stalking victim Helen Pearson rejects police apology over stabbing – BBC News

Posted June 29th, 2017 in assault, news, police, professional conduct, stalking, victims by sally

A woman who was stabbed by her stalker has dismissed a police apology as “meaningless”.

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BBC News, 29th June 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Solicitor who took client data to new firm without consent rebuked and fined – Legal Futures

‘A London solicitor who took confidential information from defunct London firm Davenport Lyons (DL) to his new employer without client consent has been rebuked and fined £2,000 by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).’

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Legal Futures, 26th June 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Honesty, integrity and pleading / putting allegations – UK Police Law Blog

‘The debate on whether there is a difference between honesty and integrity continues apace in Rhys Williams v Solicitors Regulatory Authority [2017] EWHC 1478 (Admin). I expressed my opinion here that there was a material difference between the two and that the decision of Mostyn J in Malins v Solicitors Regulatory Authority [2017] EWHC 835 (Admin), that the two were synonymous, was not correct – at least for the purposes of the Police (Conduct) Regulations 2012. The Divisional Court (the President of the QBD presiding) has now similarly deprecated it.’

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UK Police Law Blog, 21st June 2017

Source: ukpolicelawblog.com

“Massive memory test” preventing Bar students from understanding ethical values – Legal Futures

‘Bar students are struggling to understand ethical values because of the “massive memory test” awaiting them in the examination room, a senior lecturer has claimed.’

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Legal Futures, 22nd June 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

High Court overturns dishonesty finding against solicitor due to “serious procedural irregularities” – Legal Futures

‘The High Court has overturned a finding of dishonesty made by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) against a prominent solicitor because the allegation was not tested during the hearing – which the court called a “serious procedural irregularity”.’

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Legal Futures, 22nd June 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Poor behaviour on the part of McKenzie Friends ‘a minority concern’ – Legal Voice

‘Most litigants in person were happy with their experience of paid McKenzie Friends, according to research published this week. The study commissioned by the Bar Council found that unrepresented litigants reported ‘relatively low’ costs for such services.’

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Legal Voice, 13th June 2017

Source: www.legalvoice.org.uk

SRA presses ahead with seven-page code of conduct and solicitors practising in unregulated firms – Legal Futures

Posted June 14th, 2017 in news, privilege, professional conduct, solicitors by tracey

‘The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) is to press ahead with allowing practising solicitors to deliver unreserved services to the public from unregulated organisations, as part of a radical shake-up of the way it oversees the profession.’

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Legal Futures, 13th June 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Claimant firm castigated for “procedural chaos” that saw case struck out – Litigation Futures

‘A claimant law firm that allowed a straightforward and relatively low-value road traffic accident claim to descend into “procedural chaos” has seen it struck out by the High Court.’

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Litigation Futures, 13th June 2017

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Leigh Day exonerated after longest and most expensive disciplinary tribunal prosecution ever – Legal Futures

‘The longest and most expensive case brought in the history of the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) has ended with high-profile claimant lawyer Martyn Day, two of his colleagues and his firm Leigh Day fully exonerated.’

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Legal Futures, 9th June 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Rule 44. 11 – Court’s powers in relation to misconduct – 4 KBW

‘Part 44 of the Civil Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2013 (SI 2013/262) was re-enacted on 1st April 2013 and concerns the court’s powers in relation to misconduct. incur Where a party (a) fails to comply with a court rule in assessment or summary proceedings, or (b) acts unreasonably or improperly before or during proceedings the court may disallow all or part of the costs which are being assessed or order the party at fault or that party’s legal representative to pay costs which that party or legal representative has caused any other party to incur. The misconduct extends to the legal representative of a party as well as to the party personally and includes both summary assessment and detailed assessment proceedings and refers to any failure to comply with the provisions of Part 47 and any direction, rule, practice direction or court order.’

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4 KBW, 2nd June 2017

Source: www.4kbw.net

The only way is ethics – Counsel

‘With integrity at the heart of the Bar, dilemmas often arise. Rachel Langdale QC calls to mind the guiding hand of the Ethics Committee, assisting barristers in the heat (or calm) of a crisis. Ellie Cumbo offers an insight into a year at the other end of the helpline.’

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Counsel, June 2017

Source: www.counselmagazine.co.uk

Heart surgeon spared jail for molesting women after judge says it may be in public interest for him to operate again – Daily Telegraph

‘A world-renowned heart surgeon has been spared jail for molesting two women after a judge said it may be in the public interest for him to operate again.’

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Daily Telegraph, 8th June 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Solicitor fined for making false claims in litigation “while suffering mental illness” – Litigation Futures

‘A solicitor has been fined £7,500 for making false claims about being in possession of documents in personal injury cases – misconduct which a psychiatrist attributed to an illness that temporarily affected her ability to work.’

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Litigation Futures, 7th June 2017

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

‘Trojan Horse’: Cases against teachers dropped – BBC News

Posted May 31st, 2017 in disclosure, inquiries, Islam, news, professional conduct, teachers, witnesses by sally

‘The case against five senior teachers accused of professional misconduct in the so-called “Trojan Horse” inquiry has been dropped.’

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BBC News, 30th May 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

‘Poor vision’ surgeon who removed woman’s ovary instead of appendix struck off – Daily Telegraph

‘A senior surgeon with “poor vision” accidentally removed a woman’s ovary instead of her appendix and then told bosses it was a “trifling error”.’

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Daily Telegraph, 12th May 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk