Big money at US firms lures top London lawyers – The Times

Posted April 4th, 2007 in law firms, news by sally

“The lucrative earnings at American law firms are luring increasing numbers of top London lawyers, according to a new survey released today. ”

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The Times, 4th April 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Briton loses battle to be extradited to America on computer hacking charges – The Times

Posted April 4th, 2007 in computer crime, extradition, news by sally

“A British man with an obsession with UFOs who is accused of being the “biggest military computer hacker of all time” has lost his battle to avoid extradition to the United States.”

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The Times, 4th April 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Stockbroker wins £22,000 damages for paternity deceit – The Guardian

Posted April 4th, 2007 in damages, news, paternity by sally

“A wealthy stockbroker whose former girlfriend deceived him into believing he had fathered her son was awarded £22,400 damages against her in the high court yesterday. In what is believed to be the first case of its kind in Britain, the man, 63, known only as Mr A for legal reasons, claimed compensation for the emotional hurt of thinking he was the father when he was not. He also claimed for being significantly out of pocket after paying for the child’s maintenance and his fees at Charterhouse school.”

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The Guardian, 4th April 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

UK hacker loses extradition fight – BBC News

Posted April 3rd, 2007 in computer crime, extradition, news by sally

“A British man has lost his High Court fight against extradition to the US for allegedly carrying out the ‘biggest military computer hack of all time’.”

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BBC News, 3rd April 2007

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Lord Chancellor takes Ministry of Justice role as Home Office split sparks concern – The Lawyer

Posted April 3rd, 2007 in Ministry of Justice, news by sally

“The new Secretary of State for Justice has confirmed that he will remain in the role of Lord Chancellor when taking up his newly formed post.”

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The Lawyer, 3rd April 2007

Source: www.thelawyer.com

Hundreds to move to open prisons to ease crowding – The Independent

Posted April 3rd, 2007 in news, prisons by sally

“Hundreds of prisoners will be moved into open prisons within days to ease pressure on Britain’s bursting jails.”

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The Independent, 3rd April 2007

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Beach walk that could cost author £2000 – Daily Telegraph

Posted April 3rd, 2007 in environmental protection, news by sally

“One of Britain’s best-selling authors is facing a £2,000 fine after he grabbed some pebbles from a South Coast beach.”

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Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Jail suicide was unavoidable says judge as manslaughter trial ends – The Guardian

Posted April 3rd, 2007 in news, prisons by sally

“A private prison was criticised by its staff and a judge yesterday following the collapse of a manslaughter trial over the death of a prisoner on suicide watch.”

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The Guardian, 3rd April 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

‘Big step forward in music revolution’ as EMI drops copy protection – The Guardian

Posted April 3rd, 2007 in competition, news by sally

“Music group EMI yesterday scrapped copy protection on all its digital tracks in a move that was immediately hailed by Apple chief executive Steve Jobs as ‘the next big step forward in the digital music revolution’.”

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The Guardian, 3rd April 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

New evidence on date rape prompt call for drugs ban – The Guardian

Posted April 3rd, 2007 in news, sexual offences by sally

“Ministers are to consider banning two new “date rape” drugs, amid warnings from experts that the true scale of sexual assaults assisted by drugs may be greater than official figures suggest.”

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The Guardian, 3rd April 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

We’re all for climate change – The Times

Posted April 3rd, 2007 in news by sally

“They were the young black radicals — the lawyers who forced their profession to tackle the discrimination and prejudice they encountered in trying to make their way. Twenty years ago, the Society of Black Lawyers was a force to be reckoned with. And largely thanks to its campaigning, the legal establishment was made to take their problems seriously. ”

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The Times, 3rd April 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Talent, not cash, should open the door to the Bar – The Times

Posted April 3rd, 2007 in barristers, news by sally

“This week Lord Neuberger, Britain’s newest law lord, will announce the interim findings of his inquiry into what can be done to ensure that the Bar is open to all. Over several months he has led a working party looking at barriers to entry, probing a world that Derek Wood, QC, a former Treasurer of Middle Temple, describes as ‘subtle and subterranean’ — a world of ‘accent, appearance, lifestyle and other personal markers that define any social dynasty’.”

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The Times, 3rd April 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

New laws against sharp practice will benefit vulnerable consumers – The Times

Posted April 2nd, 2007 in consumer protection, news by sally

“We all know what constitutes sharp practice – a broadcaster charging premium rates for callers to participate in a quiz show when the winner has already been chosen is a topical example – but the law often does not provide a simple way to bring such practice to a swift end. This will change when the UK implements the EU Directive on Unfair Business to Consumer Commercial Practices, which aims to harmonise EU consumer protection law. It will introduce a general prohibition on unfair trade practices, covering advertising, sales promotion, supply and after sales issues. Much consumer legislation (including the Trade Descriptions Act 1968) will be swept away. ”

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The Times, 2nd April 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Britain rushes to send back Darfur asylum families before court ruling – The Times

Posted April 2nd, 2007 in asylum, news by sally

“[Amuna Ibrahim] is among scores of Darfuris summoned in recent days by the Home Office. The sudden rush to deport them — some are due to be flown back tomorrow — comes before a crucial Court of Appeal ruling that could stop Britain from sending them back to Khartoum, the seat of the government that sent the murderous horsemen and bombers to wreak havoc on Darfur.”

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The Times, 2nd April 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Prisoner goes to court over cost of phone calls – The Guardian

Posted April 2nd, 2007 in human rights, news, prisons by sally

“A long-term prisoner has launched an attempt in the high court to stop BT charging inmates more than five times the national call box rate for phone calls, claiming it breaches human rights. The action, which began last Thursday, has the backing of the prisons ombudsman, the chief inspector of prisons and reformers.”

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The Guardian, 2nd April 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Poor likely to suffer in fees dispute as some legal aid firms hold out – The Guardian

Posted April 2nd, 2007 in legal aid, news by sally

“One of the biggest legal aid providers in London is among a number of law firms that have refused to sign a contract which alters pay by hourly rates to a system of fixed fees. Many refuseniks blinked first and signed “under protest” last Friday, ending a bitter stand-off over the contract between some of the top firms in England and Wales and the Legal Services Commission. But some firms are digging in their heels.”

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The Guardian, 2nd April 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk