Transforming Our Courts and Tribunals System: By the Lord Chancellor, the Lord Chief Justice and Senior President of Tribunals – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted September 16th, 2016 in civil justice, consultations, courts, criminal justice, reports, tribunals by tracey

‘Our justice system is the envy of the world. We have an outstanding independent judiciary that is widely admired as an international leader. Our lawyers have a global – and deserved – reputation for excellence. And we have a legal services industry that contributes billions of pounds every year to the UK economy.’

Full report

Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 15th September 2016

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Bar Council responds to the Joint Statement, Transforming our Justice System – The Bar Council

Posted September 16th, 2016 in barristers, consultations, courts, criminal justice, news, witnesses by tracey

‘Chairman of the Bar, Chantal-Aimée Doerries QC, commented on today’s Joint Statement from the Ministry of Justice, Lord Chief Justice and Senior President of Tribunals, Transforming our Justice System’

Full story

The Bar Council, 15th September 2016

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Transforming justice: judges face pay and expenses curbs – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted September 16th, 2016 in consultations, diversity, expenses, judiciary, news, remuneration by tracey

‘Thousands of judges are facing radical changes to their pay and working conditions, including expenses curbs and a new obligation to give up to a year’s notice when they want to quit.’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 15th September 2016

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Courts reform gives stronger protection for victims and witnesses – Ministry of Justice

‘Vulnerable victims and witnesses will no longer have to appear in court under new plans to roll out pre-trial evidence sessions.’

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 15th September 2016

Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice

Bar regulator launches survey on the future of legal services delivery – Bar Standards Board

Posted September 9th, 2016 in barristers, consultations, legal services, press releases by tracey

‘The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has launched an online survey into how legal services are being delivered by barristers.’

Full survey

Bar Standards Board, 8th September 2016

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Reforming the offence of misconduct in public office – Law Commission

‘The law that governs misconduct in public office is unclear, ambiguous and in need of reform, according to the Law Commission, independent law reform adviser to the Government.’

Full story

Law Commission, 5th September 2016

Source: www.lawcom.gov.uk

Law Commission consults on reform to law on misconduct in public office – Local Government Lawyer

‘The law on misconduct in public office is “unclear, ambiguous and in need of reform”, the Law Commission has said, issuing a consultation paper on a new statutory offence.’

Full story

Local Government Lawyer, 5th September 2016

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Bar Council raises fundamental concerns about CPD scheme shortly before launch – Legal Futures

Posted September 6th, 2016 in barristers, consultations, continuing professional development, news by sally

‘The Bar Council has slammed the Bar Standards Board’s (BSB) forthcoming continuing professional development (CPD) regime as being burdensome, complicated, unfit for purpose, and involving “pointless” self-assessment.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 6th September 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Consultation on mandatory reporting of child abuse ‘has been buried’ – The Guardian

Posted September 5th, 2016 in child abuse, consultations, news, notification by sally

‘The Home Office has been accused of burying a long-awaited consultation that could recommend that people who work with children should be forced to report concerns of child abuse.’

Full story

The Guardian, 4th September 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Campaigners bring in lawyers in bid to stop closure of A&E department – Local Government Lawyer

Posted August 31st, 2016 in consultations, hospitals, local government, news by sally

‘Law firm Leigh Day is representing the SOS Grantham Hospital campaign group in its bid to try to prevent the partial closure of its A&E department by United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust (ULHT).’

Full story

Local Government Lawyer, 30th August 2016

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Finally – insurers get it in the neck for not passing on whiplash savings – Legal Futures

‘The insurance industry had a taste of its own PR medicine over the weekend after The Times accused insurers of “cheating motorists” by not passing on whiplash savings.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 30th August 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

High Court quashes school closure decision over consultation flaws – Local Government Lawyer

Posted August 18th, 2016 in consultations, education, local government, news, Wales by tracey

‘Denbighshire County Council mishandled its consultation on closing a Welsh language school, the High Court has found.’

Full story

Local Government Lawyer, 17th August 2016

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Proposal to fine tax avoidance enablers lacks teeth, campaigners say – The Guardian

Posted August 18th, 2016 in banking, consultations, fines, law firms, news, tax avoidance by tracey

‘Government proposals to impose heavy fines on banks, accountants and lawyers who market tax avoidance schemes will fail without more resources for HM Revenue & Customs to pursue offenders, campaigners have said.’

Full story

The Guardian, 17th August 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Tax avoidance enablers to face tough new penalties – HM Revenue and Customs

Posted August 18th, 2016 in accountants, consultations, fines, penalties, press releases, tax avoidance by tracey

‘Accountants, tax planners and advisers who provide advice on how to avoid tax will face tough penalties under new proposals being consulted on by the government, Financial Secretary to the Treasury Jane Ellison announced today.’

Full press release

HM Revenue and Customs, 17th August 2016

Source: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-revenue-customs

Firms giving advice on aggressive tax avoidance could face large fines – The Guardian

Posted August 17th, 2016 in accountants, consultations, fines, news, tax avoidance by sally

‘Accountants, lawyers and consultants whose multibillion pound industry provides advice on how to aggressively avoid tax could face large financial penalties under government proposals.’

Full story

The Guardian, 17th August 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Offline conveyancers could face stamp duty penalties – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Solicitors could face penalties for not filing stamp duty returns online, under proposed government reforms to the conveyancing process.’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 15th August 2016

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Serious Fraud Office starts Airbus inquiry – The Guardian

Posted August 8th, 2016 in aircraft, airlines, bribery, consultations, corruption, fraud, inquiries, news by sally

‘The UK’s Serious Fraud Office has confirmed that it has opened a criminal investigation into allegations of fraud, bribery and corruption in the commercial airline business of Airbus, the defence and aviation firm. The investigation into potential criminal dealings in the sale of commercial planes was launched in July but revealed at the weekend by the European manufacturer.’

Full story

The Guardian, 7th August 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Strengthen rules on premium rate texts, says regulator – BBC News

‘Rules should be strengthened to avoid mobile users being hit by unexpected charges on premium rate texts, a regulator has said.’

Full story

BBC News, 5th August 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

London 2011 riots: Stop and search change ‘led to knife crime’ – BBC News

‘It is “highly likely” a drop in police stop and search usage has led to a rise in knife crime, a member of the panel which advised the government following the 2011 riots has said.’

Full story

BBC News, 4th August 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Hate crime guidance for prosecutors to deal with social media – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Social media communications will be the subject of new guidance issued to prosecutors as part of the government’s action plan to tackle hate crime following an increase in the number of incidents.’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 26th July 2016

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk