Legal Features

Articles

When your nearest isn't your dearest

Amendments to the Mental Health Act provide new systems for the selection – and most importantly, the removal – of a patient's nearest relative, says David Hewitt

Fixed costs: a minor issue

The CPR definition of a road traffic accident is so wide that access to justice, particularly in cases involving minors, is suffering, say Alison Neate and Julie Cooper

The battle for Bleak House

The case of Couwenbergh v Valkova is the only civil case to negotiate the new CPR52 r17 procedure and make a successful second civil appeal, reports Henry Webb

Foul language, hatred, disrepute and ridicule

Two recent libel pay-outs to individuals regarded as role models illustrate the danger of libel being exposed to ridicule and contempt, says Rod Dadak

Interview: David Edmonds

David Edmonds on independent regulation, competition and the arrival of the consumer-citizen to the legal services market

Practice trends: housing law

During 2008 there were some major housing law cases, shaping practice into 2009, while proposed new legal aid contracts from 2010 will involve big decisions in the coming year for most practices, say Giles Peaker and Justin Bates

Constructive thinking

Mark Pawlowski asks whether there is scope for giving effect to informal land agreements by applying constructive trust doctrine

Update: employment

Sue Ashtiany considers the merits and potential pitfalls of the new ACAS Code on disciplinary and grievance procedures, and reviews a case on discrimination and the reverse burden of proof