Archive

The real deal

There's been a lot in the news in the past month about Ken Clarke. Formerly the bedrock of the coalition government, he now appears to have become the fall guy – put out to provoke the public and move attention away from more salacious stories of corruption, sex scandals and driving dilemmas.

Clarke and Djanogly to consider ban on referral fees

Justice secretary Ken Clarke and minister Jonathan Djanogly are to consider a ban on referral fees, it emerged during the second reading of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill in the House of Commons this afternoon.

Teacher who kissed pupil has no right to lawyer at disciplinary hearing

A teaching assistant who kissed one of his male pupils was not entitled under article 6 of the ECHR to be represented by a lawyer at the disciplinary hearing before the school governors, the Supreme Court has held.

Referral fees 'crucial' to insurance industry's earnings, Straw claims

Former justice secretary Jack Straw has accused insurance companies of earning up to £1,000 a time from referral fees, making them a “crucial part” of revenue streams.

Tribunal merger may 'dilute rather than enhance' expertise, Lady Hale warns

Lady Hale has warned of a risk that the merger of tribunals under the Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 and “amalgamation of very different jurisdictions in the new chambers will dilute rather than enhance the specialist expertise of their judges and members”.

Class action

Helen Harvie looks ahead to the eagerly anticipated judicial review of independent schools' charitable status

The art of giving

Michael Young offers his thoughts on the new IHT relief for charitable bequests

Carrying the can

With cuts to the Charity Commission's funding, we can no longer hold trustees hands all the way, writes Alice Holt