Judge who awarded injured schoolboy rugby player £50,000 ‘not in realistic world’ – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 6th, 2011 in appeals, compensation, health & safety, news, sport by sally

“A court’s decision to award £50,000 compensation to a schoolboy rugby player after he was injured by on-field debris has sparked calls for judges to ‘live in a realistic world.'”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 5th October 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

LSC Bar Bulletin – The Bar Council

Posted October 6th, 2011 in barristers, fees, legal services, news by sally

“On 3 August, the Bar Council posted a news item on its website updating the profession on the payment of advocates’ criminal graduated fees by the Legal Services Commission (LSC). That news item detailed efforts being made by the LSC to help resolve payment problems.”

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The Bar Council, 6th October 2011

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Giving the victim a voice – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted October 6th, 2011 in EC law, news, sentencing, victims by sally

“Victims of crime in England and Wales have no say when it comes to the sentencing of offenders, as the rule of law demands that victims do not dictate justice. Whilst this does not preclude the views of the victim from being taken into consideration, insofar as the consequences of the crime upon the victim can be highlighted, victims do not and should not have a decisive voice.”

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Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 5th October 2011

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

Attorney General: current Government policy on economic crime – Attorney General’s Office

Posted October 6th, 2011 in attorney general, bribery, fraud, national crime agency, speeches by sally

Attorney General: current Government policy on economic crime

Speech by Attorney General Dominic Grieve QC MP

Attorney General’s Office, 5th September 2011

Source: www.attorneygeneral.gov.uk

Magna Carta and the Judges – Realising the vision – Speech by the Right Honourable Lady Justice Arden DBE

Posted October 6th, 2011 in judiciary, magna carta, speeches by sally

Magna Carta and the Judges – Realising the vision (PDF)

Speech by the Right Honourable Lady Justice Arden DBE

Royal Holloway, June 2011

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Mock ‘ecocide’ trial – video – The Guardian

Posted October 6th, 2011 in energy, environmental protection, international law, news, trials by sally

“Top lawyers put fossil fuel bosses on trial in the UK’s supreme court to explore whether environmental destruction could be considered an international crime.”

Video

The Guardian, 5th October 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Criminal justice system ‘wasteful’, says Law Society report – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted October 6th, 2011 in criminal justice, news, reports by sally

“Better procedures and improved communication between prosecution and defence could reduce delays and waste in the criminal justice system, according to a Law Society report.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 5th October 2011

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Power and property – a Privy Council ruling grapples with the extent of settlors’ rights – Legal Week

Posted October 6th, 2011 in news, Privy Council, trusts by sally

“XXIV Old Buildings’ Stephen Moverley Smith QC on the impact of a ruling over the powers of a trust’s settlor.”

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Legal Week, 6th October 2011

Source: www.legalweek.com

Father of Josie Russell steps forward as one of 13 new hacking claimants – The Independent

“The father of Josie Russell, who survived a frenzied hammer attack in which her sister and mother were killed, is suing News International over alleged phone hacking by the News of the World, it emerged yesterday.”

Full story

The Independent, 6th October 2011

Source: www.independent.co.uk

‘Lord’ Edward Davenport jailed for multimillion-pound fraud – The Guardian

Posted October 6th, 2011 in conspiracy, fraud, news, sentencing by sally

“An entrepreneur whose lavish home was used in scenes from the Oscar-winning film The King’s Speech and for a less mainstream ‘porn disco’ has been jailed for a multimillion-pound fraud.”

Full story

The Guardian, 5th October 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Ipswich man jailed for 1987 rape and indecent assault – BBC News

Posted October 6th, 2011 in assault, news, rape, recidivists, sentencing, sexual offences by sally

“A man has been jailed after pleading guilty to the rape and indecent assault of a woman in her Ipswich home in 1987.”

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BBC News, 5th October 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Torture guidelines are legal court rules – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 6th, 2011 in illegality, intelligence services, news, torture by sally

“Interrogation guidelines for MI5 and MI6 officers questioning prisoners abroad are lawful the High Court has ruled.”

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Daily Telegraph, 5th October 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Chancery Lane launches action over committal fee reforms – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted October 6th, 2011 in courts, fees, guilty pleas, judicial review, legal aid, news by sally

“The Law Society has launched a legal challenge against the government over criminal legal aid fees.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 5th October 2011

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Solicitors’ clients too often overcharged and left in dark, regulator says – The Guardian

Posted October 6th, 2011 in fees, news, solicitors, Solicitors Regulation Authority by sally

“Customers who go to law firms are too often left in ignorance about progress in their case then burdened with a huge bill at the end of proceeedings, according to the chief executive of the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).”

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The Guardian, 6th October 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Supermarket ‘law shops’ to open – BBC News

Posted October 6th, 2011 in alternative business structures, legal services, news by sally

“Banks and supermarkets are to be able to sell consumer legal services in England and Wales for the first time following a change in law.”

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BBC News, 6th October 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Access to justice is a fine concept. What does it mean in view of cuts to legal aid? – The Guardian

Posted October 6th, 2011 in civil justice, legal aid, news by sally

“Experts give their views on the effect on ordinary people in light of Ken Clarke’s reforms to publicly funded law.”

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The Guardian, 6th October 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Ian Huntley throat slasher jailed for life – The Guardian

Posted October 6th, 2011 in attempted murder, attempts, homicide, murder, news, sentencing by sally

“A psychopathic prisoner who slashed Soham murderer Ian Huntley across the neck with a makeshift knife has been jailed for life.”

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The Guardian, 5th October 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Brothers jailed for child sex abuse – The Independent

“Two brothers who carried out sex attacks on five children were both jailed today (5th October).”

Full story

The Independent, 5th October 2011

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Legal advisers must not alter their opinions to suit politicians, says leading international lawyer – The Guardian

Posted October 6th, 2011 in attorney general, legal profession, news, rendition, torture, war by sally

“Philippe Sands says lawyers bear some responsibility for enabling torture, rendition and the war in Iraq – and must in future be brought to account.”

Full story

The Guardian, 5th October 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Unreasonableness to the Rescue? – Hardwicke Chambers

Posted October 5th, 2011 in contracts, fraud, misrepresentation, news by sally

“It has long been established that at common law a person cannot avoid liability for fraudulent statements by inserting a clause in the contract that the other party is not to rely upon them: S Pearson & Son Ltd v Dublin Corpn [1907] AC 351. However, fraudulent or reckless mis-representations are notoriously difficult to prove, not least because, although the civil standard of proof applies, cogent evidence will be required to establish the ‘misdemeanour’. And, of course, the relevant knowledge and/or documentation needed to satisfy the Court are likely to be within the representor’s control.”

Full story

Hardwicke Chambers, 30th September 2011

Source: www.hardwicke.co.uk