Lawyers unite to preserve compensation scheme – The Times

Posted May 10th, 2007 in compensation, miscarriage of justice, news by sally

“Seven firms of solicitors joined together today to launch a High Court challenge to the abolition of a discretionary compensation scheme for victims of miscarriages of justice.”

Full story

The Times, 10th May 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Government supports law to prevent forced marriage – Ministry of Justice

Posted May 10th, 2007 in forced marriages, news by sally

“The Government today pledged its support for legislation aimed at protecting the victims of forced marriages and preventing them from taking place.”

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 10th May 2007

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Falconer faces up to jails crisis on first day of justice ministry – The Guardian

Posted May 10th, 2007 in news, prisons by sally

“The chief inspector of prisons warns today that offenders are being forced to “queue” for jail cells despite an assurance yesterday from the new justice minister, Lord Falconer, that the system can cope with the immediate crisis in prisoner numbers.”

Full story

The Guardian, 10th May 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Patent damages not refunded if EPO cancels patent – OUT-LAW.com

Posted May 10th, 2007 in damages, news, patents by sally

“Damages for patent infringement awarded by a UK court must not be paid back even if the patent is later declared invalid by the European Patent Office (EPO), the Court of Appeal has ruled.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 9th May 2007

Source: www.out-law.com

Only deliberate inducement can be punished, say Lords – OUT-LAW.com

Posted May 10th, 2007 in contracts, inducements, news by sally

“Someone cannot be sued for inducing another person to breach a contract unless it can be shown that the inducement was deliberate, the House of Lords has ruled in a decision which could have a significant impact on employment law.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 9th May 2007

Source: www.out-law.com

Cease-fire in battle of ‘supermums’ – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 10th, 2007 in defamation, news by sally

“Gina Ford, the controversial childcare guru, yesterday dropped her bitter legal battle against a popular parenting website that mocked her rigorous methods.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 10th May 2007

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Man guilty of murdering wife in assisted euthanasia – The Independent

Posted May 10th, 2007 in assisted suicide, news by sally

“A  devoted husband who killed his wife after she begged him to help her die was convicted of murder yesterday. Retired accountant Frank Lund, 58, admitted suffocating his wife Patricia, 65, with a plastic bag and a pillow at their home in New Brighton, Merseyside, in September.”

Full story

The Independent, 10th May 2007

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Two found guilty over Bush-Blair memo leak – The Guardian

Posted May 10th, 2007 in Iraq, news, official secrets act by sally

“A civil servant and an MP’s researcher were today found guilty of leaking a secret memo detailing talks between George Bush and Tony Blair on the Iraq war.”

Full story

The Guardian, 10th May 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Divorcees may have assets taken to fund an ex-spouse’s debts – The Times

Posted May 10th, 2007 in bankruptcy, divorce, news by sally

“Thousands of divorcees risk seeing their assets plundered to meet their former spouses’ debts after a landmark ruling that they are no longer protected from his or her creditors when they split.”

Full story

The Times, 10th May 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Judges are told to cut jail terms for thieves – The Times

Posted May 10th, 2007 in news, prisons, sentencing by sally

“Thousands of petty criminals and thieves will avoid jail under Government plans proposed yesterday to ease the overcrowding crisis engulfing prisons.”

Full story

The Times, 10th May 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Lords backs Bar Council on latest Bill amendments – Legal Week

Posted May 9th, 2007 in complaints, legal profession, legal services, news by sally

“The Bar Council has scored another victory in the House of Lords after peers yesterday (8 May) voted in favour of two further amendments to the Legal Services Bill.”

Full story

Legal Week, 9th May 2007

Source: www.legalweek.com

MoJ criticised on first day of opening – The Lawyer

Posted May 9th, 2007 in Ministry of Justice, news by sally

“Criticism has been thrown at the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) within hours of it opening its doors for the first time today (9 May).”

Full story

The Lawyer, 9th May 2007

Source: www.thelawyer.com

Single mother launches CSA test case – The Times

Posted May 9th, 2007 in child support, news by sally

“A single mother who blames the loss of her home on the incompetence of the Child Support Agency (CSA) brought a test compensation claim yesterday that could affect thousands of families.”

Full story

The Times, 9th May 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

The new Home Office: Protecting the public, securing our future – Home Office

Posted May 9th, 2007 in government departments, news by sally

“The division of the Home Office culminates an extraordinary programme of reform and change initiated by Home Secretary John Reid shortly after he took over running the department last year.”

Full story

Home Office, 9th May 2007

Source: www.homeoffice.gov.uk

Clerks back CPD but shun pupil pay – The Lawyer

Posted May 9th, 2007 in barristers' clerks, news by sally

“The recent Institute of Barristers’ Clerks (IBC) conference placed education at the top of the agenda as clerks look to increase professionalism.”

Full story

The Lawyer, 8th May 2007

Source: www.thelawyer.com

Barristers enticed to take English common law expertise overseas – The Lawyer

Posted May 9th, 2007 in barristers, news by sally

“Three of England’s high-profile barristers have decided to make the move to British Overseas Territories within the past month.”

Full story

The Lawyer, 8th May 2007

Source: www.thelawyer.com

Justice ministry faces jails crisis as Home Office splits in two – The Guardian

Posted May 9th, 2007 in government departments, Ministry of Justice, news, prisons by sally

“Britain’s first Ministry of Justice emerges today out of the rubble of the “not fit for purpose” Home Office to face a mounting prison crisis with prisoner numbers in England and Wales hitting a new record.”

Full story

The Guardian, 9th May 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Government unit saves 11-year-old from forced marriage in Dhaka – The Guardian

Posted May 9th, 2007 in Bangladesh, forced marriages, news by sally

“The government’s forced marriage unit has rescued an 11-year-old British girl whose parents married her to a Bangladeshi man in Dhaka, it has emerged.”

Full story

The Guardian, 9th May 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

New rules on terror leaks urged – BBC News

Posted May 9th, 2007 in civil servants, news, police, terrorism by sally

“Officials and police should be subject to new rules covering media briefings on anti-terrorism investigations, human rights organisation Liberty has said.” 

Full story

BBC News, 8th May 2007

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Restructured Home Office splits – BBC News

Posted May 9th, 2007 in government departments, Ministry of Justice, news by sally

“A restructured Home Office is to begin operating, with the Ministry of Justice taking control of prisons, probation and sentencing.” 

Full story

BBC News, 8th May 2007

Source: www.bbc.co.uk