Court of Appeal warns judges against interrupting witness evidence too much – Litigation Futures

‘The Chancellor of the High Court has urged judges to “temper eagerness with restraint” in the way they conduct trials, after a circuit judge was found to have made excessive interventions while witnesses were giving evidence.’

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Litigation Futures, 10th April 2017

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

BSB to launch plans for ‘barrister apprenticeships’ – Legal Futures

‘The Bar Standards Board (BSB) is to launch a consultation this summer setting out the rule changes it needs to implement its fiercely contested training reforms, and among them will be a new route to qualification similar to solicitor apprenticeships.’

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Legal Futures, 4th April 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Julian Cole nightclub incident: Police officers face no criminal charges – BBC News

‘Five police officers will not face criminal charges over the way they dealt with a man who broke his neck outside a nightclub, the BBC has been told.’

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BBC News, 29th March 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Magistrate disciplined after Facebook comments on case he oversaw – Daily Telegraph

Posted March 13th, 2017 in internet, magistrates, news, professional conduct by sally

‘A magistrate has been reprimanded after posting a Facebook message about a court case he had overseen.’

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Daily Telegraph, 11th March 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Rotherham sexual abuse scandal: no misconduct found so far, IPCC says – The Guardian

‘Hundreds of allegations of police wrongdoing during the investigation into child sexual exploitation in Rotherham have not resulted in a single case of misconduct against an officer, the police watchdog has said.’

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The Guardian, 9th March 2017

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

The only way is ethics – Counsel

‘Minding our standards: in the first of a new column for Counsel, Andrew Walker QC outlines fresh imperatives and initiatives for barristers to enhance their knowledge of ethics in practice and stay ahead of the curve.’

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Counsel, March 2017

Source: www.counselmagazine.co.uk

Police officers who delayed attending a 999 call to go to McDonald’s ‘likely to keep their jobs’ – Daily Telegraph

‘Two police officers who delayed attending a 999 call about a suicide to get refreshments from McDonald’s are likely to keep their jobs, a disciplinary hearing has ruled.’

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Daily Telegraph, 28th February 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Girl, 5, dies of asthma attack after ‘volatile GP refused to see her because she was several minutes late’ – The Independent

Posted February 27th, 2017 in children, doctors, health, inquests, news, professional conduct, reports by tracey

‘A five-year-old girl died of an asthma attack after an “unapproachable and volatile” doctor refused to see her because she and her mother arrived a few minutes late for her appointment, the General Medical Council has found.’

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The Independent, 27th February 2017

Source: www.independent.co.uk

The Judgement of Others – How Should a Disciplinary Panel Deal with the Findings of Another Professional Disciplinary Tribunal’s Decision: Analysis and Comment on Peckitt v GDC [2016] EWHC 1803 (Admin) – Drystone Chambers

Posted February 21st, 2017 in disciplinary procedures, doctors, news, nurses, professional conduct, solicitors by sally

‘What happens if a registrant is registered with two or more professional bodies and is then disciplined by one and is later disciplined by his or her other professional body? I recently appeared for the NMC, in the case of NMC v Benyu, where this situation arose. Ms Benyu was both a practising solicitor and nurse. She was struck off by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) for the mishandling of client funds. The client had mental health issues and originally was referred to her through her work as a nurse. Following the decision of the SDT, Ms Benyu was referred to the NMC.’

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Drystone Chambers, 30th January 2017

Source: www.drystone.com

Teacher Misconduct – Education Blog

‘The General Teaching Council for England was abolished by Section 7 of the Education Act 2011 (“the 2011 Act”). Section 8 of that Act enacted a new statutory code for dealing with misconduct by teachers in England. It did so by inserting Sections 141A to 141E and Schedule 11A into the Education Act 2002 (“the 2002 Act”). The new scheme came into force on 1 April 2012.’

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Education Blog, 7th February 2017

Source: www.education11kbw.com

Lawyer behind petition calling for cancelling Donald Trump’s UK state visit could be disciplined by CPS – The Independent

‘The lawyer who started a petition calling on the UK Government to cancel Donald Trump’s planned state visit could be disciplined by the Crown Prosecution Service.’

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The Independent, 6th February 2017

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Magistrate disciplined after refusing to hear same-sex parenting case – Daily Telegraph

‘A magistrate who refused to sit on a same-sex parenting case has been given a formal warning for misconduct.’

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Daily Telegraph, 30th January 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Former judge and assistant jailed after stealing more than £700,000 – The Guardian

‘A former judge and his law firm assistant have been jailed for six years each after siphoning off almost £700,000 from clients to hide debts, pay for holidays in Barbados and bet on races at Cheltenham.’

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The Guardian, 27th January 2017

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Appeal against changes to UK’s international law obligations granted – The Guardian

‘Changes to the official ministerial code that removed a requirement that ministers must comply with international laws and treaties are to be challenged in the court of appeal.’

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The Guardian, 26th January 2017

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Office sex dentistry lecturer struck off by General Dental Council – BBC News

Posted January 25th, 2017 in dentists, disciplinary procedures, news, professional conduct, tribunals by tracey

‘A dentistry lecturer who had sex in his office has been struck off the General Dental Council register.’

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BBC News, 24th January 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Senior judge launches extraordinary attack over “blackmail” by solicitors and tells barristers to stop defending them – Legal Futures

Posted January 17th, 2017 in barristers, blackmail, immigration, judges, law firms, news, professional conduct, tribunals by tracey

‘A senior judge has accused solicitors of “blackmailing” the immigration tribunal in an extraordinary attack that also branded their conduct as “disgraceful” and “shameful” in not pursuing the appeals they had lodged.’

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Legal Futures, 16th January 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Leading the way on ethics – Counsel

‘Is the Bar still a stand-out example of adherence to high ethical standards? Desiree Artesi discusses the practicalities of professional ethics with Andrew Walker QC.’

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Counsel, January 2017

Source: www.counselmagazine.co.uk

Doctor who tried to start an affair with his patient’s wife is struck off – Daily Telegraph

Posted November 11th, 2016 in disciplinary procedures, doctors, news, professional conduct by tracey

‘A doctor who tried to start an affair with his patient’s wife after he admitted his marriage was in crisis has been struck off.’

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Daily Telegraph, 10th November 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Upholding the Values of the Profession Comment by Eleena Misra, Head of Professional Discipline & Regulatory Law Group – Littleton Chambers

Posted November 9th, 2016 in codes of practice, legal profession, news, professional conduct by sally

‘Whether it is a barrister struck off for evading train fares (recent press reports of the tribunal hearing of Peter Barnett) or for posting anti-Semitic tweets (Ian Millard – see below), to name but two recent high-profile instances of conduct found to be disreputable by disciplinary tribunals, or a British Olympic gymnastics champion subjected to a two-month competition ban for apparently laughing at a wedding as another gymnast pokes fun at a call to prayer (Louis Smith), it is clear that the prevailing climate is one of expecting the great and the good to be, well, great and good. Indeed, it might be said that just being famous is being seen as attracting a moral price tag or responsibility by virtue of the opportunity to influence people. There is currently no formal code of conduct applicable to celebrities, though perhaps sporting bodies are becoming more paternalistic in this regard, but it is certainly still the case that being a member of a profession comes with its own responsibilities.’

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Littleton Chambers, 3rd November 2016

Source: www.littletonchambers.com

Lawyer rebuked for gloating at ‘win’ over parents seeking special needs support – The Guardian

‘he lawyer who sent a series of tweets gloating at a tribunal victory over parents who were trying to get specialist support for an autistic child has been given an official rebuke by the Solicitors’ Regulation Authority.’

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The Guardian, 2nd November 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk