Abuse victims win historic ruling on compensation – The Independent

Posted February 5th, 2008 in damages, news, personal injuries, sexual offences, time limits by sally

“Two young women have won a key ruling in their legal battle to secure compensation from the man who sexually abused them when they were children. The case is the first to benefit from last week’s landmark House of Lords ruling against the man known as the ‘Lotto Rapist’.”

Full story

The Independent, 5th February 2008

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Ofcom approves sale of £20 billion-worth of new spectrum – OUT-LAW.com

Posted February 5th, 2008 in news, telecommunications by sally

“Up to £20 billion-worth of radio spectrum will be released on to the open markets because of a decision by Ofcom to allow public sector bodies including the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to trade or sell their allocated spectrum.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 4th February 2008

Source: www.out-law.com

Illegal bug uncovered in second UK prison – The Times

Posted February 5th, 2008 in interception, news, prisons, telecommunications by sally

“Bugging devices planted in a prison telephone were illegally used to record privileged conversations between an inmate and his solicitor, The Times has learnt.”

Full story

The Times, 5th February 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Recent Statutory Instruments – OPSI

Posted February 4th, 2008 in legislation by sally

THE CHILDCARE ACT 2006 (COMMENCEMENT NO.1) (WALES) ORDER 2008

The Judicial Pensions and Retirement Act 1993 (Addition of Qualifying Judicial Offices) Order 2008

The Immigration and Nationality (Fees)(Amendment) Order 2008

The Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 (Commencement No.2 and Savings) Order 2008

The Immigration and Nationality (Fees)(Amendment) Regulations 2008

The South Cambridgeshire (Electoral Changes) Order 2008

The Maidstone (Electoral Changes) Order 2008

The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (Codes of Practice) Order 2008

Source: www.opsi.gov.uk

Police win first round in court fight over pay – The Guardian

Posted February 4th, 2008 in news, police, remuneration by sally

“Police have been given permission to take the government to the high court for cutting their latest pay rise to 1.9%, instead of the 2.5% determined by an independent panel.”

Full story

The Guardina, 4th February 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Five men found guilty of helping 21/7 London bombers – The Guardian

Posted February 4th, 2008 in news, sentencing, terrorism by sally

“Five men, including the brothers of two of the failed July 21 London bombers, were today found guilty of helping them in the aftermath of the attacks.”

Full story

The Guardian, 4th February 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Borough to become first ‘private practice’ council – The Lawyer

Posted February 4th, 2008 in legal services, local government, news by sally

“A London borough is remodelling its legal services department to mirror that of a private sector law firm.”

Full story

The Lawyer, 4th February 2008

Source: www.thelawyer.com

College of Law threatens SRA with anti-diversity suit – The Lawyer

Posted February 4th, 2008 in competition, legal education, minorities, news by sally

“The Solicitors’ Regulation Authority (SRA) has been attacked for taking action that will undermine the diversity of the British legal profession.”

Full story

The Lawyer, 4th February 2008

Source: www.thelawyer.com

How to . . . improve your advocacy – The Times

Posted February 4th, 2008 in advocacy, special report by sally

“One of the country’s leading criminal defence lawyers, Jim Sturman, QC, shares his tips on how to hold a courtroom.”

Full story

The Times, 4th February 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Straw to make statement on ‘bugging’ of MP – The Guardian

Posted February 4th, 2008 in investigatory powers, news, parliament, terrorism by sally

“The justice secretary, Jack Straw, will make a Commons statement today about claims that a senior Muslim MP was bugged by police while meeting a constituent in prison.”

Full story

The Guardian, 4th February 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Alarmed MPs seek ways to police expenses system – The Times

Posted February 4th, 2008 in expenses, news, parliament by sally

“MPs will take the first steps this week towards a more open system for declaring expenses and registering staff.”

Full story

The Times, 4th February 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Curbs on foreign lawyers could hurt City firms in war for talent – The Times

Posted February 4th, 2008 in legal education, minorities, solicitors, special report by sally

“Hundreds of foreign lawyers who come to England every year to practise as solicitors face tough new curbs that law firms say will undermine London’s position in the global legal market.”

Full story

The Times, 4th February 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Gloucestershire County Council v Evans and others – WLR Daily

Posted February 4th, 2008 in costs, fees, law reports, solicitors by sally

Gloucestershire County Council v Evans and others: [2008] EWCA Civ 21; [2008] WLR (D) 25

“A conditional fee agreement which provided for payment of a basic rate of £95 per hour, with an enhancement first to £145 per hour as the basic charge on winning the case, and then to £290 per hour, in the event of success for risk element was not contrary s 58(4)(b) of the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990 and art 4 of the Conditional Fee Agreements Order 2000 and was therefore enforceable.”

WLR Daily, 1st February 2008

Source: www.lawreports.co.uk

Please note once a case has been fully reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.

The County Homesearch Co (Thames & Chilterns) Ltd v Cowham – WLR Daily

Posted February 4th, 2008 in agency, contracts, law reports, remuneration by sally

The County Homesearch Co (Thames & Chilterns) Ltd v Cowham [2008] EWCA Civ 26; [2008] WLR (D) 24

“As in the case of a seller’s agent, where the remuneration of a property buyer’s agent was a commission on exchange of contracts, then unless the agency contract indicated otherwise, a term was to be implied that he was not entitled to such commission unless his services were the effective cause of the transaction brought about. However, no such term was to be implied in the present case as it would be inconsistent with the express terms of the contract between the buyer’s agent and the buyer.”

WLR Daily, 1st February 2008

Source: www.lawreports.co.uk

Please note once a case has been fully reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.

Boss Holdings Ltd v Grosvenor West End Properties and Another – Times Law Reports

Posted February 4th, 2008 in landlord & tenant, law reports by sally

Boss Holdings Ltd v Grosvenor West End Properties and Another

House of Lords

“A property was a house, which a leaseholder was entitled to acquire, if it had been designed for living in when it was first built and the structure remained substantially the same, even if it had subsequently become internally dilapidated and incapable of beneficial occupation.”

The Times, 4th February 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Please note the Times Law Reports are only available free on Times Online for 21 days from the date of publication.

Saadi v United Kingdom – Times Law Reports

Posted February 4th, 2008 in asylum, detention, human rights, reasons by sally

Saadi v United Kingdom (Application No 13229/03)

European Court of Human Rights

“A delay of 76 hours in providing reasons for the detention of an asylum seeker was not compatible with article 5.2 of the European Convention on Human Rights that such reasons should be given promptly.”

The Times, 4th February 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Please note the Times Law Reports are only available free on Times Online for 21 days from the date of publication.

Call for male forced wedding help – BBC News

Posted February 4th, 2008 in forced marriages, news by sally

“The government has agreed to look into funding the UK’s first male-only refuge for victims of forced marriage.”

Full story

BBC News, 2nd February 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Whitehall draws up new rules on language of terror – The Guardian

Posted February 4th, 2008 in Islam, news, terrorism by sally

“A new counter-terrorism phrasebook has been drawn up within Whitehall to advise civil servants on how to talk to Muslim communities about the nature of the terror threat without implying they are specifically to blame.”

Full story

The Guardian, 4th February 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

ID ban lifted on child porn man – BBC News

Posted February 4th, 2008 in children, news, pornography, reporting restrictions by sally

“A man convicted of child pornography offences can be named, the Court of Appeal has ruled.”

Full story

BBC News, 1st February 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Crime gangs ‘exploit change in cannabis law’ – Daily Telegraph

Posted February 4th, 2008 in drug offences, news by sally

“Relaxation of the law on cannabis has fuelled organised crime in the UK, police chiefs will tell an inquiry panel this week.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 3rd February 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk