Archive

Government launches review of out-of-court disposals

The government is to review the use of out-of-court disposals such as cautions and on-the-spot fines following disquiet over reports that they were being used in cases were offenders should be formally charged.

LSB confirms 2010 regulatory framework

The Legal Services Board has published its final rules on the new regulatory framework applicable to the legal sector from January 2010.

Law Society threatens legal action over fate of LCS complaints staff

The Law Society has today threatened legal action over the fate of 370 Legal Complaints Service staff, currently employed in Leamington Spa and London.

Solicitor advocates could become barristers, Bar chairman suggests

Nicholas Green QC, new chairman of the Bar Council, has shown he is prepared to think the unthinkable by suggesting that solicitor advocates could in the future be regulated as barristers.

Commission's "cost-cutting" VHCC scheme angers barristers and solicitors

lawyers have reacted angrily to an announcement from the LSC that one option for 'very high cost' criminal cases would be to extend the limits for the standard graduated fee scheme from cases lasting 40 days to 60 days.

High Court judge loses temper as councils battle to avoid paying for sick boy

Mr Justice Hedley has described how the behaviour of two warring local authorities determined to avoid responsibility for a sick boy forced him to adjourn a hearing because he no longer trusted himself to express himself in a “temperate manner”.

Disabled campaigner challenges assisted suicide ruling

A wheelchair-bound patient who suffers from spina bifida, hydrocephalus, emphysema, osteoporosis and arthritis has challenged the House of Lords' decision in Debbie Purdy's assisted suicide case, claiming that Lord Phillips, one of the law lords ruling in the case, was biased.

Aiming high

Those wanting to bring mental health claims must now not only prove that their case is arguable, but also that it has a real chance of success, says David Hewitt