Law firm fails in summary judgment bid over negligence claim – Legal Futures

‘A law firm being sued for more than £2m over a failure to advise properly has failed in its bid for summary judgment over several of the allegations made against it.’

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Legal Futures, 13th June 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Barristers to be balloted on possible walkouts in row over legal aid rates – The Guardian

‘Barristers are to be balloted this weekend on escalating industrial action over legal aid rates as figures reveal the number of crown court cases adjourned because of a shortage of lawyers has increased nearly fivefold over the decade.’

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The Guardian, 11th June 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Regulators must tackle “out-of-date” lawyers, LSB says – Legal Futures

‘Legal regulators must take action to ensure that lawyers are not operating with “out-of-date” skills or knowledge, the Legal Services Board (LSB) has said.’

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Legal Futures, 10th June 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Judge calls for guidance on rights of unqualified agency advocates – Legal Futures

Posted June 10th, 2022 in advocacy, barristers, county courts, law firms, news, solicitors by sally

‘County court judges would benefit from “more authoritative guidance” from the higher courts on whether unqualified solicitor’s agents have rights of audience, a circuit judge has said.’

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Legal Futures, 10th June 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

QC suspended over failure to disclose key evidence to defence – Legal Research

‘A very senior criminal law QC has been suspended for a year over a decision not to disclose surveillance evidence which ultimately led to a conviction being overturned on appeal.’

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Legal Research, 8th June 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Tribunals agree to “deterrent” sanctions for sexual and racial misconduct – Legal Futures

‘The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) and Bar Tribunals and Adjudication Service (BTAS) have agreed to impose “deterrent” sanctions for sexual and racial misconduct and other forms of discrimination, bullying or harassment.’

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Legal Futures, 7 June 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

The Specialist Commercial Bar & Black Inclusion – First Steps – The Chancery Bar Association

Posted May 23rd, 2022 in barristers, diversity, equality, news by sally

‘The Equality and Diversity Sub-Committees of COMBAR, ChBA and Tecbar (the “SBAs”) are delighted to issue the report “The Specialist Commercial Bar & Black Inclusion – First Steps” (“the Report”) for consideration by members and member sets.’

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The Chancery Bar Association, April 2022

Source: www.chba.org.uk

Landlord loses court battle with local authority over costs agreement reached by his counsel – Local Government Lawyer

‘A cost agreement cannot be undone simply because one party claimed to have stopped instructing the barrister concerned.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 19th May 2022

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

R v Daniels: returning instructions – Doughty Street Chambers

Posted May 18th, 2022 in appeals, barristers, chambers articles, legal representation, news by sally

‘Professionally embarrassed? The circumstances in which criminal barristers may return instructions to appear at trial have become clearer following the Court of Appeal judgment in R v Daniels.’

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Doughty Street Chambers, 10th May 2022

Source: insights.doughtystreet.co.uk

Barrister given green light to pursue outstanding fees claim – Legal Futures

Posted May 16th, 2022 in barristers, fees, jurisdiction, law firms, news by tracey

‘The High Court has rejected an Italian law firm’s bid to stay a barrister’s claim for outstanding fees because of an action it took against him in its home country.’

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Legal Futures, 16th May 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Barrister stresses importance of PACE and good practice after successfully defending pub landlord charged with Covid -19 rules breach – Local Government Lawyer

‘A barrister who successfully defended a pub landlord accused of failing to close his pub during tier 4 lockdown in February 2021 has claimed the case should serve “as a reminder that even in extraordinary circumstances, the rules of PACE and good practice ought not to be forgotten”.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 10th May 2022

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Judge tells regulators to use summary processes against vexatious litigants – Legal Futures

‘Legal regulators need to have summary processes in place to deal with vexatious litigants who use their procedures to continue a “proxy war” against lawyers, a High Court judge has said.’

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Legal Futures, 10th May 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

LiP loses costs challenge over ‘no longer instructed’ barrister – Law Society’s Gazette

‘A litigant who tried to argue that his costs order was agreed by a barrister who was no longer instructed has lost a court challenge.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 9th May 2022

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Litigant banned over ‘unjustified’ complaints to regulators – Law Society’s Gazette

‘A former nurse who made “wholly inappropriate and unjustified allegations of wrongdoing” against lawyers has been banned from bringing proceedings for two years by a High Court judge, who said regulators must be “astute in identifying litigants who abusively use [the] regulatory process”.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 6th May 2022

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Minister: Reforms “not exactly” what criminal legal aid review said – Legal Futures

Posted April 28th, 2022 in barristers, criminal justice, fees, legal aid, news, solicitors by sally

‘Justice minister James Cartlidge has admitted to MPs that the government’s response to an independent review of criminal legal aid was “not exactly” what its author, Sir Christopher Bellamy, proposed.’

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Legal Futures, 28th April 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Case Comment: Her Majesty’s Attorney General v Crosland [2021] UKSC 58 – UKSC Blog

‘Mr Crosland appealed against a decision of the Supreme Court in which he was ordered to pay a fine of £5,000 to HM Paymaster General, and costs of a further £15,000, for contempt of court. The court at first instance (“First Instance Panel”) was satisfied that Mr Crosland committed contempt of court by disclosing the outcome of the court’s judgment in R (on the application of Friends of the Earth) v Heathrow Airport Ltd [2020] UKSC 52 (“Heathrow Judgment”) whilst still in draft and subject to embargo.’

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UKSC Blog, 26th April 2022

Source: ukscblog.com

Bar Standards Board clears barrister over Hillsborough remarks – The Guardian

‘A senior barrister who repeated discredited police allegations about the behaviour of Liverpool supporters at the Hillsborough disaster has been cleared of misconduct by his profession’s Bar Standards Board (BSB).’

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The Guardian, 25th April 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

“Ground down” veteran barrister fined for direct access offences – Legal Futures

‘A veteran barrister has been fined £4,250 by a Bar disciplinary tribunal for carrying out litigation without authorisation and handling client money on behalf of a direct access client.’

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Legal Futures, 26th April 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

High Court throws out negligence claim over MMR vaccine advice – Legal Futures

‘The potential negligence of a QC and high-profile law firm to advise a client on limitation was irrelevant as the underlying claim would not have succeeded anyway, the High Court has ruled.’

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Legal Futures, 25th April 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Bringing [Dis]Ability to the Bar – Counsel

Posted April 19th, 2022 in barristers, disabled persons, news by sally

‘Mary Prior QC profiles the founders of BDABar, Konstantina Nouka and James Ekin, who are determined to improve accessibility, support and inclusivity at the Bar, and dismantle the barriers that disabled aspiring barristers face.’

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Counsel, April 2022

Source: www.counselmagazine.co.uk