Professionals who do legal work for gangsters face prosecution under new offence – The Independent

‘Crooked accountants, lawyers and other professionals who profit from crime but are beyond the reach of the law will be targeted under measures to be announced in tomorrow’s Queen’s Speech.’

Full story

The Independent, 3rd June 2014

Source: www.independent.co.uk

New crackdown on corrupt lawyers who help criminals – BBC News

‘Lawyers, couriers and accountants could be jailed if they turn a blind eye to criminal activity they profit from, under Home Office plans.’

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BBC News, 3rd June 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Nuptial Agreements: Limiting the Family Lawyer’s Exposure to Negligence Claims – Family Law Week

Posted May 28th, 2014 in barristers, drafting, negligence, news, prenuptial agreements, solicitors by sally

‘The authors consider whether family lawyers are assuming unlimited liability when advising upon or drafting nuptial agreements and look at the practicalities of limiting that liability.’

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Family Law Week, 21st May 2014

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Solicitor denied judicial appointment because of points on driving licence loses JR – Litigation Futures

‘A solicitor who was denied appointment at a district judge because he had seven points on his driving licence has failed in his challenge to the decision of the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC).’

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Litigation Futures, 27th May 2014

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

No damages for the solicitor whose private information was misused by a prostitute whom he’d short changed – RPC Privacy Law

‘In an unusual privacy claim decided last week, the High Court dismissed the majority of a solicitor’s claims against a prostitute for misuse of private information, harassment, breach of confidence and breach of contract. The Court found for the Claimant in respect of one element of his privacy head of claim, it declined to award any damages but did grant him an injunction.’

Full story

RPC Privacy Law, 21st May 2014

Source: www.rpc.co.uk

Appeal court sets aside £186k professional negligence claim – Law Society’s Gazette

‘A Devon firm has won an appeal against a £186,000 damages award for professional negligence following a conveyancing row with a former client.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 20th May 2014

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

The Jeffrey’s Review – a challenge to the Bar – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

‘On 7 May 2014 the report by Sir Bill Jeffrey on “Independent criminal advocacy in England and Wales”, the first of the triumvirate of reports into the state of the criminal justice system, was issued. It is a mixed bag. Many lawyers were hoping for more, specifically for ammunition in their battle with the MoJ, but that point is largely ducked. Whilst there is a lot that the (independent) bar can take comfort, and perhaps even pride in, make no mistake – however it is sugar-coated, this is not a homage to the Bar, or a plea to maintain the status quo.’


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Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 9th May 2014

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

City fraud cases on brink of collapse in growing row over legal aid cuts – The Guardian

‘The biggest City fraud cases since the crash of 2008 are close to collapsing because of the government’s cuts to legal aid. The refusal of barristers to work at the government’s new low rates has already led to Judge Anthony Leonard throwing out charges against five men accused of conning investors out of their savings by selling them land at grotesquely inflated prices.’

Full story

The Guardian, 10th May 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Rise in rogue lawyers pocketing stamp duty payments – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 9th, 2014 in complaints, fees, legal ombudsman, news, solicitors, stamp duty by sally

‘The Legal Ombudsman has seen a spike in complaints about sloppy legal work around house purchases.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 8th May 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Judge’s despair as costs hit £16,000 in dispute over £15 – Litigation Futures

Posted May 2nd, 2014 in costs, news, personal injuries, proportionality, road traffic, solicitors by sally

‘A district judge has been driven to despair as solicitors cranked up over £16,000 in costs in a dispute over an outstanding amount of only £15.’

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Litigation Futures, 1st May 2014

Source:  www.litigationfutures.com

Not in our name: Parliamentary committee rejects Government’s case for Judicial Review reform – UK Human Rights Blog

‘Angela Patrick, Director of Human Rights Policy at JUSTICE, summarises the important Joint Committee on Human Rights report “The implications for access to justice of the Government’s proposals to reform judicial review”.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 30th April 2014

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Lawyer steals £134,000 from clients to fund ‘obsession’ with younger woman – Daily Telegraph

Posted April 29th, 2014 in fraud, news, sentencing, solicitors, theft by sally

‘Solicitor who stole from his clients to fund attraction to younger woman sentenced to prison.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 28th April 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Documents remained privileged when they were sent on to third party’s work email address, High Court rules – OUT-LAW.com

‘Highly confidential documents that were subject to legal professional privilege (LPP) did not lose this status when they were emailed by a party to his girlfriend, who then forwarded them to and accessed them through her work email account, the High Court has ruled.’

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 28th April 2014

Source: www.out-law.com

Claimant groups: 85% of injured workers not compensated – Law Society’s Gazette

‘More than 85% of people injured or made ill at work do not recover any compensation, a new report has stated.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 16th April 2014

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Legal aid consultation ‘unlawful’, solicitors claim – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted April 10th, 2014 in consultations, criminal justice, illegality, legal aid, news, reports, solicitors by sally

‘Criminal solicitor groups have taken the first step towards a legal challenge to the government’s decision to press ahead with cuts to criminal legal aid.’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 9th April 2014

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Trainee solicitor jailed after starving dog to death – The Guardian

Posted April 10th, 2014 in animal cruelty, news, sentencing, solicitors by sally

‘A trainee solicitor who locked her pet dog in a kitchen and left it to suffer a prolonged and painful death over six days has been jailed for 18 weeks.’

Full story

The Guardian, 9th April 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Santander UK Plc v RA Legal Solicitors: A shift in balance in favour of lenders? – Hardwicke Chambers

Posted April 8th, 2014 in banking, breach of trust, causation, law firms, news, solicitors, trusts by sally

‘Section 61 of the Trustee Act 1925 gives the court power to relieve from liability a trustee who has committed a breach of trust, if he: (i) acted honestly and reasonably; and (ii) ought fairly to be excused for the breach.’

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Hardwicke Chambers, 13th March 2014

Source: www.hardwicke.co.uk

Legal aid cuts: six lawyers on why they will damage our justice system – The Guardian

‘Why have lawyers taken to the streets to protest against legal aid cuts? Self-interest or because they care about the havoc they see being wrought on our legal system?’

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The Guardian, 1st April 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

More chambers criticise legal aid deal as BSB consults on returning instructions – Legal Futures

Posted March 31st, 2014 in barristers, budgets, consultations, fees, legal aid, news, solicitors by sally

‘More chambers have come out in open criticism of the Criminal Bar Association (CBA) and Bar Council’s deal with the government over legal aid last week.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 31st March 2014

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Solicitors and probation workers to strike over plans – BBC News

‘Solicitors and probation officers in England and Wales are staging joint action against changes introduced by the Ministry of Justice.’

Full story

BBC News, 31st March 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk