At last: Rapist Wendell Baker finally found guilty of 1997 attack after police bungles – The Independent

Posted June 26th, 2013 in DNA, double jeopardy, evidence, news, police, rape by sally

“A rapist was finally convicted today after a series of police and prosecution blunders allowed him to evade justice for 15 years following his merciless attack on a pensioner inside her own home.”

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The Independent, 25th June 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Keanu Williams toddler murder: Mother jailed for life – BBC News

Posted June 25th, 2013 in child cruelty, murder, news, sentencing by sally

“A mother described by police as a ‘monster’ has been jailed for life for murdering her two-year-old son.”

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BBC News, 25th June 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Senior RAF nurse wins damages in sexual discrimination case – The Guardian

“The highest-ranking nurse in the Royal Air Force has won damages after bringing a sexual discrimination case against the Ministry of Defence.”

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The Guardian, 25th June 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Devendra Singh jailed for murder of wife Charlotte Smith – BBC News

Posted June 25th, 2013 in deportation, murder, news, sentencing by sally

“A man has been jailed for life for murdering his wife by repeatedly hitting her on the head with an ornamental wooden elephant.”

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BBC News, 25th June 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Louis Theroux impersonator sentenced over pub con – The Guardian

Posted June 25th, 2013 in community service, fraud, impersonation, news, sentencing by sally

“A homeless man with a drinking problem who stayed at a cosy country pub for two nights after tricking staff into believing he was the documentary maker Louis Theroux has been given a community sentence.”

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The Guardian, 25th June 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Lord Justice Leveson to be invited to give evidence to MPs – The Guardian

Posted June 25th, 2013 in evidence, judges, media, news, select committees by sally

“Lord Justice Leveson is to be invited to give evidence for the first time to MPs about his report on the future of press regulation and the resulting impasse over setting up a new industry watchdog.”

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The Guardian, 25th June 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Setting Standards: The future of legal services education and training regulation in England and Wales – Legal Education and Training Review

Posted June 25th, 2013 in barristers, legal education, legal profession, news, reports, solicitors by sally

Setting Standards: The future of legal services education and training regulation in England and Wales (PDF)

Legal Education and Training Review, 25th June 2013

Source: www.letr.org.uk

Privatising the courts: if anyone needs advice, it’s the judiciary – The Guardian

Posted June 25th, 2013 in constitutional reform, contracting out, courts, judiciary, news, tribunals by sally

“The judges have nothing to gain and everything to lose by negotiating with Chris Grayling in private.”

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The Guardian, 25th June 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Legal Education and Training Review report: a good basis but many areas to improve – Legal Futures

Posted June 25th, 2013 in barristers, legal education, legal profession, news, reports, solicitors by sally

“There is a good standard of legal education and training in England and Wales – ‘for the most part’ – but quality, accessibility and flexibility need to be enhanced ‘to ensure the system remains fit for the future’, the Legal Education and Training Review research report has concluded.”

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Legal Futures, 25th June 2013

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

LETR: business as usual for the bar as report rejects common training – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted June 25th, 2013 in barristers, legal education, legal profession, news, reports, solicitors by sally

“Training for barristers and solicitors is almost certain to remain separate following the Legal Education and Training Review’s rejection of the idea of a common professional course.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 25th June 2013

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

When Laws Become Too Complex: ill-timed and badly thought out – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted June 25th, 2013 in drafting, legislation, news, reports by sally

“As the dust from the Civil Justice reforms begins to settle, it appears that Parliamentary counsel have slipped another consultation through in the background. Published in March this year, it appears innocuous enough, but on further consideration raises a number of significant concerns. I also question why this report was even necessary. Parliamentary austerity and wholesale changes to the legal profession should have lent caution to the writers of the report, given that this can be construed as a real attack upon the legal profession. Ill-timed and badly thought out, the principle will be applauded by businesses that will look at the superficial benefits but not appreciate the issues, and is therefore convenient politically.”

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Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 25th June 2013

Source: www.halsburyslawexhange.co.uk

Education review comes out for ‘incremental’ reform – Law Society’s Gazette

“Legal education and training is not ‘fundamentally broken’ but is failing to ensure consistent levels of quality across the profession, a long-awaited pan-profession report says today.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 25th June 2013

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

New copyright laws give researchers right to conduct ‘electronic analysis’ of copied content – OUT-LAW.com

Posted June 25th, 2013 in bills, copyright, data protection, news by sally

“Researchers that wish to conduct “electronic analysis” of copyrighted content for non-commercial purposes will have a right to copy that information under proposed new copyright laws.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 25th June 2013

Source: www.out-law.com

Whistleblowing: is new ‘public interest’ test a good thing? – The Guardian

Posted June 25th, 2013 in employment, news, public interest, whistleblowers by sally

“In the wake of the Edward Snowden disclosures, some fear that changes to UK whistleblowing laws could discourage those here wanting to spill the beans.”

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The Guardian, 25th June 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

New allegations of police misconduct in Stephen Lawrence case to be investigated – Ministry of Justice

Posted June 25th, 2013 in news, police, professional conduct, whistleblowers by sally

“Allegations that undercover officers were used to smear reputations of Stephen Lawrence’s family will be investigated, says Home Secretary.”

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Ministry of Justice, 24th June 2013

Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice

Regulator widens criteria for entity approval – Bar Standards Board

Posted June 25th, 2013 in alternative business structures, barristers, news by sally

“It will be easier for barristers to set up legal businesses after the Bar Standards Board agreed last week to make the criteria for approving new entities more flexible.”

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Bar Standards Board, 24th June 2013

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

UNISON applies for judicial review of employment tribunal fees – OUT-LAW.com

Posted June 25th, 2013 in employment tribunals, judicial review, news, trade unions, tribunals, women by sally

“UNISON has applied to the High Court for a judicial review of the Ministry of Justice’s decision to introduce employment tribunal fees from the end of next month, it has announced.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 25th June 2013

Source: www.out-law.com

CPS under fire for failures in two serious cases – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted June 25th, 2013 in Crown Prosecution Service, delay, news, professional conduct, trials by sally

The Crown Prosecution Service has been criticised by two separate Crown court judges after sending an ‘incompetent’ advocate to prosecute a murder trial and for ‘lamentable failures’ that delayed a rape trial.

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Law Society’s Gazette, 25th June 2013

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Ballet dancer Jack Widdowson’s attacker jailed for 13 years – BBC News

“A man who attacked a ballet dancer, broke his neck and left him lying in the street has been jailed for 13 years.”

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BBC News, 24th June 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Watchdog wants new code of conduct for UK bankers – Daily Telegraph

Posted June 25th, 2013 in banking, codes of practice, news, professional conduct by sally

“Bankers should be subject to a new code of conduct overseen by a body similar to the General Medical Council, a consumer watchdog has claimed.”

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Daily Telegraph, 25th June 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk