High volume of complaints against solicitors as LeO launches – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted October 7th, 2010 in complaints, legal ombudsman, news, solicitors by sally

“The new Legal Ombudsman handled nearly 500 complaints on its launch day yesterday, taking its first call two minutes after opening at 8.30am while its chief executive was appearing on Radio 4’s Today programme.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 7th October 2010

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Kenneth Clarke reveals what cuts will mean for the courts – The Guardian

Posted October 7th, 2010 in budgets, costs, legal aid, news by sally

“This month, the justice secretary, Kenneth Clarke, is expected to outline ways in which he could cut around a quarter of his department’s annual budget. Making prisoners work for 40 hours a week — the policy Clarke outlined at the Conservative conference on Tuesday — won’t go very far towards producing the £2bn or so of savings that he needs.”

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The Guardian, 7th October 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Government publishes open data licence – OUT-LAW.com

Posted October 7th, 2010 in copyright, database right, government departments, news by sally

“The Government has published the details of a licence which allows the re-use of public and Government information on a perpetual, royalty-free basis regardless of any copyright or database rights that exist in the material.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 7th October 2010

Source: www.out-law.com

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted October 7th, 2010 in law reports by sally

Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

Dodd, R v [2010] EWCA Crim 2225 (06 October 2010)

Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

TA Gwillim & Sons, R (on the application of) v The Welsh Ministers [2010] EWCA Civ 1048 (06 October 2010)

Force India Formula One Team Ltd v Etihad Airways PJSC & Anor [2010] EWCA Civ 1051 (06 October 2010)

Glacier Reinsurance AG & Anor v Gard Marine & Energy Ltd & Anor [2010] EWCA Civ 1052 (06 October 2010)

High Court (Queen’s Bench Division)

Rio Football Services Hungary KFT v Sevilla Futbal Club SAD [2010] EWHC 2446 (QB) (06 October 2010)

Taunton Deane Borough Council v Packman & Ors [2010] EWHC 2437 (QB) (05 October 2010)

High Court (Chancery Division)

Bashir v Ali & Anor [2010] EWHC 2320 (Ch) (30 September 2010)

High Court (Family Division)

T v T [2010] EWHC 2392 (Fam) (06 October 2010)

Chief Constable & Anor v YK & Ors [2010] EWHC 2438 (Fam) (06 October 2010)

High Court (Commercial Court)

Masri v Consolidated Contractors International Company SAL & Ors [2010] EWHC 2458 (Comm) (06 October 2010)

Source: www.bailii.org

Courts will ‘struggle to cope’ with Equality Act caseload – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted October 7th, 2010 in employment, equality, news, tribunals by sally

“Employment lawyers have warned that tribunals could be ‘submerged’ by a surge in cases stemming from the Equality Act 2010, which came into force this month.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 7th October 2010

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Chancery Lane calls for appraisal system for family judges – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted October 7th, 2010 in family courts, judiciary, news by sally

“An appraisal system should be introduced for family judges, so that they can hear feedback on their performance and to reassure the public about the quality of the judiciary, the Law Society has suggested.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 7th October 2010

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Feuding parents could be refused legal aid unless they mediate – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 7th, 2010 in custody, dispute resolution, legal aid, news by sally

“Feuding parents could be refused legal aid in custody battles unless they try mediation first, the justice minister signalled yesterday.”

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Daily Telegraph, 7th October 2010

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

‘No legal case’ for Iraq invasion – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted October 7th, 2010 in Iraq, news, war by sally

“Human rights lawyers have claimed that the UK had no legal case for its 2003 invasion of Iraq, in a submission to the Chilcot Inquiry seen by the Gazette.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 7th October 2010

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted October 6th, 2010 in law reports by sally

Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

Yam v R. [2010] EWCA Crim 2072 (05 October 2010)

Zahid v R [2010] EWCA Crim 2158 (05 October 2010)

High Court (Chancery Division)

BBGP Managing General Partner Ltd & Ors v Babcock & Brown Global Partners [2010] EWHC 2176 (Ch) (20 August 2010)

High Court (Queen’s Bench Division)

Brewer v Mann & Ors [2010] EWHC 2444 (QB) (05 October 2010)

High Court (Technology and Construction Court)

Atwal & Anor v Rochester [2010] EWHC 2338 (TCC) (09 July 2010)

Source: www.bailii.org

Recent Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk

Posted October 6th, 2010 in legislation by sally

The National Health Service (General Medical Services Contracts) (Prescription of Drugs etc.) (Amendment) Regulations 2010

The Political Parties and Elections Act 2009 (Commencement No. 4) Order 2010

The Landfill Tax (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2010

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

ACS:Law gets more of copyright fines than rights holders – The Guardian

Posted October 6th, 2010 in copyright, fees, law firms, news by sally

“ACS:Law, the controversial London-based solicitors’ firm involved in making copyright claims, keeps about 40% of the payments made by alleged filesharers, while rights holders receive between 20% and 30%, research by the Guardian has revealed.”

Full story

The Guardian, 5th October 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Black and female young offenders ‘failed by legal advice’ – The Guardian

Posted October 6th, 2010 in legal services, minorities, news, prisons, young offenders by sally

“Black and female young offenders are being denied access to justice because legal advice in young offenders’ institutions is sometimes unavailable, a report shows.”

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The Guardian, 5th October 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Judge blocks website’s ‘Solicitors From Hell’ comments about lawyer – The Independent

Posted October 6th, 2010 in defamation, injunctions, internet, news, solicitors by sally

“A second High Court judge has issued an interim injunction banning the owner of the website Solicitors From Hell from publishing or republishing defamatory material about a lawyer with a London firm.”

Full story

The Independent, 5th October 2010

Source: www.independent.co.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted October 5th, 2010 in law reports by sally

High Court (Queen’s Bench Division)

Gray v Crown Prosecution Service [2010] EWHC 2144 (QB) (20 August 2010)

High Court (Chancery Division)

British Broadcasting Corporation v Harpercollins Publishers Ltd & Anor [2010] EWHC 2424 (Ch) (04 October 2010)

High Court (Administrative Court)

Hulme, R (on the application of) v Secretary of State for Communities & Local Government [2010] EWHC 2386 (Admin) (19 August 2010)

Crown Prosecution Service, R (on the application of) v Kumbaro [2010] EWHC 2359 (Admin) (02 September 2010)

Puzo v District Court In Kladno Czech Republic [2010] EWHC 2387 (Admin) (16 September 2010)

High Court (Patents Court)

Glaxosmithkline Biologicals SA v Novartis AG [2010] EWHC 1806 (Pat) (14 July 2010)

Abbott Laboratories Ltd v Medinol Ltd [2010] EWHC 2285 (Pat) (08 September 2010)

High Court (Commercial Court)

CNH Financial Services SAS v Krecent Traders Ltd & Anor [2010] EWHC 2429 (Comm) (04 October 2010)

Source: www.bailii.org.uk

New research shows 16% rise in court appearances by FTSE 100 companies – Legal Week

Posted October 5th, 2010 in news, statistics by sally

“The number of court appearances by FTSE 100 companies has jumped by 16% over the last year, according to new research.”

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Legal Week, 4th October 2010

Source: www.legalweek.com

Judges are resigned to jurors researching their trials online – The Guardian

Posted October 5th, 2010 in internet, judiciary, juries, news by sally

“Judges are ‘giving up’ trying to stop juries using Google, Facebook and Twitter to access potentially false and prejudicial information about defendants, Sir Ken Macdonald, the former director of public prosecutions, has warned.”

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The Guardian, 4th October 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

New Legal Ombudsman warns rip-off lawyers – BBC News

Posted October 5th, 2010 in complaints, legal ombudsman, legal services, news by sally

“Lawyers who bring the industry into disrepute by charging huge prices for services will no longer get away with it, the new Legal Ombudsman has said.”

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BBC News, 5th October 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Man jailed for life for rape and murder of his 12-year-old niece – The Guardian

Posted October 5th, 2010 in child abuse, murder, news, rape, sentencing by sally

“A man obsessed with violent child porn who called police to tell them he had raped and murdered his 12-year-old niece was told today by a judge he would spend the remainder of his life in prison.”

Full story

The Guardian, 4th October 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Deputy head jailed for encouraging rape of girl, three – The Independent

Posted October 5th, 2010 in child abuse, internet, news, rape, sentencing by sally

“A married deputy head teacher was today jailed for seven years for encouraging and watching the rape of a three-year-old girl.”

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The Independent, 4th October 2010

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Legal action over axing of schools building scheme – BBC News

Posted October 5th, 2010 in education, judicial review, local government, news by sally

“Three councils in England have launched legal action over the government’s decision to scrap the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) initiative.”

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BBC News, 5th October 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk