Hackers to face two years in jail under new rules proposed by EU – The Independent

Posted March 29th, 2012 in computer crime, EC law, news, sentencing by sally

“Computer hackers will face at least two years in jail under new rules proposed by the EU, it has emerged. The wide-ranging measures, which are aimed at tackling the rise of online crime, are likely to hit hacktivism groups such as Anonymous.”

Full story

The Independent, 28th March 2012

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Legal training: the best routes to becoming a lawyer – The Lawyer

Posted March 29th, 2012 in legal education, news by sally

“Abolishing the concept of the qualifying law degree, more common training for prospective lawyers, replacing the training contract with ‘supervised practice’ and sector-wide CPD – just some of the ‘more radical’ ideas being considered by the profession-wide Legal Education and Training Review (LETR).”

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The Lawyer, 29th March 2012

Source: www.thelawyer.com

Would introducing a minimum price for alcohol of 40p per unit breach EU law? – The Guardian

Posted March 29th, 2012 in alcohol abuse, competition, EC law, freedom of movement, news by sally

“Last week’s announcement regarding minimum alcohol pricing was unusual in a number of respects. Plans for the introduction of a minimum price per unit are already well advanced in Scotland, but the Westminster government is a more recent convert. As soon as the proposal was announced, it was clear the implementation was likely to come under legal challenge from the drinks industry. The Telegraph, the Guardian and the Daily Mail all indicate that the drinks industry had ‘legal advice’ that the minimum pricing would be contrary to EU law.”

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The Guardian, 28th March 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Man loses privacy case over telling his wife about twins – BBC News

Posted March 29th, 2012 in blackmail, disclosure, families, harassment, injunctions, news, privacy by sally

“A businessman has failed in his High Court bid to prevent his wife being told of the birth of his twins from a secret relationship.”

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BBC News, 28th March 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Improving social mobility at the bar? Students at the Old Bailey is a start – The Guardian

Posted March 29th, 2012 in barristers, diversity, legal education, news by sally

“The sight of privileged barristers cross-examining some of society’s worst-off as they stand in the dock has long disquieted the legal profession. So a number of social mobility initiatives have been created with the aim of luring those from less well-off backgrounds into the profession.”

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The Guardian, 29th March 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Courtroom cameras ‘risk turning trials into a circus’ – The Independent

Posted March 29th, 2012 in courts, judgments, media, news by sally

“Plans to allow cameras into courtrooms would risk turning trials into media circuses and could jeopardise defendants’ safety, ministers were warned last night by a leading solicitor.”

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The Independent, 29th March 2012

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Existing copyright licensing processes not accounting properly for ‘mixed media’ and digital content, report says – OUT-LAW.com

Posted March 29th, 2012 in copyright, internet, licensing, news, reports by sally

“Copyright licensing processes in the UK could be more ‘streamlined, easier and cheaper to use’ than is currently the case, a report into the framework has said.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 28th March 2012

Source: www.out-law.com

Hacker declared fit to stand trial in US court – The Independent

Posted March 29th, 2012 in computer crime, extradition, mental health, news by sally

“Gary McKinnon is almost certain to be extradited to the US after a psychiatrist declared him fit to be sent abroad, despite the same doctor having said three years ago that the computer hacker was too great a suicide risk to be handed to American authorities.”

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The Independent, 29th March 2012

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Leveson Inquiry: IPCC ‘error’ over Mark Duggan shooting – BBC News

Posted March 29th, 2012 in complaints, homicide, inquiries, media, news, police by sally

“The head of the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has said it made a ‘serious error’ in its handling of the Mark Duggan shooting.”

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BBC News, 28th March 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Jeremy Bamber in new challenge to conviction for murdering family – The Guardian

Posted March 29th, 2012 in appeals, Criminal Cases Review Commission, murder, news, witnesses by sally

“Jeremy Bamber, who was jailed for 26 years for killing five members of his own family, is launching another bid for freedom after evidence emerged that the assistant director of public prosecutions decided not to proceed with drug trafficking and fraud allegations against a key prosecution witness.”

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The Guardian, 29th March 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Related link: Jeremy Bamber: prosecutor’s correspondence with police – full documents

Parents will have legal right to choose the best school for their children, says David Cameron – Daily Telegraph

Posted March 29th, 2012 in complaints, education, hospitals, news by sally

“People will have a legal ‘right to choose’ which schools and hospitals they use under new laws overhauling public services, David Cameron says today.”

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Daily Telegraph, 28th March 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Asbestos court ruling leaves insurers facing bill of up to £5bn – The Guardian

Posted March 29th, 2012 in asbestos, indemnities, industrial injuries, insurance, news, Supreme Court by sally

“Insurers may have to pay out as much as £5bn to relatives of those who have died from asbestos-related cancers following a supreme court judgment that will benefit thousands of families.”

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The Guardian, 28th March 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

‘Tesco Law’ allows legal services in supermarkets – BBC News

Posted March 29th, 2012 in alternative business structures, legal services, news by sally

“A big shake-up of legal services has removed restrictions on where such products may be sold.”

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BBC News, 28th March 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Charlotte Church article in People could be defamatory, judge rules – The Guardian

Posted March 28th, 2012 in defamation, media, news by sally

“An article in the People newspaper claiming Charlotte Church had drunkenly proposed to her boyfriend at a pub karaoke night could be seen as defamatory because she was a ‘star’, a high court judge has ruled.”

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The Guardian, 28th March 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

What can and can’t you say on Twitter? – BBC News

“A student who made racially offensive comments about footballer Fabrice Muamba on Twitter has been jailed for 56 days – the latest case where a comment made on social media has landed someone in court.”

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BBC News, 28th March 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Legal high drug ‘mexxy’ banned under new government powers – The Guardian

Posted March 28th, 2012 in drug offences, news, stop and search by sally

“A so-called legal high used as an alternative to ketamine will be the first drug to be banned under new government powers, the Home Office has said.”

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The Guardian, 28th March 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Health and Social Care Act 2012 – legislation.gov.uk

Posted March 28th, 2012 in health, legislation, social services by sally

Health and Social Care Act 2012 published

Full text of Act

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

Recent Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk

Posted March 28th, 2012 in legislation by sally

The Iran (European Union Financial Sanctions) Regulations 2012

The Energy Act 2011 (Commencement No 1 and Saving) Order 2012

The Financial Services (Omnibus 1 Directive) Regulations 2012

The National Health Service Trust Development Authority Regulations 2012

The Care Quality Commission (Registration) and (Additional Functions) and Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) Regulations 2012

The Mesothelioma Lump Sum Payments (Conditions and Amounts) (Amendment) Regulations 2012

The National Health Service Trust Development Authority (Establishment and Constitution) Order 2012

The Export Control (Amendment) Order 2012

The Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers’ Compensation) (Payment of Claims) (Amendment) Regulations 2012

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

SRA confirms debut trio of licensed alternative business structures – Legal Week

“The first three alternative business structures (ABS) to be licensed by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) have been confirmed today (March 28), as the reforms ushered in by the Legal Services Act continue to gather pace.”

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Legal Week, 28th March 2012

Source: www.legalweek.com

Command Papers – official-documents.gov.uk

Posted March 28th, 2012 in parliamentary papers by sally

Government responses on the Sixty Second to the Sixty Seventh Reports from the Committee of Public Accounts Session 2010-12, Cm 8335 (PDF)

Government response to the Communities and Local Government Select Committee Report: National Planning Policy Framework, Cm 8322 (PDF)

Universal Credit: the impact on passported benefits Report by the Social Security Advisory Committee and response by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Cm 8332 (PDF)

Punishment and Reform: Effective Probation Services, Cm 8333 (PDF)

Punishment and Reform: Effective Community Sentences, Cm 8334 (PDF)

Source: www.official-documents.gov.uk