Archive

Outlawed

The government proudly ratcheted its fights against compensation culture and rising insurance costs on 9 September by announcing a ban on referral fees. The majority of the profession approved, it seemed. But will the ban truly address a real issue or is it a spectacular own goal for the profession? We asked five stakeholders for their reactions to the news

Passport to freedom

Property lawyers may have little option but to join the Conveyancing Quality Scheme, but the real challenge is to offer a truly professional service not only to clients but also to their counterpart in a transaction, says John Outram

Not to be trifled with

I had sleepless nights over trifles. It just wasn't right that the law should not concern itself with trifles. It seemed so arbitrary and unfair that, of all the desserts available for consumption, some high-minded judge somewhere decided, for no obvious reason, to home in on one of my favourites. Why couldn't the law adopt the same attitude to lumpy custard or spotted dick (which has far more menacing connotations)?

Men with faces

London has had its fair share of serious rioting over the past 1,000 years and public authorities have responded in different ways, but, when it comes to last month's social disturbances, judicial wisdom seems to have gone out the window, says Jeannie Mackie

Further accommodation for religious conscience is unacceptable, says society

The Equality and Human Rights Commission should not intervene in the European Court of Human Rights in support of claimants in religious discrimination cases, a leading not-for-profit equality organisation has said.

Blanket ban on working after 60 is age discrimination

A blanket prohibition on airline pilots working after they have reached the age of 60 is unlawful, the European Court of Justice has ruled.

Counting the cost

Lyssa Barber considers the impact on the investment industry of the retail distribution review

Referral fees ban welcomed by most

'Knee-jerk reaction' will push fees underground, APIL predicts