Bar Council defends its record on complaints handling – Bar Council

Posted June 21st, 2007 in barristers, complaints, press releases by sally

“In a hard-hitting briefing sent to key MPs this week, the Bar Council has defended its record on complaints handling.  As the Legal Services Bill moves through Committee Stage, the Government is proposing a ‘one size fits all’ approach to complaints handling, reversing amendments introduced in the House of Lords. But the vast majority of complaints are against solicitors – and the overwhelming majority of criticisms about complaints handling are directed against the Law Society rather than the Bar’s independent regulator, the Bar Standards Board (BSB), which has consistently provided an efficient and effective service, according to the independent Legal Services Ombudsman.”

Full story 

Bar Council press release, 21st June 2007

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

House of Lords Judgments: whats new?

Posted June 21st, 2007 in law reports by sally

YL (by her litigation friend the Official Solicitor) (FC) (Appellant) v. Birmingham City Council and others (Respondents) [2007] UKHL 27

R (on the application of Godmanchester Town Council) (Appellants) v. Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Respondent) and one other action [2007] UKHL 28

Wilson (Respondent) v. Jaymarke Estates Limited and another (Appellants) (Scotland) [2007] UKHL 29

Source: www.parliament.uk

Daily Telegraph, 21st June 2007

Posted June 21st, 2007 in law reports by sally

R (Al-Skeini & Others) v. Secretary of State for Defence

JPC v. SLW & Anr

Islington LBC v. Honeygan-Green

Ridgway v. JP Morgan Chase Bank National Association

Transport and General Workers Union v. Safeway Stores Ltd.

R (Heffernan) v. Rent Service

Daily Telegraph, 21st June 2007

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Please note the Daily Telegraph Law Reports are only available online for one week.

Inquests into the deaths of servicemen in operations and exercises overseas – Ministry of Justice

Posted June 21st, 2007 in armed forces, inquests by sally

“Ministerial statement about the inquests into the deaths of servicemen and women overseas under the jurisdiction of the Oxfordshire coroner, Nicholas Gardiner and the Wiltshire and Swindon coroner, David Masters.”

Announcement

Ministry of Justice, 20th June 2007

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Confidence and confidentiality: Openness in family courts a new approach – Ministry of Justice

Posted June 21st, 2007 in consultations by sally

“This is the second consultation on improving openness in family courts. This paper sets out what we are taking forward from the last consultation, and seeks views on new proposals to improve the openness in family courts.”

Confidence and confidentiality: Openess in family courts a new approach CP [10/07]

Ministry of Justice, 20th June 2007

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

City firms say Law Society is improving but still doubtful over its commercial role – Legal Week

Posted June 21st, 2007 in news by sally

“City lawyers remain sceptical of the Law Society’s ability to represent the commercial legal profession, with the majority saying the professional body does not look out for their interests.”

Full story

Legal Week, 21st June 2007

Source: www.legalweek.com

UK ‘prepared to block EU treaty’ – BBC News

Posted June 21st, 2007 in EC law, news by sally

“The UK will block any unsatisfactory deal in this week’s EU treaty negotiations, Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett has said.”

Full story

BBC News, 20th June 2007

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

MPs to consider cut in abortion time limit – The Guardian

Posted June 21st, 2007 in abortion, news by sally

“MPs are to launch an inquiry into the impact of scientific developments on abortion law, including whether medical advances in the care of very premature babies mean the 24-week time limit should be reduced.”

Full story

The Guardian, 21st June 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Lords warn against curbs on FoI – The Guardian

Posted June 21st, 2007 in freedom of information, news, parliament by sally

“Parliament’s reputation is “at serious risk” from attempts to exempt its members from the freedom of information act, a powerful Lords committee warned today.”

Full story

The Guardian, 21st June 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Rights blow to elderly in private care – The Times

Posted June 21st, 2007 in care homes, human rights, news by sally

“Thousands of people who use hospital or school services contracted out by local authorities are without the protection of human rights laws, after a landmark ruling yesterday.”

Full story

The Times, 21st June 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Six years on, evidence that helped convict TV presenter’s murderer is deemed valueless – The Guardian

Posted June 21st, 2007 in evidence, murder, news by sally

“Scientific evidence which helped convict Barry George of the murder of the BBC presenter Jill Dando six years ago has since been codified by the government’s Forensic Science Service as “of no value”, the Guardian understands.”

Full story

The Guardian, 21st June 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

More family cases go behind closed doors – The Times

Posted June 21st, 2007 in family courts, news, private hearings by sally

“Thousands of children’s care cases will be heard behind closed doors under proposals from the Lord Chancellor yesterday that extend courts’ powers to exclude the media.”

Full story

The Times, 21st June 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Honour crimes units to be piloted – BBC News

Posted June 20th, 2007 in domestic violence, forced marriages, news, women by sally

“Specialist teams are to be set up around England to help deal with any so-called “honour crimes” and offences arising from forced marriages.”

Full story

BBC News, 20th June 2007

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

One in four web merchants do not know web shopping laws – OUT-LAW.com

Posted June 20th, 2007 in consumer protection, news by sally

“Most internet shoppers do not know about their right to cancel and 28% of UK-based online traders are not aware or only slightly aware of the laws applying to internet shopping, according to a report published by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) yesterday.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 20th June 2007

Source: www.out-law.com

Private care homes not covered by human rights law – The Times

Posted June 20th, 2007 in care homes, human rights, news by sally

“Private care homes that look after elderly and vulnerable people on behalf of local authorities are not covered by human rights laws, the House of Lords ruled today.”

Full story

The Times, 20th June 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

R v. Passmore – WLR Daily

Posted June 20th, 2007 in housing, law reports, social security by sally

R v. Passmore

“If a change in a person’s circumstances did not affect any entitlement of his to any benefit under the social security legislation there was no obligation to disclose that change to the prescribed person.”

WLR Daily, 18th June 2007

Source: www.lawreports.co.uk

Please note once a case has been fully reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.

High Level Group to Probe Impact on Bar of Competitive Tendering and ‘One Case One Fee’ For Legal Aid Work – Bar Council

Posted June 20th, 2007 in barristers, fees, legal aid, news by sally

“Plans to introduce price-based competitive tendering and a single fee to cover litigators’ and advocates’ work in legal aid cases are to come under scrutiny from an expert group set up by the Bar Council.”

Full story

Bar Council press release, 19th June 2007

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

UK extends e-commerce Directive to terrorism laws – OUT-LAW.com

Posted June 20th, 2007 in EC law, foreign companies, incitement, news, terrorism by sally

“Regulations come into force this week that explain how and when a foreign company can be brought to justice in the UK over blog postings that encourage terrorism. The Regulations integrate Europe’s e-commerce laws with the UK’s Terrorism Act.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 19th June 2007

Source: www.out-law.com

Ruling on care home residents due – BBC News

Posted June 20th, 2007 in care homes, human rights, news by sally

“Law Lords are due to rule on whether the Human Rights Act applies to private care homes in England and Wales if residents are council funded.”

Full story

BBC News, 20th June 2007

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Transport thugs may face heavier sentences – Reuters

Posted June 20th, 2007 in news, sentencing, transport, violence by sally

“Thugs who commit crimes on public transport may face longer sentences than at present because of the fear they spread with their mindless aggression, Chancellor Gordon Brown said on Tuesday.”

Full story

Reuters, 19th June 2007

Source: www.reuters.com