Law Society takes on Solicitors from Hell website – BBC News
“A website which claims to name and shame under-performing lawyers is facing legal action from the Law Society for alleged defamation.”
BBC News, 21st July 2011
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Day: 21 July 2011
Former MP jailed for expenses fraud made second highest claims last year – The Guardian
“A former MP jailed for expenses fraud claimed the second highest amount of parliamentary allowances last year, records have revealed.”
The Guardian, 21st July 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
South Lakeland Council wins legal bid to ‘take’ home – BBC News
“A Cumbrian council has won a legal bid to take over a private, empty home and rent it out to a homeless family.”
BBC News, 21st July 2011
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Is the law being misused to undermine peaceful protest? – The Guardian
“The CPS may have dropped charges against 109 Fortnum and Mason protesters; but why are some still facing prosecution?”
Full story
The Guardian, 21st July 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Unduly Lenient Sentences examined in 2010 – Attorney General’s Office
“The Attorney General’s Office has today released figures on Unduly Lenient Sentence cases referred to the Court of Appeal in 2010. Seventy-seven sentences were referred by the Law Officers. The Court considered 65 of them were unduly lenient (84%) and 60 sentences were increased (78% of the 77 referred).”
Attorney General’s Office, 21st July 2011
Source: www.attorneygeneral.gov.uk
Supreme Court extends employment rights to Government-employed teachers working abroad – OUT-LAW.com
“Teachers working for the UK Government in European Schools should have the same protections from unfair dismissal as those working in the UK, the Supreme Court has ruled.”
OUT-LAW.com, 21st July 2011
Source: www.out-law.com
The essay-writing firm reaching out to graduate lawyers – The Guardian
“Paid-for help with application forms, cover letters and interview coaching inhabits grey area between training and cheating.”
The Guardian, 21st July 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Nottingham pig’s head mosque race abuse man sentenced – BBC News
“A man who was involved in placing a pig’s head on a pole outside the possible site of a mosque in Nottingham has been given a suspended sentence.”
BBC News, 21st July 2011
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Shrien Dewani extradition: Anni’s family seeks ‘closure’ as hearing ends – The Guardian
“The family of Anni Dewani, who was murdered on her honeymoon in South Africa, told how they wanted ‘closure’ as extradition proceedings against her husband, Shrien, drew to a conclusion.”
The Guardian, 21st July 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Go-ahead for Mau Mau torture case – The Independent
“Four elderly Kenyans were give the go-ahead at the High Court today to sue the British government over alleged colonial atrocities committed during the Mau Mau uprising.”
The Independent, 21st July 2011
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Police force published sensitive personal data on its website, data protection watchdog says – OUT-LAW.com
“A UK police force that published a complaint it had received which included sensitive personal data was in breach of data protection laws, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has said.”
OUT-LAW.com, 21st July 2011
Source: www.out-law.com
BAILII: Recent Decisions
Supreme Court
Smith, R. v [2011] UKSC 37 (20 July 2011)
Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)
Barkshire & Ors v R. [2011] EWCA Crim B3 (20 July 2011)
Hewgill & Ors, R v [2011] EWCA Crim 1778 (20 July 2011)
Court of Appeal (Civil Division)
Interactive Investor Trading Ltd v City Index Ltd [2011] EWCA Civ 837 (20 July 2011)
AQ (Pakistan) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2011] EWCA Civ 833 (20 July 2011)
Drake v Harvey & Ors [2011] EWCA Civ 838 (20 July 2011)
Burridge & Anor v MPH Soccer Management Ltd & Ors [2011] EWCA Civ 835 (20 July 2011)
Haq v Island Homes Housing Association & Anor [2011] EWCA Civ 805 (20 July 2011)
BSS Group Plc v Makers (UK) Ltd (t/a Allied Services) [2011] EWCA Civ 809 (20 July 2011)
Derwent Holdings Ltd v Trafford Borough Council & Ors [2011] EWCA Civ 832 (20 July 2011)
High Court (Commercial Court)
R G Grain Trade Llp (UK) v Feed Factors International Ltd [2011] EWHC 1889 (Comm) (20 July 2011)
Source: www.bailii.org
Recent Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk
The Social Care Charges (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) Regulations 2011
The Cancellation of Student Loans for Living Costs Liability (Wales) Regulations 2011
The International Monetary Fund (Increase in Subscription) Order 2011
The Betting and Gaming Duties Act 1981 (Amendment) Order 2011
The Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 (Commencement No.2) Order 2011
The Supreme Court Fees (Amendment) Order 2011
The Co-operation in Public Protection Arrangements (UK Border Agency) Order 2011
The Charities Act 2006 (Changes in Exempt Charities) Order 2011
The Charities Act 2006 (Commencement No. 8, Transitional Provisions and Savings) Order 2011
The European Communities (Designation) Order 2011
The Consular Fees (Amendment) Order 2011
The Turks and Caicos Islands Constitution Order 2011
Source: www.legislation.gov.uk
Domestic violence rules ‘boost cost of disputes’ – Law Society’s Gazette
“Family lawyers have attacked the government’s plans to deny legal aid to domestic violence victims who accept ‘undertakings’ from an allegedly abusive partner.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 21st July 2011
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Education without walls – Legal Week
“The new media age has created a generation of law students well versed in digital communication and technologies. A host of social media tools and free-to-use communication platforms have become second nature to the lawyers of tomorrow. As legal practice becomes increasingly globalised and law firms explore the cost-effective and collaborative benefits of virtual technologies, how should legal education keep pace?”
Legal Week, 21st July 2011
Source: www.legalweek.com
Newspapers pay high price for ‘accidental’ contempt of court – The Guardian
“How much does it cost a newspaper to commit an ‘accidental’ contempt of court on its website? The answer from the high court on Tuesday – a good day to bury bad media news, one might think – is £15,000, plus nearly the same again in prosecution legal fees.”
The Guardian, 20th July 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Lord Hanningfield loses appeal against expenses conviction – The Guardian
“A former Tory peer jailed after being found guilty of fiddling his parliamentary expenses has lost an appeal against his conviction.”
Full story
The Guardian, 20th July 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
The Localism Bill divides opinion – Law Society’s Gazette
“At a time when many lawyers are grappling with the implications of the new Bribery Act, the Localism Bill’s passage through parliament has received relatively little attention. This despite the array of legislative changes that are contained within its three slim volumes.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 21st July 2011
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Trafficked girl’s carer in court fight for access to children’s services – The Guardian
“A girl who spent her childhood imprisoned in a brothel before being trafficked into the UK for sexual exploitation should not be treated as an adult, her lawyer argued on Wednesday.”
The Guardian, 20th July 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Defamation lawyer: abuse victims need CFAs – Law Society’s Gazette
“A leading defamation lawyer has called for conditional fee agreements to be preserved to help victims of press abuse.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 21st July 2011
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
