The Second Civil Mediation Council National Conference: The Future of Civil Mediation – Speech by Sir Anthony Clarke, Master of the Rolls

Posted May 13th, 2008 in dispute resolution, speeches by sally

The Second Civil Mediation Council National Conference: The Future of Civil Mediation (PDF)

Speech by Sir Anthony Clarke, Master of the Rolls

The Second Civil Mediation Council National Conference, 8th May 2008

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Housing: Proportionate Dispute Resolution – Law Commission

Posted May 13th, 2008 in dispute resolution, housing, reports by sally

“A project to review the law and practice on how housing disputes are resolved, with the aim of reforming it to make it simple, effective, fair and proportionate.”

Full story

Law Commission, 12th May 2008

Source: www.lawcom.gov.uk

HM Revenue sued over pension scheme tax – The Times

Posted May 13th, 2008 in fees, news, VAT by sally

“The National Association of Pension Funds (NAPF) has teamed up with a private pension scheme that manages the retirement savings of Ford, Jaguar and Land Rover workers to bring a £300 million legal challenge against the Government’s policy of charging VAT on investment management fees. ”

Full story

The Times, 12th May 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Lord Chief Justice and his funky new gown – The Times

Posted May 13th, 2008 in court dress, judiciary, news by sally

“For 300 years the wig and gown have symbolised the authority of the court. All that will change in October, when judges in civil and family cases will ditch their horsehair wigs and instead be dressed by a designer whose trademark is ‘funky British clothes for aspiring funky British girls’.”

Full story

The Times, 13th May 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Knife offenders may get off with just a fine – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 13th, 2008 in news, offensive weapons, sentencing by sally

“Criminals convicted of carrying knives are likely to escape jail under sentencing guidelines issued on Monday.”

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Daily Telegraph, 13th May 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Post office legal battle launched – BBC News

Posted May 13th, 2008 in news, postal service by sally

“A severely disabled woman has taken her campaign to save her local post office to the High Court.”

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BBC News, 12th May 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Freedom for woman who kept trying to kill disabled husband – The Times

Posted May 13th, 2008 in news by sally

” A woman who tried repeatedly to kill her disabled husband was spared a prison sentence after a court accepted that she had been unable to cope with the strain of caring for him.”

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The Times, 13th May 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Labour MPs set to defy whip over vote on embryology Bill – The Independent

Posted May 13th, 2008 in news by sally

“MPs were deeply split last night over embryo research and abortion as they began debating hugely contentious reforms to the way the practices are regulated.”

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The Independent, 13th May 2008

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Jobs for junior lawyers dry up as boom ends – The Times

Posted May 13th, 2008 in news by sally

“Britain’s largest law firms are reducing the number of junior lawyers they are hiring amid concerns that debt finance and corporate takeover work both in London and overseas has largely dried up.”

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The Times, 13th May 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Information Commissioner gets power to fine for privacy breaches – OUT-LAW.com

Posted May 13th, 2008 in data protection, fines, news by sally

“The Information Commissioner has been given the ability to fine organisations if their operational procedures cause a gross breach of data protection principles. The move, which had not been expected by privacy experts, follows a Government defeat in the House of Lords.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 12th May 2008

Source: www.out-law.com

Farepak savings bosses may face prosecution – The Guardian

Posted May 13th, 2008 in credit unions, news by sally

“The government may take legal action against the directors and accountants behind Farepak, the Christmas savings club which collapsed leaving 150,000 people short of almost £40m in savings.”

Full story

The Guardian, 13th May 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Mother ‘failed by social workers’ – BBC News

Posted May 12th, 2008 in children, mental health, news, social services by sally

“A judge has criticised social workers for not helping a young mother who killed her two-year-old daughter.”

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BBC News, 12th May 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Teenage father bit and killed baby in rage – The Independent

Posted May 12th, 2008 in child abuse, homicide, news, sentencing by sally

“A devoted teenage father who struggled to cope with the demands of raising a family was jailed today for killing his five-month old baby in a fit of anger.”

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The Independent, 12th May 2008

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Hamza challenges US extradition – BBC News

Posted May 12th, 2008 in extradition, news, soliciting to murder, terrorism by sally

“Jailed Muslim Cleric Abu Hamza has begun a High Court bid to block his extradition to the USA.”

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BBC News, 12th May 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Computer Misuse Act changes are delayed further – OUT-LAW.com

Posted May 12th, 2008 in computer crime, news by sally

“Denial of service attacks will not be criminalised in England and Wales for another six months despite measures lying unused in existing laws since 2006. Changes to the Computer Misuse Act will not be activated until October.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 12th May 2008

Source: www.out-law.com

Jail officer awarded £43k damages – BBC News

Posted May 12th, 2008 in news, prison officers, whistleblowers by sally

“A Wakefield prison officer who appeared as a witness in a whistleblowing case has been awarded £43,875 by an employment tribunal.”

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BBC News, 12th May 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Litigation costs uncertainty impedes access to justice, legal experts warn – The Lawyer

Posted May 12th, 2008 in competition, costs, news by sally

“Uncertainty shrouds litigation costs, which is putting obstacles in the way of access to justice, a panel of experts warned at The Lawyer’s antitrust litigation conference last week (7 May).”

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The Lawyer, 12th May 2008

Source: www.thelawyer.com

Revised Magistrates’ Court Sentencing Guidelines – Published 12 May 2008 – Sentencing Guidelines Council

Posted May 12th, 2008 in magistrates, press releases, sentencing by sally

“The first revised magistrates’ court sentencing guidelines in four years have today been published by the Sentencing Guidelines Council.”

Press release

Revised Magistrates’ Court Sentencing Guidelines (PDF)

Sentencing Guidelines Council, 12th May 2008

Source: www.sentencing-guidelines.gov.uk

New Judicial Civil Robe – Judiciary of England and Wales

Posted May 12th, 2008 in court dress, judiciary, news by sally

“Last July the Lord Chief Justice announced reforms to simplify judicial court working dress in England and Wales. The changes, which include the introduction of a new civil gown, are due to come into effect on 1 October 2008. Fashion designer, Betty Jackson CBE, very generously worked on a pro-bono basis as the design consultant for the new gown.”

Full story

Judiciary of England and Wales, 12th May 2008

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Blasphemy laws are lifted – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 12th, 2008 in blasphemy, news by sally

“Britain’s ancient laws of blasphemy have been abolished by MPs.”

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Daily Telegraph, 10th May 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk