Legal aid reforms ‘would limit access to justice for the needy’ – The Times

Posted May 1st, 2007 in legal aid, news by sally

“The Lord Chancellor faces renewed pressure to drop or delay plans for overhauling the legal aid scheme with a damning report today from MPs.”

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The Times, 1st May 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

New bar association launched to raise direct access awareness

Posted May 1st, 2007 in barristers, news by sally

“A new barristers’ association is to be launched to promote direct access to the bar.”

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The Lawyer, 30th April 2007

Source: www.thelawyer.com

Call to update UK insolvency law – Financial Times

Posted May 1st, 2007 in insolvency, news by sally

“London’s status as a leading financial centre could be diminished unless the UK reforms its insolvency regime ahead of the next economic downturn, according to an influential group of restructuring professionals.”

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Financial Times, 30th April 2007

Source: www.ft.com

New Equalities Legislation Comes into Force Today – Communities and Local Government

“New legislation comes into force today which provides protection from sexual orientation discrimination and discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief that is on a par with protection already provided on grounds of race and gender.”

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Communities and Local Government press release, 30th April 2007

Source: www.communities.gov.uk

Global legal community joins forces in fight to defend Pakistan judge – The Lawyer

Posted April 30th, 2007 in judges, news, Pakistan by sally

“The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) has launched a mission to investigate the arrest of Pakistan’s top judge.”

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The Lawyer, 30th April 2007

Source: www.thelawyer.com

Privacy watchdog slams EU-wide sharing of police data – OUT-LAW.com

Posted April 30th, 2007 in data protection, EC law, news, police by sally

“Europe’s privacy watchdog has expressed ‘grave concern’ about a proposal to share personal information between police forces across Europe, calling it a ‘lowest common denominator approach that would hinder the fundamental rights of EU citizens’.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 30th April 2007

Source: www.out-law.com

New laws could give BNP members employment rights – The Times

Posted April 30th, 2007 in news, religious discrimination by sally

“New employment laws that came into force today could pave the way for political activists – including members of the British Nationalist [sic] Party (BNP) – to bring religious discrimination claims in the workplace, experts have warned.”

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The Times, 30th April 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Lords to probe surveillance society – OUT-LAW.com

Posted April 30th, 2007 in data protection, news, privacy by sally

“The House of Lords will investigate whether the UK’s ‘surveillance society’ is unconstitutional. The Lords’ Constitution Committee has asked for evidence in an investigation it has launched into surveillance in the UK.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 30th April 2007

Source: www.out-law.com

Five guilty over fertiliser bomb plot – The Guardian

Posted April 30th, 2007 in news, terrorism by sally

“Five British men with close links to the July 7 bombers were today found guilty of a plot to set off a wave of fertiliser-based terrorist explosions around the country.”

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The Guardian

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Campbell diaries to beat ‘gagging’ rules – The Times

Posted April 30th, 2007 in confidentiality, news by sally

“New rules to prevent the publication of politically damaging memoirs by former politicians and civil servants will not be in force until after Alastair Campbell’s diaries are released, The Times has learnt.”

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The Times, 30th April 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Private van guards to assess whether young are tough enough for adult jails – The Guardian

Posted April 30th, 2007 in news, young offenders by sally

“Private security staff who operate prison vans will decide from today whether young adults awaiting trial in London are mentally strong enough to survive in the toughest prisons.”

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The Guardian, 30th April 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Internet sperm agencies plan to sidestep new rules – The Guardian

Posted April 30th, 2007 in artificial insemination, news by sally

“As the government’s regulatory body prepares to stamp out the thriving business in online fresh sperm donation, the Guardian has learned that both of the UK’s main agencies are planning to circumvent new laws and continue to operate without a licence.”

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The Guardian, 30th April 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Cohabiting couples warned to protect their property rights – The Guardian

Posted April 30th, 2007 in cohabitation, news by sally

“Lawyers are warning cohabiting couples to spell out in writing what share of their home each should get if they split up, to avoid expensive legal battles consuming a large chunk of their wealth. The advice comes after a landmark judgment last week by five law lords, setting out how the courts should resolve such cases.”

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The Guardian, 30th April 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Lords to rule on care home eviction – The Guardian

Posted April 30th, 2007 in care homes, elderly, human rights, news by sally

“A company trying to evict an 83-year-old Alzheimer’s sufferer from a private care home it runs is facing a legal battle in a historic case that could affect hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people.”

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The Guardian, 30th April 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Judges to rule on justice ministry – The Times

Posted April 30th, 2007 in government departments, Ministry of Justice, news by sally

“The Lord Chancellor’s officials are locked in talks with senior judges in a desperate effort to secure their backing for the new ministry of justice, which is due to come into effect on May 9.”

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The Times, 30th April 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Corporate manslaughter bill risks being buried over let-out clauses – the Guardian

Posted April 30th, 2007 in corporate manslaughter, news by sally

“Home office ministers are struggling to find a compromise to save legislation that would hold company executives accountable for the negligent deaths of their employees.”

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The Guardian, 29th April 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Top fertility doctor in £1m BBC libel fight – The Sunday Times

Posted April 30th, 2007 in defamation, news by sally

“PANORAMA, the BBC’s flagship current affairs show, faces being sued for more than £1m by Britain’s richest doctor after a “biased and irresponsible” undercover investigation into his fertility clinics.”

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The Sunday Times, 29th April 2007

www.timesonline.co.uk

Gang culture ‘death and devastation’ must end, says judge – The Guardian

Posted April 28th, 2007 in gangs, news, young offenders by sally

“The ‘death and devastation’ resulting from Britain’s gang and knife culture was condemned by a senior judge yesterday as he jailed a teenager for the murder of a street rival. Judge Gerald Gordon told the Old Bailey that there must be an end to families being torn apart by youth violence, often prompted by trivial disputes.”

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The Guardian, 28th April 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Libyan terror suspects win right to stay in UK – The Times

Posted April 28th, 2007 in human rights, immigration, Libya, news, terrorism by sally

“A Home Office plan to deport terror suspects back to Libya is in tatters today, after an immigration court ruled that they could face an unfair trial and even torture if sent home.”

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The Times, 27th April 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Girl awarded £1.1 million against father – The Times

Posted April 28th, 2007 in damages, news, personal injuries by sally

“A girl was today awarded £1.1 million against her father after she suffered “catastrophic” injuries when she was thrown through the windscreen of a car driven by him.”

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The Times, 27th April 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk