The Law Society Gazettee reports that The Ministry of Justice has confirmed that projected savings of £150m in fee cuts will not, as was expected, count towards required cuts of £220m a year – taking cuts in criminal legal aid to £370m. The Ministry of Justice has confirmed that projected savings of £150m in fee cuts [...]
About Law Society Gazette
Government accepts recommendations for new rules for Employment Tribunals
March 18, 2013 from Leave a Comment
The Law Society have announced that the Government is to radically overhaul procedure for Employment Tribunals. Employment tribunals are to become the ‘last resort, not the first port of call’ after the government’s announcement today that it has accepted proposals in a fundamental review of procedure for tribunals. The proposals accepted by the government include new [...]
Convicted criminals to pay more towards supporting victims of crime
October 3, 2012 from Leave a Comment
This article appears on the the Law Society Gazette website (here) All convicted criminals will pay towards supporting victims of crime, under new rules that come into force on Monday [1st October 2012], justice minister Helen Grant announced today. Currently a victim surcharge of £15 is paid by offenders who are fined on conviction. Under [...]
The role and conduct of solicitors involved in legal proceedings following the 1989 Hillsborough disaster to be investigated
September 25, 2012 from Leave a Comment
This is an extract from the Law Society Gazette on Thursday 20 September 2012 The role and conduct of solicitors involved in legal proceedings following the 1989 Hillsborough disaster will be investigated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), the regulator announced today. However it said it has yet to receive any formal complaints about the conduct [...]
Doctors blame ‘no win, no fee’ for rise in legal actions
August 15, 2012 from Leave a Comment
This article by John Hyde appeared in the Law Society Gazettee on 14th August 2102 here Doctors are facing unprecedented increases in claims for compensation for clinical negligence, according to the head of the Medical Defence Union. The mutual organisation, which indemnifies clinicians against claims, has revealed plans for a campaign to persuade ministers to [...]
Clarke asks top judges to probe disclosure sanctions
May 8, 2012 from Leave a Comment
This is an excerpt from an article which appeared on the Law Society Website on Thursday 03 May 2012 written by Catherine Baksi Justice secretary Kenneth Clarke has asked two senior judges to review sanctions for disclosure failures in criminal trials, to ‘mitigate the resource burden’ imposed by disclosure. Lord Justice Gross and Mr Justice [...]
Solicitors Regulation Authority introduces a new suitability test for solicitors
October 11, 2011 from Leave a Comment
This article by John Hyde appears on the the Law Society Gazette Website here New rules take effect today that could see aspiring solicitors barred from entering the profession because of a police caution or penalty notice. The Solicitors Regulation Authority has introduced a new suitability test that requires applicants to give details of every [...]
Lawyers unaware of the existence of ‘pro bono costs’ orders.
May 12, 2011 from Leave a Comment
According to an article on the Law Society Gazette website (here) legal charities are missing out on funding because the majority of lawyers are unaware of the existence of ‘pro bono costs’ orders. Legal charities are missing out on funding because the majority of lawyers are unaware of the existence of ‘pro bono costs’ orders, [...]
Miners’ compensation claims website under investigation by MoJ – Law Society’s Gazette
November 11, 2010 from Leave a Comment
Thursday 11 November 2010 by James Dean A no win, no fee website set up to farm former coal miners’ undersettlement claims is being investigated by the government claims regulator, the Gazette has learned. The Ministry of Justice is investigating justiceforminers.org.uk after Kevan Jones, Labour MP for North Durham, complained to the claims management regulator. [...]
Inspectorate critical of CPS
November 5, 2010 from Leave a Comment
Failings at the Crown Prosecution Service and police are costing the taxpayer £600,000 a year in abandoned trials and preventing cases from being brought before the courts, a CPS inspection report found this week. One eminent solicitor warned that the report showed a criminal justice system ‘on the verge of collapse’, with CPS budget cuts [...]