LSB sparks fresh independence row with call for regulators to have lay chairs – Legal Futures

“The frontline regulators need lay chairs at the helm so as to cut the ‘overly strong ties’ that still exist with their branches of the profession and have held back change, the Legal Services Board (LSB) said yesterday.”

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Legal Futures, 9th October 2013

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Anthony Bradley: A Review of Jack Straw’s Hamlyn Lectures: Aspects of Law Reform: An Insider’s Perspective – UK Constitutional Law Group

“As the lecturer disarmingly tells us at the outset of the Hamlyn Lectures for 2012, the illustrious procession of Hamlyn lecturers since 1949 (Lord Denning) through to 2011 (Jeremy Waldron) has ‘without exception’ comprised ‘lawyers distinguished by their practice, their academic study or both’. Jack Straw is an exception. Since an LLB at Leeds and two years at the criminal bar, he has made his career in politics – holding glittering ministerial office, throughout the Blair-Brown years, as Home Secretary, Foreign Secretary, leader of the Commons, and Lord Chancellor.”

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UK Constitutional Law Group, 7th October 2013

Source: www.ukconstitutionallaw.org

Justice: Closing Down Sale – everyone must go! – LegalVoice

Posted October 3rd, 2013 in criminal justice, legal aid, legal profession, news by sally

“More than 400 defence lawyers packed into Camden Town Hall last night to discuss the next steps to fight the Ministry of Justice’s Transforming Legal Aid proposals, reports Gemma Blythe. The Justice: Closing down sale meeting (organised by the London Criminal Courts Solicitors Association) featured speakers including Greg Powell, past president of the LCCSA; Des Hudson, chief executive of the Law Society; Bill Waddington, chair of the Criminal Law Solicitors Association; Nigel Lithman QC of the Criminal Bar Association; and Carol Storer OBE, director of the Legal Aid Practitioners Group.”

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LegalVoice, 2nd October 2013

Source: www.legalvoice.org.uk

Solicitors and consumers split over widening ombudsman’s remit to unregulated providers – Legal Futures

Posted October 3rd, 2013 in dispute resolution, Law Society, legal ombudsman, legal profession, news by sally

“Solicitors and consumer representatives have come out on opposite sides of the Legal Ombudsman’s (LeO) proposal to extend its remit to the estimated 130,000 unregulated legal services providers operating in England and Wales.”

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Legal Futures, 2nd October 2013

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Less money, less justice? – LegalVoice

Posted September 26th, 2013 in criminal justice, law firms, legal aid, legal profession, news, remuneration by sally

“Blaming over-zealous police or irresponsible prosecutors for miscarriages of justice makes for a simple and straightforward narrative, writes Daniel Newman. As with most things, though, the reality is more complicated, and defence lawyers may also have a role to play. This being the case, the neat binary opposition we so rely on in criminal justice is somewhat obscured.”

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LegalVoice, 26th September 2013

Source: www.legalvoice.org.uk

Bar Council calls for new approach to regulation publishing alternative model – The Bar Council

Posted September 17th, 2013 in barristers, legal profession, legal services, Legal Services Board, news by sally

“The Bar Council, which represents barristers in England and Wales, has today responded to the Ministry of Justice’s call for evidence on the legal services statutory framework and called for a new approach to regulation, rejecting the current arrangements and the call for a single, ‘super regulator’. It proposes a new model which would replace the Legal Services Board (LSB) with a College of Regulators and re-balance regulation of the profession.”

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The Bar Council, 17th September 2013

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

The Erskine example – New Law Journal

Posted September 17th, 2013 in advocacy, legal history, legal profession, news by sally

“Do we need great advocates, asks Geoffrey Bindman QC.”

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New Law Journal, 6th September 2013

Source: www.newlawjournal.co.uk

Two-tier bar will emerge from spending cuts, warn leading silks – The Lawyer

Posted September 17th, 2013 in barristers, legal aid, legal profession, news by sally

“A two-tier bar will emerge as a result of public sector sector spending cuts, with top level commercial sets breaking away from the mid-tier in the civil sector, leading barristers warn today.”

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The Lawyer, 16th September 2013

Source: www.thelawyer.com

Liverpool court clerk jailed for driving licence scam – BBC News

“A court clerk from Liverpool who helped more than 70 motorists falsify their
driving records and escape bans has been jailed for six years.”

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BBC News, 13th September 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Tear up Legal Services Act and start again, says LSB – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted September 10th, 2013 in legal profession, legal services, Legal Services Board, legislation, news by tracey

“The Legal Services Board wants to set in motion plans for a single, independent regulator that will cover the entire legal profession.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 10th September 2013

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Ready to study UK law? – OUP Blog

Posted August 28th, 2013 in legal education, legal profession, news by sally

“Are you one of the 17,000 students about to embark on a law course in the UK? Why not get your teeth stuck into our quiz to find out how clued up you are before you start at university? We have so many preconceptions about the law from what we see on the TV and through films — but how much do you really know?”

Quiz

OUP Blog, 26th August 2013

Source: www.blog.oup.com

Are Britain’s barristers living on borrowed time? – Daily Telegraph

“It’s a profession that’s been associated with glamour, intrigue and financial gain. But imminent changes to our legal system have criminal lawyers fearing for their livelihoods. Why? And who stands to lose the most? Julia Llewellyn Smith reports.”

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Daily Telegraph, 20th August 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Law graduates flock to paralegal roles – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted August 12th, 2013 in law firms, legal education, legal profession, news, paralegals by sally

“Law firms are receiving up to 100 applications for every paralegal vacancy as graduates become desperate for work and firms seek out lower staff costs.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 12th August 2013

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Solicitors, giving independent advice, and exposure to claims for negligence incurred thereby – Sovereign Chambers

Posted July 31st, 2013 in duty of care, legal profession, negligence, news, solicitors, undue influence by sally

“The long running case of Padden v Bevan Ashford [2013] EWCA Civ 824 has reached its dénouement. It is a case not without its human interest, and legally it illustrates important points of practice and principle which arise when a solicitor is instructed to give independent advice on what may well be an improvident transaction, as well, perhaps, on the vagaries of some county court judges. It has involved two county court trials, including a retrial after one county court judge decided that the defendants had no case to answer, and that to ‘foist’ a duty to give ‘full’ advice on a solicitor who simply agreed to see someone who had come in off the street was ‘an absurdity’. To the concern of many solicitors, but quite correctly, both the subsequent judge upon a re-trial the Court of Appeal (twice) decided that the case was anything but absurd. In the end, the solicitors were liable.”

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Sovereign Chambers, 30th July 2013

Source: www.sovereignchambers.co.uk

Ten things I wish I’d known before becoming a law student – The Guardian

Posted July 31st, 2013 in legal education, legal profession, news, universities by sally

“When choosing my degree, I was young, naive and full of false expectations. Here’s what I’ve learnt.”

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The Guardian, 25th July 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Guidelines needed to help lawyers provide a better service to people with learning disabilities

“A lack of experience in dealing with people with learning disabilities means lawyers often struggle to provide this vulnerable client group with the specialist support they need, according to new research published today.”

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Legal Services Board, 29th July 2013

Source: www.legalservicesboard.org.uk

A work in progress – New Law Journal

“Jon Robins turns the spotlight on the conclusions & recommendations of the long awaited LETR.”

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New Law Journal, 19th July 2013

Source: www.newlawjournal.co.uk

Legal professional privilege will apply under new criminal cartel ‘whistleblowing’ regime – OUT-LAW.com

“Businesses that wish to report their involvement in cartel operations in order to benefit from the leniency of the UK’s competition regulator will not be obliged to waive their rights to legal professional privilege (LPP).”

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OUT-LAW.com, 9th July 2013

Source: www.out-law.com

New rules to protect customers from rogue claims firms – Ministry of Justice

“Customers taking on the services of claims management companies (CMCs) will be better protected as tough new rules come into effect.”

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Ministry of Justice, 8th July 2013

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

Now is the time for a total review – The Bar Council

“Barristers are such an easy target. Trite sneers are instantly available to the disappointed litigant, failed pupil or populist politician. We are ‘fat cats’ sitting in ‘Georgian terraces’ bleating about the ‘racket’ coming to an end. The natural response of the practitioner to these comments is anger and frustration.”

Full story (PDF)

The Bar Council, July 2013

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk