We will consult on a new Code of Conduct for barristers and Alternative Business Structures – Bar Standards Board

“We will issue a new consultation on a future Code of Conduct for the profession and legal business structures. The consultation will be released in January 2012.”

Full press release

Bar Standards Board, 27th October 2011

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

New requirements for first tier complaints handling – Bar Standards Board

Posted October 28th, 2011 in barristers, complaints, press releases, professional conduct by sally

“Following extensive consultation with the Bar, practice managers and senior clerks, we are now in a position to release the final requirements for Chambers in relation to first tier complaints handling. These arrangements have been approved by the Legal Services Board. The requirements place an obligation on Chambers and barristers to ensure that the lay client is aware of their right to complain to Chambers and to the Legal Ombudsman.”

Full story

Bar Standards Board, 25th October 2011

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

A Manifesto for Family Justice – Alliance of Interest Groups Calls on Government to Change Plans – The Bar Council

Posted October 28th, 2011 in families, family courts, legal aid, press releases, victims by sally

“An alliance of organisations which represents the rights and needs of women, children, families and victims of domestic abuse and/or are engaged in the administration of family justice, has published a Manifesto for Family Justice, ahead of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders (LASPO) Bill moving into Report Stage in the House of Commons.”

Full press release

The Bar Council, 24th October 2011

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Unlocking Disputes: Groundbreaking New Industry-Led Campaign Promotes London as the Global Dispute Resolution Centre – The Bar Council

Posted October 28th, 2011 in courts, dispute resolution, press releases by sally

“Unlocking Disputes, the groundbreaking new industry-led campaign to promote London as the global dispute resolution centre, will be unveiled this evening at Rolls Building, London’s brand new court complex specialising in financial, business and property litigation.”

Full press release

The Bar Council, 27th October 2011

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Suzanne Knox spared jail over husband’s pavement death – BBC News

Posted October 28th, 2011 in dangerous driving, news, sentencing by sally

“A woman who drove her car into her husband in Suffolk, killing him, has been given a suspended jail sentence.”

Full story

BBC News, 27th October 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

European Court of Human Rights reform ‘will take time’ – BBC News

Posted October 28th, 2011 in constitutional reform, human rights, news by sally

“Ministers have said attempts to reform the European Court of Human Rights will ‘take time’ as the UK must persuade 46 other nations of the need for change.”

Full story

BBC news, 27th October 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Is the Attorney General right on prisoner votes and subsidiarity? – Dr Ed Bates – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted October 28th, 2011 in elections, human rights, news, prisons by sally

“In his speech earlier this week the Attorney General announced that he would appear in person before the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights in two weeks’ time, when it hears Scoppola v Italy No2, a case concerning prisoner voting. The United Kingdom is due to intervene in this case, for reasons that readers of this blog will be fully aware of.”

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 27th October 2011

Source: http://ukhumanrightsblog.com

NHS maternity deaths: patients still at risk, Care Quality Commission warns – The Guardian

Posted October 28th, 2011 in birth, complaints, hospitals, news by sally

“Watchdog publishes damning report into deaths at two London hospitals, Queen’s in Romford and King George’s in Goodmayes.”

Full story

The Guardian, 27th October 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Met chief says officers’ use of fake identities in court was not illegal – The Guardian

Posted October 28th, 2011 in evidence, news, perjury, police by sally

“Britain’s most senior police officer has defended the practice of undercover officers using fake identities in court, claiming there is no specific law forbidding it. Bernard Hogan-Howe, the Metropolitan police commissioner, made the comments as he announced that Scotland Yard has begun two new inquiries.”

Full story

The Guardian, 27th October 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Legal aid lawyers overpaid by £50m – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 28th, 2011 in accounts, fees, legal aid, news by sally

“Lawyers were overpaid by more than £50 million for legal aid work last year, auditors have discovered.”

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Daily Telegraph, 27th October 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

David Cameron declares an end to ‘outdated’ laws on succession – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 28th, 2011 in news, royal family, succession by sally

“Heralding an end to more than 300 years of English constitutional tradition, the Prime Minister will urge Commonwealth leaders to end laws that pass the Crown to the oldest male heir. Under the current rules of primogeniture, any male child takes precedence in the order of succession over his sisters. That would mean that any son born to Prince William would become King even if he had an older sister.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 28th October 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted October 27th, 2011 in law reports by sally

Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

Rheines v R. [2011] EWCA Crim 2397 (26 October 2011)

R. v E [2011] EWCA Crim 2393 (06 October 2011)

Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

The Construction Industry Training Board (aka CITB-Construction Skills) v Beacon Roofing Ltd [2011] EWCA Civ 1203 (26 October 2011)

High Court (Queen’s Bench Division)

Morrissey v McNicholas & Anor [2011] EWHC 2738 (QB) (26 October 2011)

High Court (Administrative Court)

BA, R (on the application of) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2011] EWHC 2748 (Admin) (26 October 2011)

High Court (Commercial Court)

Glencore Energy (UK) Ltd v Sonol Israel Ltd [2011] EWHC 2756 (Comm) (26 October 2011)

High Court (Admiralty Division)

MIOM 1 Ltd & Anor v Sea Echo ENE (No 2) [2011] EWHC 2715 (Admlty) (26 October 2011)

High Court (Patents Court)

Nokia OYJ (Nokia Corporation) v IPCom GmbH & Co Kg [2011] EWHC 2719 (Pat) (26 October 2011)

Protecting Kids the World Over (PKTWO) Ltd, Re [2011] EWHC 2720 (Pat) (26 October 2011)

Source: www.bailii.org

Psychiatric patient loses groundbreaking appeal – The Guardian

Posted October 27th, 2011 in appeals, detention, mental health, news, tribunals by sally

“The first psychiatric patient to have an appeal against detention heard in public lost his legal battle to be freed from Broadmoor hospital on Wednesday.”

Full story

The Guardian, 26th October 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Costs rule ‘will fuel litigation’ – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted October 27th, 2011 in costs, news, proportionality, speeches by sally

“Litigators may face a tough new rule on the ‘proportionality’ of their costs that could fuel satellite litigation and uncertainty, experts warned last week.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 27th October 2011

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Phone-hacking suspects ‘could use inquiry to sabotage cases’ – The Guardian

Posted October 27th, 2011 in evidence, inquiries, interception, news, telecommunications, trials by sally

“The Metropolitan police and the Crown Prosecution Service fear suspects in the phone-hacking criminal investigation could try to sabotage prosecutions, it has emerged.”

Full story

The Guardian, 26th October 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

UK supreme court judges air concerns over having to follow Europe’s lead – The Guardian

Posted October 27th, 2011 in human rights, judges, judgments, news, Supreme Court by sally

“The UK’s supreme court is not always ‘supreme’ because it has to follow the lead of the European court of human rights in Strasbourg, whose rulings are sometimes too narrow in scope, according to the country’s most senior judge, Lord Phillips.”

Full story

The Guardian, 26th October 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Lapland ‘con’ duo cleared on appeal – The Independent

Posted October 27th, 2011 in advertising, appeals, consumer protection, fraud, juries, news by sally

“Two brothers jailed after being accused of conning thousands of customers into visiting what they claimed was a Lapland-style theme park had their convictions overturned by appeal judges today.”

Full story

The Independent, 26th October 2011

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Bill to allow homeowners to defend themselves and their property – The Independent

Posted October 27th, 2011 in bills, news, self-defence by sally

“People who feel threatened in their own homes will no longer have to flee and can stay to defend both themselves and their property under Government plans.”

Full story

The Independent, 27th October 2011

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Clarke: radical reforms will ensure people are protected – Ministry of Justice

Posted October 27th, 2011 in bills, fees, fines, news, self-defence, squatting by sally

“Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke announced tough measures to better protect people from intruders, dangerous criminals and excessive no-win no-fee legal costs.”

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 26th October 2011

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

‘Before the event’ legal insurers cannot refuse an insured’s solicitor solely because of rates, court says – OUT-LAW.com

Posted October 27th, 2011 in costs, fees, insurance, news by sally

“An insurer cannot refuse to pay fees for an insured’s choice of solicitor solely because the solicitor’s rates are higher than a limit stipulated by the insurers, a court has said.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 26th October 2011

Source: www.out-law.com