Ken Clarke’s weekend court plans in tatters as lawyers object – Daily Telegraph

Posted August 28th, 2012 in courts, legal profession, news, pilot schemes by sally

“The Coalition’s plans to speed up the courts system are in tatters as lawyers   across the country refuse to sit at weekends.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 28th August 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Bar Council Calls for ‘Snoopers’ Charter’ to Protect Legal Communications – The Bar Council

Posted August 23rd, 2012 in bills, electronic mail, interception, legal profession, news, privacy by sally

“The Bar Council, which represents barristers in England and Wales, has urged the Committee considering the draft Communications Data Bill to recommend protection for legal communications before any new interception powers are granted.”

Full story

The Bar Council, 22nd August 2012

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Moors murderer Ian Brady’s legal advocate arrested – The Guardian

“The legal advocate of the Moors murderer Ian Brady has been arrested for allegedly failing to reveal where the body of Keith Bennett, one of Brady and Myra Hindley’s five young victims, is buried.”

Full story

The Guardian, 17th August 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Judiciary silenced out of court – The Guardian

Posted August 15th, 2012 in internet, judiciary, legal profession, magistrates, news by sally

“Judges and magistrates have been banned from blogging about their jobs. This is not helpful.”

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The Guardian, 14th August 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

LSB sets the complaint handling agenda – Legal Service Board

Posted July 30th, 2012 in complaints, consumer protection, legal profession, news by sally

“The Legal Services Board (LSB) is reminding all regulators of their important role in making sure lawyers deal properly with complaints – and stressing the need for both regulators and lawyers to learn from what they reveal.”

Full story (PDF)

Legal Services Board, 30th July 2012

Source: www.legalservicesboard.org.uk

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it – The Bar Council

Posted July 26th, 2012 in competition, law firms, legal profession, news, tenders by sally

“A tribute to outgoing Law Society President, John Wotton; a welcome to his successor, Lucy Scott‐Moncrieff, defender of the High Street law firm; examining the aims of Price Competitive Tendering and the likely results both for the Bar and for justice.”

Full story (PDF)

The Bar Council, August 2012

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

‘Baby barrister’ threat to solicitors – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted July 26th, 2012 in barristers, legal profession, news, solicitors by sally

“Barristers with under three years’ practising experience will be able to take instructions directly from clients if the Bar Standards Board’s latest plan for the extension of public access rules is approved.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 26th July 2012

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Lawyers must do better – The Guardian

Posted July 19th, 2012 in fees, insurance, law firms, legal profession, news by sally

“Legal insurance and conditional and fixed-fee arrangements aren’t serving people’s best interests.”

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The Guardian, 19th July 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

BSB Chair comments on strength of BSB’s performance as a competent and transparent regulator – Bar Standards Board

“Baroness Ruth Deech, Chair of the Bar Standards Board, said: ‘As a competent, transparent and public interest regulator, the Bar Standards Board continues to promote and uphold the highest regulatory standards. We pride ourselves on the fact that we operate in an open and transparent manner, and our disciplinary processes serve to underline the fact that we take complaints by the public of professional misconduct extremely seriously.’ ”

Full press release

Bar Standards Board, 17th July 2012

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Bar-solicitor divisions ‘music to government’s ears’ – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted July 10th, 2012 in barristers, legal profession, news, solicitors by sally

“Two leading criminal lawyers have called for solicitors and barristers to stop arguing among themselves and unite, to promote their clients’ interests and the justice system.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 10th July 2012

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

It’s a funny old world – The Bar Council

Posted June 28th, 2012 in advocacy, barristers, fees, legal profession, news by sally

“The plight of the criminal Bar; the independence of the Bar threatened by fee cuts, referral fees and price competitive tendering; and such developments under scrutiny from the rest of the common law world.”

Full story (PDF)

The Bar Council, July 2012

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Shifting the burden: support for stress – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted June 21st, 2012 in law firms, legal profession, mental health, news, solicitors by sally

“The suicide last year of a senior local authority solicitor who felt unable to cope with the demands placed on him following a 30% cut to his department’s budget shocked the profession.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 21st June 2012

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

The quality of advocacy – BBC Law in Action

Posted June 20th, 2012 in advocacy, fees, legal profession, news, quality assurance by sally

“As the lines blur between the work of solicitors and barristers , Joshua Rozenberg asks whether a cheaper service provides better value for money or is it leading to poor representation in court and ultimately miscarriages of justice? He discusses the issues with Baroness Deech of the Bar Standards Board, a solicitor advocate Sundeep Bhatia and Elisabeth Davies, Chair of the Consumer panel at the Legal Services Board. He also speaks to senior appeal court judge Lord Justice Moses and asks about the best way to assess quality and what dangers lie ahead if suffers.”

Listen

BBC Law in Action, 19th June 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Sticking to our principles – The Bar Council

Posted June 6th, 2012 in fees, legal profession, Legal Services Board, news, quality assurance by sally

“Examining the LSB’s commitment to standards and to quality; the LSB decision to continue to permit referral fees; and a meeting with the new Chief Executive of the Legal Services Commission.”

Full story (PDF)

The Bar Council, June 2012

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Litigation funders become big business, enjoying booming market in UK – The Guardian

Posted May 26th, 2012 in champerty, costs, damages, legal profession, news, third parties by sally

“Champerty used to be a crime. Now it is known as third-party litigation funding and has developed into an investment industry backed by up to £500m of investor cash looking for lucrative courtroom opportunities.”

Full story

The Guardian, 25th May 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Lawcast 202: Gary Slapper on the fabric of law in society and weird cases – Charon QC

Posted May 23rd, 2012 in judiciary, legal education, legal profession, podcasts by sally

“Today I am talking with Professor Gary Slapper, Director of NYU. We have a wide ranging discussion on the fabric of law in society, the College of Law sale, the proposed new ‘practice oriented’ degrees and their value, if any, and consider the quality of judges. Gary also introduces a few unusual cases towards the end.”

Podcast

Charon QC, 22nd May 2012

Source: www.charonqc.wordpress.com

“Charon QC” is the blogging pseudonym of Mike Semple Piggot, editor of insitelaw newswire.

Legal aid cuts: if lawyers don’t defend justice for all, who will?

“A pillar of postwar society has been shattered by the legal aid cuts: that’s why a strike is now on the cards.”

Full story

The Guardian, 22nd May 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Social exclusivity ‘rife’ in profession – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted May 22nd, 2012 in diversity, legal profession, news by sally

“Social exclusivity is increasing in the legal profession, according to a new analysis of lawyers’ schooling published today.”

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Law Scoiety’s Gazette, 22nd May 2012

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Grieve spells out ‘modernise or die’ message to adversarial system – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted May 11th, 2012 in criminal justice, legal profession, news, solicitors by sally

“The adversarial criminal justice system will survive only if practitioners embrace modernisation, the attorney general warned solicitors last week.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 10th May 2012

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Lawyers give muted response to legislative plans in Queen’s Speech – The Lawyer

Posted May 11th, 2012 in bills, legal profession, news, speeches by sally

“Competition reform, secret courts and changes to defamation pricked the ears of lawyers during the Queen’s Speech yesterday.”

Full story

The Lawyer, 10th May 2012

Source: www.thelawyer.com