|
Strikes and work to rule will hit courts from Thursday | |
Hundreds of court staff will refuse overtime until August as the public sector pensions row threatens to create a backlog in the court service. | |
Law firm trainee opportunities 'boosted by salary cut' | |
Removing the trainee minimum salary will increase training opportunities but at a cost of lower wages, a survey has found. | |
Chinese firm enters London with co-operation plan | |
The first top-tier Chinese law firm to enter the London market says it is looking to co-operate - rather than merge - with UK firms. | |
Solicitors have 'duty' to disclose funding options | |
A leading US litigation funder has claimed lawyers have a ‘legal and ethical duty’ to tell clients about alternative funding options. | |
Appeal court backs law firm in 'you're fired' retainer row | |
Solicitors are entitled to suspend work for clients who have not paid their bill in accordance with the contractual term of business agreed, the Court of Appeal has ruled in a key case on retainers. | |
Civil court system faces 'meltdown' | |
The civil and family court system is facing the prospect of chaos as the government prepares to cut face-to-face counter services and problems persist at the Salford civil claims centre, lawyers have warned. | |
JAC commissioner: 'let solicitors become judges' | |
The newly-appointed solicitor commissioner to the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) has expressed scepticism about targets and quotas for diversity as well as the ‘tipping point’ method of favouring under-represented groups. | |
SRA reprieve for financial advice law firms | |
Some 70 firms set to lose their dual authorisation to give combined legal and financial advice later this year may have been granted a reprieve. | |
Solicitors highlight five mySRA failings | |
Solicitors have pinpointed five key failings of the online practising certificate renewal system. | |
Female partner boost at magic circle | |
The number of women promoted to partnership at magic circle firms has risen by 50% - but they still make up just a quarter of all the promotions. | |
| ||||
Justice.gov.uk | News features |
| New tool to tackle economic crime |
Plans for a new tool to tackle economic crime were published today for consultation by Solicitor General Edward Garnier QC and Justice Minister Crispin Blunt.
Under Deferred Prosecution Agreements, companies would agree to publically admit wrongdoing, and meet tough conditions such as payment of substantial penalties, undertaking internal reform and submitting to regular review and monitoring. The whole process would be overseen by a judge and the threat of full prosecution would remain hanging over a company should they fail to comply with the agreement. Solicitor General Edward Garnier QC said:'If we can encourage companies to self-report ... |
| New laws help diverse judiciary |
More women and people from minority backgrounds will be encouraged to become judges under plans announced today by Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke.
Mr Clarke revealed that new laws would be put in place to remove obstacles which can limit diversity in the judiciary. They include changing the rules to extend part-time working patterns for senior judges, intended to help balance work and family lives, and enabling ‘positive action’ for appointments – meaning that if two candidates are completely equal in their abilities, a selection can be made on the basis of improving diversity.
The moves will not change the over-riding principle ... |
| Cameras in court plans revealed |
Courts in England and Wales will be more publicly accessible than ever before when television broadcasting is introduced, Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke said today.
Plans to overturn the ban on filming and broadcasting from law courts were yesterday unveiled as part of the Queen’s Speech and will form part of the Crime and Courts Bill announced today.
Once the legal changes have been made broadcasting will be introduced initially at the Court of Appeal, where filming will be permitted of opening and closing legal arguments made by lawyers and the judgements handed down.
The Government will later look to ... |
| In support of business dispute resolution |
Paul Turner, who leads on conciliation and mediation at the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, explains why they are supporting the business dispute resolution commitment, part of reforms outlined in 'Justice for business: supporting business and promoting growth'.
In the current economic climate, the huge potential to save costs, time and the need to find a business-driven commercial solution must make the use of mediation a first step in any dispute, whether it's for the individual, partnership, company or corporate.
The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales has already recognised the advantages and benefits ... |
| Queen’s Speech - plans to transform the justice system |
A raft of new measures to transform the justice system were set out today as part of the Queen’s Speech at the annual state opening of Parliament.
Over the next year the courts and tribunals service will be reformed to increase efficiency and transparency, while the judicial appointments process will be reformed to encourage greater judicial diversity. Measures will also be put in place to protect free speech, and to make the security services more accountable, by allowing civil courts to consider all information relating to a case - even where national security prevents it from being made public.
... |
Copyright © 2010 Central Legal Recruitment
  |
 |
