Archive

22 Sept 2009

Friendly fire

Solicitors considering litigation should act promptly but not hastily to avoid being either sued by clients or reprimanded by the courts, warns Seamus Smyth

22 Sept 2009

Birth of a salesman

Partners must be prepared to take on a more managerial role and focus on bringing new work for their firms to succeed after the downturn, says Laura Clarke

22 Sept 2009

Welcome to my world

I like to think of myself as a pretty straightforward, straight-talking person. For example, if someone doesn't like me, then that's okay but I'd rather they didn't pretend they do.

15 Sept 2009

Law Society not "able to understand" legal aid cuts

Robert Heslett, president of the Law Society, has said that the MoJ's latest plans for legal aid cuts are so deeply flawed, full of ambiguities and contradictory statements that the society is not “reasonably able to understand quite what the proposals are”.

15 Sept 2009

The American dream?

The SFO's new guidelines for dealing with overseas corruption contain admirable aims, but it remains to be seen how successful implementing an American model will be, says Hassan Khan

15 Sept 2009

Lawyers without frontiers: Fiji after the coup

The military coup that overthrew the legitimately elected government of Fiji two years ago remains a threat to the rule of law and to the independence of lawyers, says Sara Chandler

15 Sept 2009

First contact

Building relationships is essential to the success of every law firm and gaining contacts by networking can be simple and enjoyable, says Jennifer Overhaus

15 Sept 2009

Just the job

“Don't take this the wrong way but I hope I never see you again.” This is the valedictory that I have received many times from the tearfully grateful and the plain relieved. I don't suppose that architects, doctors, plumbers or roadside mechanics get quite the same expression of thanks. It all rather sums up the absolute nature of what we do: the moment that the jury returns with its verdict and the foreman is asked to “please stand”, the whole room holds its breath. Whether prosecuting or defending, it is an incredibly tense, awful, unbearable moment. I used to be superstitious – writing the 'g' in my notebook and wondering whether I would by some miracle be putting an 'n' in front of it. Now I just close my notebook and pretend that it is not happening. I don't know what the judge feels about a verdict – perhaps the judge really is above it all – but I suspect that where it is possible to have formed a view there is the occasional tingle of nerves.