Solicitor HCAs v the bar – the debate rages on

Thursday, 18 March 2010 ‘If you’re not bar, you won’t go far,’ one rueful lawyer noted after Judge Gledhill QC aimed his now notorious broadside at three solicitor higher court advocates last year (see [2009] Gazette, 23 April, 1). ...
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Calling for a legal duty to inform patients of medical errors or incidents

by Paul Sankey a partner at Russell Jones & Walker. He specialises in clinical negligence and is a member of the specialist Law Society and AvMA clinical negligence panels

At the age of 39, Colin Freeman’s life fell apart when he suffered a severe and disabling stroke. He was left paralysed down one side and wheelchair-bound, brain-damaged, medically retired from his job as a scientist, and dependent on full-time care.

Letters

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Tools for the job

I write in response to the letter headed ‘Tools of the trade’ (see [2010] Gazette, 18 February, 11). I disagree entirely with the sweeping assumption that state-educated students do not gain the skills to obtain a professional qualification.

Reality bites

I read the articles by Lucy Scott-Moncrieff and Adam Makepeace with interest (see [2010] Gazette, 11 March, 12). I was formerly a sole practitioner for over 20 years, involved in mental health work all that time. I have been working with Duncan Lewis as a freelance consultant mental health solicitor for two years.

Down the food chain

I read with interest last week’s item about legal aid business models (see [2010] Gazette, 11 March, 12). As far as family law is concerned, the 2010 fee structure and the way that solicitors in private practice are now audited (they must have documentary evidence of means on file when audited), creates excessive bureaucracy just to earn £95 plus VAT per case.

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Africa is where it’s at for British lawyers
Jonathan Rayner
Wednesday, 17 March 2010

There’s a new feel-good factor in Africa, a mingled sense of pride, optimism and confidence that the future is in its people’s hands. Its economy is booming and the ‘developed world’ is again beating a path to its door...

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Who will take up external investment?
Rachel Rothwell
Thursday, 11 March 2010

The Gazette revealed this week that law firms are already getting well into discussions with external investors in readiness for when the rules change in October 2011, and indeed some are even going as far as to...

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Judges face an even tougher task in children’s cases
James Dean
Thursday, 11 March 2010

Judges in family proceedings have been given an unenviable task. Following a decision of the Supreme Court last week, they must now think longer and harder...

1 Comments