Lawyer news

• Solicitor hiked hourly rate tenfold as property deal stalled

  20-11-2019 15:28 via Law Gazette - SDT & SRA interventions
  
  Tribunal finds conveyancer acted unreasonably in not ensuring he completed his undertaking after other party's mistake.
  
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• Police transgender rules breach right to free speech, court told

  20-11-2019 14:49 via Law | The Guardian
  
  Ex-officer Harry Miller taking legal action after being accused of hate incidentOfficial police guidance on recording hate incidents against transgender people imposes a “substantial chilling effect” on freedom of expression, the high court has been told by lawyers representing a former officer.Harry Miller, who served with Humberside police, was contacted by the force this year after a complaint from a member of the public about allegedly transphobic comments he made on his Twitter
  
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• Former UK official in Hong Kong 'tortured in 15-day China ordeal'

  20-11-2019 13:43 via Law | The Guardian
  
  Simon Cheng, who worked at consulate, alleges repeated mental and physical abuseA former employee of the British consulate in Hong Kong has alleged he was tortured while being detained in China during a 15-day ordeal in which he said he was accused of being a British spy and secret agent and held in solitary confinement.The UK foreign secretary, Dominic Raab, summoned the Chinese ambassador to demand an explanation after Simon Cheng, a Hong Kong citizen who worked for the British government for
  
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• Court of Appeal to hear facial recognition technology challenge

  20-11-2019 12:53 via Law Gazette - Headlines
  
  Case brought by Cardiff resident Ed Bridges expected to be heard next year.
  
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• Press attacks on family courts should be assessed - McFarlane

  20-11-2019 12:47 via Law Gazette - Headlines
  
  Family division president says research would highlight if justice system is making mistakes.
  
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• Negligence claimant entitled to full compensation, rules Supreme Court

  20-11-2019 12:35 via Law Gazette - Headlines
  
  Claim against law firm does not lose its value because the case was retrospectively downgraded.
  
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• Minimum pay for bar pupils on the rise

  20-11-2019 12:22 via Law Gazette - News
  
  Pupils in London will receive a minimum of £18,866 from next year.
  
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• Campaigners for gender recognition law 'should avoid media'

  20-11-2019 11:50 via Law Gazette - Headlines
  
  Law-firm sponsored survey of laws across Europe puts UK in the dock over transgender rights.
  
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• Chinese lawyers get lessons in international arbitration

  20-11-2019 11:27 via Law Gazette - Headlines
  
  University of Law says the Chinese legal sector is ‘expanding rapidly’ and training is ‘much needed’.
  
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• Radical plans aim to give power back to frontline social workers | David Brindle

  20-11-2019 08:00 via Law | The Guardian
  
  A new system modelled on the Netherlands Buurtzorg approach could increase the time spent with families by 60%Plans have been drawn up to revolutionise social work with children and families, giving the UK’s frontline social workers autonomy to manage their own cases and freeing them from tiers of management and stifling bureaucracy. Time spent with clients could rise by as much as 60%, it is claimed, with average caseloads cut by a fifth – at no additional cost to the system.The rad
  
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• Hospice boss Mark Jarman-Howe: ‘Why am I the only one speaking out on assisted dying?’

  20-11-2019 08:00 via Law | The Guardian
  
  Giving people control over how and when they die would reduce unavoidable suffering, says the chief of one of the largest hospices in EnglandWe are failing our patients by not engaging openly and honestly with the issue of assisted dying,” says Mark Jarman-Howe, chief executive of St Helena, the largest hospice in the east of England. “We have to end the climate of fear that surrounds discussion of this in the hospice and palliative care sectors, or more than 6,000 people a year will
  
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• Supreme Court to rule on compensation in miner's claim

  20-11-2019 07:35 via Law Gazette - News
  
  Judgment to be handed down in Edwards v Hugh James Ford Simey (a firm).
  
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• Tories pledge to allow victims and media into parole hearings

  19-11-2019 23:30 via Law | The Guardian
  
  Commitment follows outcry over proposed release of serial sex attacker John WorboysVictims and the media would be allowed to apply to attend parole hearings under reforms pledged by the Conservatives.The Tories said they wanted to reform the parole system, which has been accused of not being transparent enough following a successful court challenge last year over the proposed release of serial sex attacker John Worboys. Continue reading...
  
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• Ducks in a row: French farmer wins dispute over quacking

  19-11-2019 18:41 via Law | The Guardian
  
  New neighbours of smallholding failed in €5,200 claim for lost sleep due to loud birdsThe ducks on a smallholding in south-west France will live to quack another day.In another symbolic story of the disharmony between town and country folk, a French court has ruled that the noise from the flock kept by a retired farmer does not warrant them being silenced permanently. Continue reading...
  
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• Author who tried to help mystery prisoner publish memoir hits out at secret trials

  19-11-2019 18:00 via Law | The Guardian
  
  The memoir was written by an Australian citizen who was jailed in the ACT last year in a process completely hidden from public scrutinyAn author who triggered a stunning police crackdown by attempting to help a mystery prisoner publish his memoir has hit out at the total secrecy surrounding the man’s imprisonment.An Australian citizen was prosecuted, convicted, and jailed in the ACT last year in a process completely hidden from public scrutiny. Related: Mystery prisoner held in Canberra ja
  
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• Extra sitting days ‘simply not enough’, says criminal bar

  19-11-2019 17:26 via Law Gazette - Headlines
  
  Caroline Goodwin QC labels the 700-day increase ‘derisory’.
  
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• Assisted dying review rejected by High Court

  19-11-2019 17:05 via Law Gazette - Headlines
  
  Judges rule that ‘courts are not the venue for arguments which have failed to convince parliament’.
  
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• Appeal court re-establishes fixed costs for multi-track claim

  19-11-2019 16:47 via Law Gazette - News
  
  Judges urge solicitors to be clear about costs proposals to avoid disputes ending up in court.
  
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• Appeal court re-establishes fixed costs for claim headed to multi-track

  19-11-2019 16:47 via Law Gazette - News
  
  Judges urge solicitors to be clear about costs proposals to avoid disputes ending up in court.
  
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• Right-to-die campaigners to appeal against court ruling

  19-11-2019 16:41 via Law | The Guardian
  
  Judges deny terminally ill man full hearing of application for help to end his life
  Right-to-die campaigners are planning to appeal after a father of two suffering from motor neurone disease was denied a full hearing of his application for help to end his life.The high court ruled on Tuesday that it will not consider further evidence presented on behalf of Phil Newby, 49, from Rutland, who is terminally ill, cannot walk or use his lower arms. Continue reading...
  
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• Johnson reveals plans to extend police stop-and-search powers

  19-11-2019 15:31 via Law | The Guardian
  
  Searches to be allowed without grounds for suspicion and knife offenders charged in 24 hoursLatest election news – live updatesBoris Johnson has set out plans to tackle knife crime by expanding controversial stop-and-search powers which would allow police to search people without having any grounds for suspicion.The prime minister said he would introduce “serious violence reduction orders”, which would increase police powers to search people who are “known knife carriers&
  
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• Will the Tory pledge on child murderer jail terms have an impact?

  19-11-2019 15:02 via Law | The Guardian
  
  The Conservatives have promised to tighten up existing whole life sentences
  Latest election news – live updatesChild murderers will spend the remainder of their days in prison and not be released from life sentences if the Conservatives are returned to power. Continue reading...
  
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• Retired top judge attacks ex-Law Society president over ‘political’ Supreme Court

  19-11-2019 12:38 via Law Gazette - Headlines
  
  Martin Mears, Society president in 1995, said the Supreme Court could be brought to heel by a ‘one-paragraph act of parliament’.
  
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• China attacks Hong Kong mask ruling as fears of legal intervention grow

  19-11-2019 12:14 via Law Gazette - Headlines
  
  A spokesperson for the National People’s Congress referred to China’s ‘serious concern’ and ‘strong dissatisfaction’.
  
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• ‘Not their job to seek out claims’ - lawyers see off £10m negligence case

  19-11-2019 11:27 via Law Gazette - Headlines
  
  High Court rules claim over allegedly negligent employment tribunal advice should not proceed.
  
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• 'Inflection point' looms for top conveyancers

  19-11-2019 11:03 via Law Gazette - News
  
  Biggest players grab record share of the market despite slowdown.
  
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• Solicitor and east London councillor jailed for housing fraud

  19-11-2019 10:04 via Law Gazette - Headlines
  
  Muhammad Huran lived in council accommodation for years when he had already purchased another property.
  
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• California moves to resurrect lawsuits at heart of Michael Jackson documentary

  19-11-2019 03:16 via Law | The Guardian
  
  Judges say James Safechuck and Wade Robson’s suits should be reconsidered, a high profile outcome for a new sexual abuse lawA California appeals court appeared strongly inclined Monday to give new life to lawsuits filed by two men who accuse Michael Jackson of repeatedly molesting them when they were boys.In a tentative ruling, three judges said that lawsuits from James Safechuck and Wade Robson against two corporate entities that Jackson owned should be reconsidered by the trial court tha
  
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• Tories pledge whole life term for premeditated murder of a child

  19-11-2019 01:01 via Law | The Guardian
  
  Policy is one of a number of Conservative election promises concerning tougher sentencingAdults who commit the premeditated murder of a child will be given tougher sentences of life without parole under plans due to be included in the Conservative party’s manifesto.Robert Buckland, the justice secretary, said it was his aim to stop the parents of murdered children seeing the “sickening” spectacle of their killers walking free.Related: The Guardian view on Conservative criminal
  
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• Improving the lives of women and girls | Letter

  18-11-2019 19:52 via Law | The Guardian
  
  Signatories including Pragna Patel and Mary-Ann Stephenson are fighting for equality and women’s human rights, and are calling on candidates from across the political spectrum to adopt policies to redress any imbalancesThis election falls between the 101st anniversary of some women winning the right to stand for parliament and the 50th anniversary of the landmark Equal Pay Act. Yet in the outgoing parliament just a third of MPs were women – 4% were black and minority ethnic women.Mea
  
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• Anonymous litigant in person wasted ten judges' time

  18-11-2019 16:31 via Law Gazette - Headlines
  
  High Court declares action brought by 'ABC' against Google totally without merit after two years of proceedings.
  
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• Anonymous litigant in person wasted 10 judges' time

  18-11-2019 16:31 via Law Gazette - News
  
  High Court declares action brought by 'ABC' against Google totally without merit after two years of proceedings.
  
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• 'What will happen to me now?' Reaction to law centre closure revealed

  18-11-2019 16:20 via Law Gazette - Headlines
  
  Law Centres Network says it is still picking up the pieces from Lambeth demise.
  
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• £10m negligence claim against London firm thrown out

  18-11-2019 16:01 via Law Gazette - News
  
  Chief Master Marsh criticises ‘wild allegations’ and unfocused evidence. 
  
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• Freed prisoners killing themselves at a rate of one every two days

  18-11-2019 14:28 via Law | The Guardian
  
  Charity calls for urgent action after sixfold rise in suicide rate among people on supervisionThe number of people who took their own life while on supervision after leaving prison has increased sixfold since 2010 to a rate of one every two days, fresh analysis seen by the Guardian shows.There were 153 self-inflicted deaths among those on post-custody supervision in 2018-19, compared with 24 in 2010-11, Ministry of Justice data analysed by the charity Inquest reveals, although this is partly dow
  
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• War crimes claims against UK troops need ICC scrutiny, says Labour

  18-11-2019 14:13 via Law | The Guardian
  
  Ministers urged to answer allegation that they stifled war crimes investigationsLabour has urged ministers to respond to claims of stifling war crimes investigations after it emerged that no prosecutions have been launched relating to allegations of abuse at a British army base in Iraq in 2003.The shadow attorney general, Shami Chakrabarti, said the allegations of murder, torture and sexual abuse deserved “anxious scrutiny” by the international criminal court (ICC). Downing Street de
  
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• No 10 denies claims it covered up war crime allegations

  18-11-2019 14:13 via Law | The Guardian
  
  ICC may investigate after claims British troops implicated in killing and torture of civiliansDowning Street has said claims the government covered up allegations of unlawful killings and abuse by British soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq are untrue.Details of a joint investigation by the BBC’s Panorama programme and the Sunday Times, released at the weekend, present evidence they claim implicates British troops in the killing of children and torture of civilians. Continue reading...
  
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• Cryptoassets and smart contracts valid in English law

  18-11-2019 13:27 via Law Gazette - News
  
  Taskforce publishes legal statement on status of cryptoassets and smart contracts.
  
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• Help us raise 1.5m to fund high impact journalism like this in 2020

  18-11-2019 12:51 via Law | The Guardian
  
  2020 will be a defining year for America – and the need for a robust, independent press has never been greater. We’re asking our US readers to help us raise $1.5m to support our journalism in the new year
  Dear readers:The Guardian believes in open journalism, which is why we’ve never put up a paywall. Your continuing support allows us to keep our reporting and analysis accessible to readers across the world. Continue reading...
  
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• Buoyant trading statement lifts DWF share price

  18-11-2019 12:45 via Law Gazette - News
  
  Newly listed company will report its interim half-year results next month but provided a trading update today.
  
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• Excluding SNP and Lib Dems from ITV debate is unfair, court hears

  18-11-2019 12:13 via Law | The Guardian
  
  Parties’ lawyers tell high court it would break impartiality law to allow only Labour and ToriesLatest election news – live updatesExcluding the Liberal Democrats and Scottish National party from this week’s televised debate would be unlawful and breach ITV’s duty to preserve political impartiality during an election, the high court has been told.Lawyers for the Liberal Democrats and the SNP have gone to the high court to argue that it is unfair to restrict Tuesday evenin
  
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• 2020 could see an end to safe, legal abortion anywhere in America

  18-11-2019 10:00 via Law | The Guardian
  
  It’s more crucial than ever to have a president in office who won’t just pay the usual lip service to women’s rightsHelp us cover the critical issues of 2020. Make a contributionIf you care about the rights of women to make their own reproductive choices, 2020 is the year that matters.It’s too late to do anything about the current makeup of the court – except, of course, for women and the people who love them to be very, very loud in our support of abortion rights,
  
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• War crimes court considers investigation into British military

  18-11-2019 09:32 via Law | The Guardian
  
  BBC’s Panorama alleges state covered up killings of civilians in Afghanistan and IraqThe international criminal court may investigate the British military for the first time after allegations that war crimes had been committed, the BBC has reported.The broadcaster’s Panorama programme has claimed killings of civilians in Afghanistan and Iraq have been covered up by the state. Continue reading...
  
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• Supreme Court to consider Ryanair compensation ruling

  18-11-2019 01:01 via Law Gazette - Headlines
  
  Appeal will examine a ruling allowing the airline to compensate passengers directly for flight delays.
  
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• News focus: Standards deviation

  18-11-2019 01:01 via Law Gazette - Headlines
  
  Proposals to assure standards of solicitor advocacy have been met with disbelief from practitioners who claim the regulator’s approach ‘throws the baby out with the bathwater’.
  
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• News focus: Advocacy assurance plans 'retrogressive'

  18-11-2019 01:01 via Law Gazette - Headlines
  
  Proposals to assure standards of solicitor advocacy have been met with disbelief from practitioners who claim the regulator’s approach ‘throws the baby out with the bathwater’.
  
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• Law Society unveils manifesto wishlist

  18-11-2019 01:01 via Law Gazette - Headlines
  
  Chancery Lane says next month’s general election is a ‘pivotal moment’ for the future of the UK justice system.
  
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• Law Society unveils manifesto demands

  18-11-2019 01:01 via Law Gazette - Headlines
  
  Chancery Lane says next month’s general election is a ‘pivotal moment’ for the future of the UK justice system.
  
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• Devolved Wales: 'three law courses will emerge'

  18-11-2019 01:01 via Law Gazette - Headlines
  
  Swansea and Cardiff law schools say a separate Welsh justice system will not deter English students.
  
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• Devolved Wales: all can study here

  18-11-2019 01:01 via Law Gazette - Headlines
  
  Swansea and Cardiff law schools say a separate Welsh justice system will not deter English students.
  
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