Forget Tesco law, this legal education review will transform the legal market – The Guardian

Posted March 20th, 2012 in legal education, news by sally

“The problems of the legal education and training system have been well documented on this website over recent months, dominated in particular by too many law students chasing too few jobs, the debt they accumulate in the process and the impact on diversity.”

Full story

The Guardian, 19th March 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

The evolved mind: rising to the environmental challenge – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted March 20th, 2012 in environmental protection, news by sally

“In my 2011 post Why be nice? Human rights under pressure I explored the extent to which our limited tendencies to altruism, insofar as they have survived natural selection, could be institutionalised and enforced. In this article I apply the scientific learning on our cooperative instincts to the question of environmental regulation. I argue that whilst we seem to be hard-wired to cooperate, environmental responsibility will only be instilled under certain conditions that resonate with our evolved psychology, and that most modern environmental law fails to acknowledge these conditions.”

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 20th March 2012

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Campaigners call for new homicide law for inciting suicide – The Guardian

Posted March 20th, 2012 in domestic violence, harassment, homicide, incitement, news, suicide, women by sally

“Growing concerns about the failure of police to properly investigate cases of women who have killed themselves after violence or abuse have led to a campaign for a new homicide law of ‘suicide aggravated by harassment or violence’.”

Full story

The Guardian, 19th March 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Muslim juror removed from jury after refusing to take off veil – Daily Telegraph

Posted March 20th, 2012 in Islam, juries, news by sally

“A Muslim juror has been excused from sitting on a case because her veil concealed her facial expressions.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 20th March 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Briton Graham Mitchell faces Portugal extradition – BBC News

Posted March 20th, 2012 in attempted murder, attempts, evidence, extradition, murder, news by sally

“A Briton arrested over a Portuguese attempted murder case he thought he had been acquitted of 17 years ago says his world has been ‘turned upside down’.”

Full story

BBC News, 20th March 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

County Court money claim service launched – Ministry of Justice

Posted March 20th, 2012 in claims management, county courts, news by sally

“From today all designated money claims in civil cases in England and Wales will be dealt with at one business centre. The centre will be supported by a dedicated contact team that deal with all telephone queries relating to claims.”

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 19th March 2012

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Drug and Alcohol Misusing Families – BBC Law in Action

Posted March 20th, 2012 in alcohol abuse, courts, drug abuse, families, news by sally

“For the last four years, London’s family drug and alcohol court has been trying to get drug and alcohol misusing families back on track. It has done so by following a different approach from the traditional, more punitive measures adopted by the mainstream courts. Joshua Rozenberg visits the court to find out how effective its pioneering work has been and what those who use it think of it. He speaks to those involved in the day-to-day work of the court – including the district judge, the principals of the main charity involved in its creation, legal representatives and others with expert knowledge of the problems which the court’s family users must tackle to put their lives back in order – and talks to observers of the court who have reservations about its approach. Law in Action discovers how far this innovative – but expensive – legal model is one which can realistically be emulated elsewhere in the UK when public funds are under such pressure.”

Podcast

BBC Law in Action, 13th March 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Duress, abuse of process and erasing convictions: the questions raised in Regina v A – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted March 20th, 2012 in abuse of process, appeals, duress, news, perverting the course of justice, rape by sally

“It seems remarkable that if a woman tells a lie when living in permanent fear of being attacked and stabbed she would probably be able to put forward the defence of duress (if that lie tended to pervert the course of justice), but it seems such a defence does not apply if the woman is living in fear of being raped.”

Full story

Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 19th March 2012

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

Former law lord opposes ‘two strikes and you’re out’ sentencing – The Guardian

Posted March 20th, 2012 in bills, judges, news, sentencing by sally

“A former law lord will attempt to amend the government’s controversial legal aid bill to throw out a ‘peculiar provision’ which would introduce a ‘two strikes and you’re out’ approach to sentencing.”

Full story

The Guardian, 19th March 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Thousands in court every week for not having a TV licence – Daily Telegraph

Posted March 20th, 2012 in BBC, fines, licensing, media, news by sally

“Magistrates have called for the failure to get a television licence to be decriminalised after it emerged more than 3,000 people were taken to court every week for not paying the fee.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 20th March 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Maths teacher made Nazi taunts to German neighbours – BBC News

Posted March 20th, 2012 in conditional discharge, harassment, news, racism, teachers by sally

“A maths teacher has been found guilty of harassing his German neighbours by playing wartime classics and performing a Nazi salute.”

Full story

BBC News, 19th March 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Ministry of Justice making no progress in collecting fines – The Guardian

Posted March 20th, 2012 in confiscation, fines, news, reports by sally

“About £2bn is due to the Ministry of Justice in uncollected confiscation orders and fines, said a report published on Tuesday.”

Full story

The Guardian, 20th March 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

The game changed back: Barr v. Biffa reversed – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted March 20th, 2012 in appeals, defences, negligence, news, nuisance, waste by sally

“For the last year or so, the law of nuisance has been in a state of flux pending this appeal. In this case about an odorous landfill, Coulson J had ruled that compliance with the waste permit amounted to a defence to a claim in nuisance, and that a claimant had to prove negligence in the operation of the landfill before he could claim in nuisance. The Court of Appeal has today reversed this decision.”

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 19th March 2012

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Private court interpretation company ‘should face contempt proceedings’ – The Guardian

Posted March 20th, 2012 in contempt of court, courts, delay, interpreters, news by sally

“The attorney general has been urged to bring contempt of court proceedings against the private contractor awarded a monopoly to provide interpreters to all courts in England and Wales.”

Full story

The Guardian, 19th March 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Command Papers – official-documents.gov.uk

Posted March 19th, 2012 in parliamentary papers by sally

Independent Review of Police Officer and Staff Remuneration and Conditions – Final Report – Volume 1, Cm 8325 i (PDF)

Independent Review of Police Officer and Staff Remuneration and Conditions – Final Report – Volume 2, Cm 8325 ii (PDF)

Source: www.official-documents.gov.uk

Five Criminal cases you need to know from February – One Inner Temple Lane

Five Criminal cases you need to know from February

One Inner Temple Lane, 19th March 2012

Source: www.1itl.com

Recent Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk

Posted March 19th, 2012 in legislation by sally

The Criminal Justice Act 2003 (Commencement No. 27) Order 2012

The Consular Fees Order 2012

The Ministry of Defence Police (Performance) Regulations 2012

The Smoke Control Areas (Authorised Fuels) (England) Regulations 2012

The Smoke Control Areas (Exempted Fireplaces) (England) Order 2012

The Income Tax (Construction Industry Scheme) (Amendment) Regulations 2012

The Social Security (Contributions) (Amendment No. 3) Regulations 2012

The Income Tax (Pay As You Earn) (Amendment) Regulations 2012

The Licensing Act 2003 (Diamond Jubilee Licensing Hours) Order 2012

The Guardian’s Allowance Up-rating Order 2012

The Guardian’s Allowance Up-rating (Northern Ireland) Order 2012

The Immigration and Nationality (Cost Recovery Fees) Regulations 2012

The European Union (Definition of Treaties) (Second Agreement amending the Cotonou Agreement) Order 2012

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted March 19th, 2012 in law reports by sally

Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

R. v SVS Solicitors [2012] EWCA Crim 319 (15 February 2012)

A v B & Anor [2012] EWCA Civ 285 (14 March 2012)

Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

Maqsood v Mahmood & Anor [2012] EWCA Civ 251 (13 March 2012)

JD (Congo) & Ors v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2012] EWCA Civ 327 (16 March 2012)

Barr & Ors v Biffa Waste Services Ltd [2012] EWCA Civ 312 (19 March 2012)

High Court (Queen’s Bench Division)

Travelers Insurance Company Ltd & Anor v Advani [2012] EWHC 623 (QB) (16 March 2012)

High Court (Chancery Division)

Coleridge v Sotheby’s [2012] EWHC 370 (Ch) (01 March 2012)

High Court (Administrative Court)

Midlands Co-Operative Society Ltd, R (on the application of) v Tesco Stores Ltd [2012] EWHC 620 (Admin) (16 March 2012)

Lord Carlile & Ors v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2012] EWHC 617 (Admin) (16 March 2012)

High Court (Technology and Construction Court)

Phaestos Ltd & Anor v Ho [2012] EWHC 635 (TCC) (05 March 2012)

High Court (Commercial Court)

Standard Bank Plc v Via Mat International Ltd & Anor [2012] EWHC 574 (Comm) (16 March 2012)

High Court (Patents Court)

Merck Sharp Dohme Corp & Anor v Teva Pharma BV & Anor [2012] EWHC 627 (Pat) (15 March 2012)

Source: www.bailii.org

Recent Developments in Freedom of Information: From Royal Oysters to Squatters’ Road-Maps and Beyond – 11 KBW

Posted March 19th, 2012 in appeals, freedom of information, news by sally

“The body of jurisprudence relating to freedom of information has continued to develop apace over the last year. The exponential growth in appeals being heard by both the first-tier and upper tribunals has meant that practitioners are having to work ever harder to keep abreast of changes to both the substantive law and practice and procedure.1 Rather than attempt a comprehensive review, this paper aims merely to address some of the more important developments in this area over the past year.”

Full story (PDF)

11 KBW, 16th March 2012

Source: www.11kbw.com

The FSA’s Investigations and Enforcement Regime Challenge in the Tribunal – Thirty Nine Essex Street

Posted March 19th, 2012 in financial services ombudsman, news, tribunals by sally

“The Tribunal’s function under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 is to:
‘determine what (if any) is the appropriate action for the decision-maker [i.e. the Financial services Authority] to take in relation to the matter referred … to it’ (section 133(5)).”

Full story (PDF)

Thirty Nine Essex Street, 21st February 2012

Source: www.39essex.com