Information Commissioner enjoys new powers to fine from April 2010 – OUT-LAW.com

Posted July 22nd, 2009 in data protection, fines, news, privacy by sally

“Privacy regulator the Information Commissioner will be handed new powers to issue fines next April. The Commissioner’s office has confirmed for the first time the date on which it will be able to hand out new fines.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 22nd July 2009

Source: www.out-law.com

Bar flies in the face of the recession with turnover hikes across the board – The Lawyer

Posted July 22nd, 2009 in barristers, news, remuneration by sally

“The bar appears to be on the brink of a boom period, despite leading litigators warning that the anticipated litigation tsunami has failed to materialise.”

Full story

The Lawyer, 20th July 2009

Source: www.thelawyer.com

RSPCA to prosecute officer who left police dogs to die in hot car – The Guardian

Posted July 22nd, 2009 in animal cruelty, news by sally

“A police dog handler who left two alsatians to die in a car during the recent heatwave could face up to six months in jail and a £20,000 maximum fine after the RSPCA confirmed today it would prosecute the case.”

Full story

The Guardian, 21st July 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Gordon Brown’s plans to use phone tapping evidence in court thrown into chaos – The Times

Posted July 22nd, 2009 in evidence, interception, news, terrorism by sally

“The proposed use of phone tapping evidence to secure convictions in terrorist and criminal trials has been shown in secret tests to be unworkable.”

Full story

The Times, 22nd July 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

SFO unveils plans for US-style negotiations – The Times

Posted July 22nd, 2009 in news, Serious Fraud Office by sally

“The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has for the first time formalised its approach towards businesses that come forward with bribery and corruption issues in return for leniency.”

Full story

The Times, 21st July 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Expenses clean-up bill is passed – BBC News

Posted July 22nd, 2009 in expenses, news, parliament, parliamentary privilege by sally

“A bill aimed at cleaning up Parliament after the MPs’ expenses scandal has become law after getting Royal Assent.”

Full story

BBC News, 22nd July 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

MoD pays £84 million in civil compensation – Daily Telegraph

Posted July 22nd, 2009 in armed forces, compensation, news by sally

“Civil compensation claims have cost the Ministry of Defence £84 million over the last year, new figures have shown.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 21st July 2009

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Councils still breaking surveillance laws – The Guardian

Posted July 22nd, 2009 in local government, news, spying by sally

“Local authorities are still illegally spying on individuals despite curbs imposed on their covert activities, the senior official charged with scrutinising their activities said today.”

Full story

The Guardian, 21st July 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Change would help to expose unjust rulings – The Times

Posted July 21st, 2009 in islamic law, news by sally

“The move towards creating Britain’s first formal network of Sharia courts is a logical next step after the encouragement given to Islamic tribunals by leading legal and church leaders.”

Full story

The Times, 21st July 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Woman ‘detained’ for filming police search launches high court challenge – The Guardian

Posted July 21st, 2009 in news, photography, police, terrorism by sally

“A woman is to challenge the Metropolitan police in the high court, claiming she was handcuffed, detained and threatened with arrest for filming officers on her mobile phone.”

Full story

The Guardian, 21st July 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Scholar denies that Islamic divorce procedure is biased against women – The Times

Posted July 21st, 2009 in divorce, islamic law, news, sex discrimination by sally

“Opponents of Sharia have long complained that it involves an inherent bias against women and treats them as second-rate citizens.”

Full story

The Times, 21st July 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

The Chambers – BBC Radio 4

Posted July 21st, 2009 in legal services, news by sally

“First of two programmes which go behind the elegant facades of legal London to meet the barristers, clerks and staff of Outer Temple Chambers, one of London’s leading law chambers, as they prepare for the biggest upheaval in their history: the full implementation of the 2007 Legal Services Act.”

Listen again

BBC Radio 4, 21st July 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Please note this programme will only be available for 7 days after the broadcast date.

Improve schools to give poor children a chance at professional jobs, report says – The Guardian

Posted July 21st, 2009 in education, legal profession, news by sally

“Generations of poorer children will miss out on jobs in law and medicine unless Britain does more to give them a better education, a report on social mobility said today.”

Full story

The Guardian, 21st July 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Survey on the future provision of Library services

Posted July 21st, 2009 in inns of court, libraries, mergers, news by sally

CHEMS Consulting is carrying out a feasibility study on behalf of the Inner and Middle Temple to investigate the potential benefits of merging their two libraries and creating a Joint Education and Advocacy Centre.

One element in the feasibility study is to assess what the demand for library services is on the part of the Bar, students and other members of the Inns, and how it is currently being met. Both Inns also want to consider what services a merged library should offer its users if a merger were to proceed.

A survey questionnaire has been developed by the consultants in order to get the views of Inner and Middle Temple members and tenants and other Library users. From 29th June to 17th July the survey was available in electronic form on the Inns’ web sites and in printed form in both Libraries. Members and tenants of both Inns were also emailed about the survey. The Inner Temple results are now available on the Library’s web site. To view the results of the survey click here.

Government slammed for failure over bogus colleges and economic migrants – The Times

Posted July 21st, 2009 in education, immigration, news by sally

“Private colleges should face compulsory regulation to prevent ‘bogus’ institutions from operating as a front for illegal immigration, a parliamentary committee recommends today.”

Full story

The Times, 21st July 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

House of Lords reforms will remove hereditary principle – Ministry of Justice

Posted July 21st, 2009 in constitutional reform, news, parliament, peerages & dignities by sally

“Reforms unveiled today by Jack Straw as part of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill will remove the hereditary principle from the House of Lords and allow for the disqualification of peers found guilty of serious criminal offences.”

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 20th July 2009

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Regional law firms take severe steps to cut costs – The Times

Posted July 21st, 2009 in law firms, news by sally

“Britain’s leading regional law firms, suffering even more severely from the downturn in the legal services market than their London rivals, are imposing drastic cost-cutting measures in an attempt to stave off further job losses.”

Full story

The Times, 21st July 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Non-Muslims turning to Sharia courts to resolve civil disputes – The Times

Posted July 21st, 2009 in dispute resolution, islamic law, news by sally

“Increasing numbers of non-Muslims are turning to Sharia courts to resolve commercial disputes and other civil matters, The Times has learnt.”

Full story

The Times, 21st July 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Equitable Life policyholders head to court – The Times

Posted July 21st, 2009 in compensation, insurance, maladministration, news by sally

“Equitable Life policyholders take their claim for compensation to the Royal Courts of Justice on Tuesday in a bid to overturn a Government ruling that gives them a fraction of what they say is a fair entitlement.”

Full story

The Times, 20th July 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Legal aid tendering proposals postponed – The Independent

Posted July 21st, 2009 in law firms, legal aid, news, tenders by sally

“Ministers have postponed plans to make law firms bid for criminal legal aid work.”

Full story

The Independent, 21st July 2009

Source: www.independent.co.uk