Firm ordered to pay wasted costs over lack of authority to act – Legal Futures

‘A law firm has been ordered to pay wasted costs of £7,920 for not satisfying itself that the director of a company in deadlock with the other director had the authority to give it instructions.’

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Legal Futures, 5th July 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Law firm overturns costs bill misconduct ruling – Legal Futures

‘The rules on misconduct in the CPR do not apply to solicitor/client costs assessments, the High Court has decided in overturning a finding against a Manchester law firm.’

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Legal Futures, 4th July 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Extra powers for regulators to clamp down on rule-breaking solicitors – Ministry of Justice

‘The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) will be given new powers to fine rule-breakers up to £25,000, under measures introduced today (29 June 2022).’

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Ministry of Justice, 29th June 2022

Source: www.gov.uk

Watchdogs condemn police response to domestic abuse claims against officers – The Guardian

‘Police forces in England and Wales are responding to reports of their own officers committing domestic abuse in a way that is “significantly harming the public interest”, with just 9% of such allegations leading to criminal charges, a joint watchdog investigation has found.’

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The Guardian, 30th June 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Court rejects claim that instructions of counsel create conflict – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted June 27th, 2022 in barristers, costs, judicial review, law firms, news, professional conduct, pupillage by tracey

‘A costs judge has rejected calls for claimant lawyers to be punished for alleged conflict in the way counsel was instructed to handle a case.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 24th June 2022

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Barristers walk out of courts in strike over legal aid funding – BBC News

‘Barristers will walk out of courts across England and Wales on Monday in a dispute over legal aid funding. During the strikes, they will not accept new cases or take on work for colleagues whose cases have overrun.’

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BBC news, 27th June 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Doctor accused of sex assaults in Oxford and Cambridge loses ban appeal – BBC News

‘A doctor who was struck off over accusations he stared at a patient’s breasts and sexually touched another has failed to have his ban overturned.’

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BBC News, 24th June 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Thames Valley Police apologises over man’s heroin death in cell – BBC News

‘A police force has apologised to the family of a man who died in custody after taking heroin in his cell.’

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BBC News, 15th June 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Ex-police officer jailed for 20 weeks over racist WhatsApp messages – The Guardian

‘A former police constable has been jailed for 20 weeks after sending a string of racist WhatsApp memes, including images that mocked the death of George Floyd.’

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The Guardian, 14th June 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Reports of Calcot abuse prompt calls for reform of children’s social care in UK – The Guardian

‘Ministers are facing calls for urgent reform of the children’s residential care system in the wake of shocking reports of vulnerable youngsters being abused and sexually assaulted at homes run by a private firm making huge profits.’

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The Guardian, 9th June 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

QC suspended over failure to disclose key evidence to defence – Legal Research

‘A very senior criminal law QC has been suspended for a year over a decision not to disclose surveillance evidence which ultimately led to a conviction being overturned on appeal.’

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Legal Research, 8th June 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Tribunals agree to “deterrent” sanctions for sexual and racial misconduct – Legal Futures

‘The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) and Bar Tribunals and Adjudication Service (BTAS) have agreed to impose “deterrent” sanctions for sexual and racial misconduct and other forms of discrimination, bullying or harassment.’

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Legal Futures, 7 June 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Lessons in dishonesty – 1 Crown Office Row

Posted May 27th, 2022 in appeals, chambers articles, deceit, doctors, news, professional conduct by sally

‘Are there lessons to be learned from three recent High Court decisions concerning allegations of dishonesty? It is instructive that the cases involved the three types of appeal that can bring a disciplinary/regulatory case before the High Court.’

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1 Crown Office Row, 24th May 2022

Source: 1corqmlr.com

Agent’s abused former partner in legal action against MI5 – BBC News

‘A woman who was terrorised and abused by an MI5 agent is taking legal action against the security service.’

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BBC News, 21st May 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Herefordshire Council social services separated twins despite expert warnings – BBC News

‘Twins were wrongly split up for adoption after social workers altered an expert report warning of the harm of separation.’

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BBC News, 16th May 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Barrister stresses importance of PACE and good practice after successfully defending pub landlord charged with Covid -19 rules breach – Local Government Lawyer

‘A barrister who successfully defended a pub landlord accused of failing to close his pub during tier 4 lockdown in February 2021 has claimed the case should serve “as a reminder that even in extraordinary circumstances, the rules of PACE and good practice ought not to be forgotten”.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 10th May 2022

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Judge tells regulators to use summary processes against vexatious litigants – Legal Futures

‘Legal regulators need to have summary processes in place to deal with vexatious litigants who use their procedures to continue a “proxy war” against lawyers, a High Court judge has said.’

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Legal Futures, 10th May 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Doctors could soon face action over ‘misleading’ social media posts – The Guardian

‘Doctors who share “misleading” information on social media could face regulatory action, according to planned new guidelines.’

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The Guardian, 26th April 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Bar Standards Board clears barrister over Hillsborough remarks – The Guardian

‘A senior barrister who repeated discredited police allegations about the behaviour of Liverpool supporters at the Hillsborough disaster has been cleared of misconduct by his profession’s Bar Standards Board (BSB).’

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The Guardian, 25th April 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

“Ground down” veteran barrister fined for direct access offences – Legal Futures

‘A veteran barrister has been fined £4,250 by a Bar disciplinary tribunal for carrying out litigation without authorisation and handling client money on behalf of a direct access client.’

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Legal Futures, 26th April 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk