Day: 1 December 2015

Appeal judges back legal aid residence test – Legal Voice

Posted December 1st, 2015 in appeals, civil justice, domicile, human rights, legal aid, news, ultra vires by tracey

‘The Court of Appeal has unanimously ruled that the government’s proposed residence test for civil legal aid is lawful, overturning a judgment by the High Court last year which found the measure to be discriminatory and unlawful. The test, if implemented, will restrict public funding for legal representation in civil cases to individuals who can prove that they are lawfully resident in the UK and have been so for a 12 month period at some time in the past.’

Full story

Legal Voice, 1st December 2015

Source: www.legalvoice.org.uk

Resolving disputes over arbitration jurisdiction ‘good case management’ by English courts, experts say – OUT-LAW.com

Posted December 1st, 2015 in appeals, case management, dispute resolution, international courts, jurisdiction, news, tribunals by tracey

‘By stepping in to resolve a dispute over the tribunal’s jurisdiction rather than leave the question to the tribunal, the English courts have in fact reinforced their commitment to support this form of dispute resolution.’

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 1st December 2015

Source: www.out-law.com

What’s all the fuss about the Lord’s prayer? Emma Fenelon – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted December 1st, 2015 in advertising, Church of England, equality, freedom of expression, news by tracey

‘“I find your lack of faith disturbing” (Darth Vader). Digital Cinema Media (DCM), the media agency that supplies adverts to 80% of UK cinemas caused consternation last week when it announced its refusal to show a 60-second advert by the Church of England encouraging people to pray. The ad would have been guaranteed a sizable audience had it been permitted to air as planned before the upcoming Star Wars: the Force Awakens, advance ticket sales for which have broken all known records.’

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 1st December 2015

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Ministers eye making legal regulators independent from professional bodies – Local Government Lawyer

Posted December 1st, 2015 in barristers, consultations, legal profession, news, solicitors by tracey

‘The Government will consult by Spring 2016 on making legal services regulators independent from their representative bodies, ministers have said. The Treasury and the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills said in a 25-page paper, A better deal: boosting competition to bring down bills for families and firms, said the consultation would also cover the removal of barriers so that it becomes easier for alternative business structures, such as supermarkets and estate agents, to offer legal services like conveyancing, probate and litigation in England and Wales.’

Full story

Full paper

Local Government Lawyer, 30th November 2015

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

LSB joins solicitors in questioning government’s criminal advocacy plans – Legal Futures

Posted December 1st, 2015 in advocacy, consultations, criminal justice, Legal Services Board, news, solicitors by tracey

‘The Legal Services Board (LSB) has joined solicitors in questioning government plans to introduce additional regulation of criminal advocacy.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 1st December 2015

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Profession set on collision course with government over independent regulation – Legal Futures

Posted December 1st, 2015 in legal profession, legal services, news, solicitors, Solicitors Regulation Authority by tracey

‘The government should return regulation to the legal profession’s representative bodies, rather than introduce full separation, the Law Society has said in response to yesterday’s surprise announcement from the Treasury that separation is now on the cards.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 1st December 2015

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Four defendants, including a senior NHS manager, convicted of defrauding or conspiring to defraud the NHS of over £3m – Crown Prosecution Service

Posted December 1st, 2015 in fraud, health, money laundering, press releases by tracey

‘Four defendants have been convicted at Leeds Crown Court of money laundering and fraud offences. The main defendant, Neil Wood, was a senior manager within NHS England, responsible for assessing and providing training for NHS managers. The other defendants were friends, associates and family members of Mr Wood.’

Full press release

Crown Prosecution Service, 27th November 2015

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Bar regulator announces important developments in the 2016 Bar Professional Training Course – Bar Standards Board

Posted December 1st, 2015 in barristers, examinations, legal education, press releases, universities by tracey

‘The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has three announcements to make about the BPTC today. First, today the regulator is publishing statistics about students and providers of the BPTC. Second, there will be changes to the formats of the centralised assessments. Third, the Bar Course Aptitude Test (BCAT), which is an entry requirement, will be deferred until at least March 2016, pending completion of a review.’

Full press release

Bar Standards Board, 1st December 2015

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Bar Council urges outright ban on all inducements beyond ‘kickbacks’ – The Bar Council

Posted December 1st, 2015 in advocacy, barristers, consultations, fees, press releases by tracey

‘The Bar Council has urged all inducements, not just referral fees, between advocates and litigators be outlawed in its response to the Ministry of Justice’s consultation Preserving and Enhancing the Quality of Criminal Advocacy.’

Full press release

The Bar Council, 27th November 2015

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Peter Hook sues New Order, claiming they ‘pillaged’ the group’s name – The Guardian

Posted December 1st, 2015 in artistic works, intellectual property, news by tracey

‘Peter Hook is suing his New Order ex-bandmates for “many millions of pounds” in the high court, accusing them of secretly “pillaging” the group’s name and starving him of cash.’

Full story

The Guardian, 30th November 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Law firm takes over investigation into Tory party bullying claims – The Guardian

Posted December 1st, 2015 in bullying, law firms, news, political parties by tracey

‘Inquiry into allegations will be conducted ‘in its entirety’ by Clifford Chance as Lord Feldman agrees to distance himself from investigation.’

Full story

The Guardian, 30th November 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Love-struck 78-year-old stole £160k from his mistress to lavish on Swedish aspiring celebrity (who’s 27) – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 1st, 2015 in news, theft by tracey

‘A 78-year-old former Rotary Club president duped his lover out of £160,000 so he could fund the aspiring singing career of his 27-year-old mistress. Retired surveyor Peter Rex Lawrence left 80-year-old Sheila Losack, a retired civil servant with whom he enjoyed a 20 year extra-marital relationship, in financial ruin after plundering her savings to send to his new love interest.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 30th November 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Police officers who stole £10,000 from drugs raid seizure are jailed – The Guardian

Posted December 1st, 2015 in corruption, news, police, sentencing, theft by tracey

‘Two police detectives have been jailed for stealing at least £10,000 in cash that was seized during a raid on a suspected drug dealer.’

Full story

The Guardian, 30th November 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Wales switches to organ donation opt-out – The Guardian

Posted December 1st, 2015 in consent, health, news, organ transplants, Wales by tracey

‘Consent for organ donation switches from opt-in to “soft opt-out” in Wales from Tuesday. The Labour-led Welsh government claims the law change could lead to a 25% increase in the number of organs available.’

Full story

The Guardian, 1st December 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe may be moved to a normal jail – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 1st, 2015 in mental health, news, prisons, violent offenders by tracey

‘Peter Sutcliffe is not mentally ill and should be moved out of psychiatric hospital, doctors claim.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 30th November 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Cloud storage providers to face investigation by regulators – BBC News

Posted December 1st, 2015 in competition, complaints, consumer protection, internet, news by tracey

‘An investigation is to be launched into whether internet users are being charged unfairly when they use cloud storage services. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said some providers may be breaching consumer laws.’

Full story

BBC News, 1st December 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk