There is evidence of a new judicial openness — and not before time – The Times

Posted November 27th, 2008 in judiciary, media, special report by sally

“Judges traditionally have not spoken to news organisations. But there are real signs of a change in the relationship between judges and the media in recent weeks, with judges themselves taking a new approach.”

Full story

The Times, 27th November 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Can the law ever control discrimination? – The Times

Posted November 27th, 2008 in equality, special report by sally

“When new laws to combat ageism came into force two years ago, employers predicted a wave of litigation and a bundle of new red tape. But as ministers prepare to bring in further changes to discrimination laws in the shape of a single Equality Bill expected in the Queen’s Speech next week, were those fears justified? How well are the new laws working?”

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The Times, 27th November 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

High price of fraud is not worth paying – The Times

Posted November 25th, 2008 in fraud, special report by sally

“For a business executive, it is the stuff of nightmares. A seemingly routine payment to a local fixer by a remote subsidiary results, years later, in an investigation by authorities in the company’s home country. The company is forced to spend millions on legal fees, its reputation is tarnished and its share price plummets. Senior managers may even find themselves in court facing criminal charges.”

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The Times, 25th November 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

No more sniggering, sleazy tales about the sex lives of celebrities – The Times

Posted November 20th, 2008 in media, privacy, special report by sally

“‘Hypocrite!’ cry the lawyers and privacy claimants. Well they might. The outrageous claim by Paul Dacre, Editor of the Daily Mail, that Mr Justice Eady is condoning ‘depraved’ practices by applying the law is rich, coming from him.”

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The Times, 20th November 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Sex & the citizens: New prostitution laws explained – The Independent

Posted November 20th, 2008 in prostitution, special report by sally

“New laws for the oldest profession are designed to ‘punish the punter’ and protect the prostitute. Ben Russell explains Home Secretary Jacqui Smith’s proposals.”

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The Independent, 20th November 2008

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Privacy judge ‘only doing his duty’, says peer – Daily Telegraph

Posted November 19th, 2008 in judges, privacy, special report by sally

“Lord Pannick believes the judiciary should defend itself against unjustified criticism which may, unless answered, damage its reputation.”

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Daily Telegraph, 18th November 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Profile: Mr Justice Eady, defender of the nation’s privacy – Daily Telegraph

Posted November 14th, 2008 in judges, privacy, special report by sally

“When Mr Justice Eady retreats to the anonymity of his isolated cottage in Kent this weekend, he will no doubt breathe a large sigh of relief at being able to escape the burning heat of a media spotlight which has shone on him like never before.”

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Daily Telegraph, 13th November 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Free, gratis and for nothing: why pro bono has finally come of age – The Times

Posted November 13th, 2008 in news, pro bono work, special report by sally

“Afghanistan is a long way, in every sense, from the elegant rooms of barristers within the ancient Inns of Court and London’s legal square mile.

But for the past five years, barristers from a number of chambers have travelled out of their comfort zone for regular trips there for Access to Justice in Afghanistan, a Bar human rights committee project.”

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The Times, 11th November 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Are high costs failing those looking for justice? – The Times

Posted November 13th, 2008 in costs, fees, news, special report by sally

“The fundamental review of costs of litigation in the civil courts set up under Lord Justice Jackson was described as the biggest thing since the Woolf report, at the Civil Justice Council’s (CJC) costs forum last month — which is appropriate, given that high costs are a particular failure of the former Lord Chief Justice’s reforms.”

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The Times, 13th November 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Why David must still be able to take on The Daily Goliath – The Times

Posted November 6th, 2008 in costs, defamation, fees, special report by sally

“Lawyers are not popular and never less so than when they demand their fees. But to be really despised, we must fight and win a “no win, no fee” case and then have the temerity to request payment of our fees with 100 per cent uplift.”

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The Times, 6th November 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

The Jonathan Ross-Russell Brand affair stripped bare – The Times

Posted November 6th, 2008 in complaints, media, special report by sally

“With David Cameron surfing in on the wake of the Ross-Brand affair to raise questions about the BBC’s size, regulation and commercial activities, it is no wonder that the top ranks of the BBC are running scared about what the row means for the long-term future of the corporation.”

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The Times,6th November 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

How healthy is the Bar? – The Times

Posted October 31st, 2008 in barristers, special report by sally

“Lawyers including The Times Law Panel give their views on the state of the profession ahead of this year’s Bar conference.”

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The Times,31st October 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

‘Lawyer Mark Saunders did not have to die’ sister says – The Times

Posted October 31st, 2008 in firearms, police, special report by sally

“Ms Saunders, 26, still cannot comprehend why her brother, a brilliant barrister and seemingly stable, barricaded himself inside his £2.2 million Chelsea flat five months ago; still less why he started firing a shotgun out of a window to set off a sequence of events that ended with his death. ”

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The Times, 31st October 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Sir Ken Macdonald: the QC who came to the prosecutors’ defence – The Times

Posted October 30th, 2008 in Crown Prosecution Service, news, special report by sally

“He has been an outspoken and robust holder of the post. So Sir Ken Macdonald, QC, was unlikely to end with a whimper. True to form, his final speech just days ago was a forceful attack on ministers’ plans for a new super database and the dangers of expanding state surveillance and growth of the security State.”

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The Times, 30th October 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

How small law firms can survive the storm – The Times

Posted October 30th, 2008 in law firms, news, special report by sally

“The public may believe that lawyers thrive in bad as well as good times. But it is becoming clear that some smaller firms will not survive the turmoil of the downturn.”

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The Times, 30th October 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Is the Bar becoming a two-tier profession? – The Times

Posted October 30th, 2008 in barristers, news, special report by sally

“Barristers meet this Saturday for their annual conference facing an uncertain future. Or do they? With the courts’ cash crisis and squeeze on public funds, criminal and family barristers have never felt as vulnerable. Meanwhile, their ‘fatter’ commercial colleagues thrive. So is the Bar becoming a two-branch profession?”

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The Times, 30th October 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Analysis: Debbie Purdy a dignified example of why suicide law must evolve – The Times

Posted October 30th, 2008 in assisted suicide, special report by sally

“Many people who heard Debbie Purdy’s dignified plea for clarity on whether her husband would be prosecuted if he assisted her suicide have been moved by the reasonableness of her request. Lord Justice Scott Baker said the court could not leave the case without expressing ‘great sympathy’.”

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The Times, 29th October 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Media must be allowed into family courts, says Sir Mark Potter – The Times

Posted October 20th, 2008 in family courts, special report by sally

“Britain’s most senior family judge has said that family courts should be opened to the media to dispel the ‘myths and inaccuracies’ surrounding the system.”

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The Times, 20th October 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

When is a demo not a demo? – BBC News Magazine

Posted October 13th, 2008 in demonstrations, special report by sally

“When is a demonstration not a demonstration? That effectively is the intriguing question that the most senior judges in the country will have to decide next week, writes the BBC’s Clive Coleman.”

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BBC News Magazine, 13th October 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

London becomes defamation capital for world’s celebrities – The Independent

Posted October 13th, 2008 in defamation, special report by sally

“There was once a golden age of celebrity when those lucky enough to earn a living as actors, singers or models were grateful for all the publicity they could get. Not any more. The number of stars of stage and screen resorting to legal action has doubled since 2005, helping to make London the defamation capital of the world.”

Full story

The Independent, 13th October 2008

Source: www.independent.co.uk