All articles by Catherine Baksi – Page 102

  • News

    Society backs FSA move on high deposits

    2009-06-26T00:00:00Z

    The Law Society has welcomed the Financial Services Authority’s proposal to provide extra protection for holders of temporary high deposit balances in the event of a failure of a UK bank. The current maximum deposit protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme is £50,000 per individual, ...

  • News

    LSC makes adjustments to civil contract proposals following concerns

    2009-06-26T00:00:00Z

    The Legal Services Commission said it had ‘taken on board’ concerns from the profession in amendments it announced yesterday to its final proposals for the new civil contract and bid round. The tendering process for the three-year contracts will begin in September. It will be run ...

  • News

    Practitioners divided over implications of trial without jury

    2009-06-25T00:00:00Z

    Criminal practitioners are divided over the implications of the Court of Appeal’s decision to allow a judge alone to hear the retrial of a robbery case. Last week the lord chief justice ruled that the risk of jury tampering was sufficient to allow the trial of ...

  • News

    Crime figures show drop in fraud and criminal damage

    2009-06-25T00:00:00Z

    The number of people sentenced for fraud and criminal damage fell during the last quarter of 2008, while fewer juveniles and young adults were sent to prison, statistics released today reveal. Provisional Ministry of Justice data show that from October to December last year, 75,300 people ...

  • News

    Criminal solicitors raise fund for court challenge to BVT

    2009-06-25T00:00:00Z

    Criminal solicitors have pledged contributions for a fighting fund to challenge the government’s introduction of best value tendering (BVT) for legal aid work, the Gazette has learned. A consultation on the scheme ended last week, after attracting more than 1,000 responses expected to be overwhelmingly critical.

  • News

    Best value tendering: working for nothing

    2009-06-25T00:00:00Z

    Over the last couple of years, the Legal Services Commission has churned out consultation upon consultation about unpopular legal aid reforms. But, despite a severe case of consultation fatigue, over 1,000 groups or individuals responded to its second paper on best value tendering (BVT), demonstrating the strength of feeling within ...

  • News

    CPS launches national advocacy assessment

    2009-06-25T00:00:00Z

    A national system of advocacy assessment will be introduced across the Crown Prosecution Service to ensure quality, the director of public prosecutions announced today. Keir Starmer QC (pictured) said the new advocacy quality management strategy will monitor performance and target training. It will be implemented ...

  • News

    Some court costs to rise in civil fee reform

    2009-06-18T00:00:00Z

    Changes to 30 types of civil court fee will come into effect on 13 July. The Ministry of Justice said the changes are aimed at targeting taxpayers’ money more effectively while helping those in financial difficulty. Several fees will rise. For example, the fee for sending a bailiff to collect ...

  • News

    Tories will halt roll out of best value tendering, says Grieve

    2009-06-18T00:00:00Z

    A Conservative government would suspend the national rollout of best value tendering (BVT) to enable a proper evaluation of the controversial new scheme, the shadow justice secretary announced last week. Dominic Grieve QC said that pilots due to begin in Greater Manchester and Avon and ...

  • News

    Pro bono lawyers celebrate awards

    2009-06-18T00:00:00Z

    City firm Taylor Wessing won the award for best contribution by a law firm at LawWorks’ annual pro bono awards. The firm was recognised for its ‘commitment and enthusiasm to investing in the community’, particularly through its work organising and staffing a weekly legal advice ...

  • News

    Solicitors and barristers unite to fight BVT ‘reverse auction’

    2009-06-18T00:00:00Z

    The Law Society and Bar Council have joined forces to warn that access to justice will be reduced if the government ‘ploughs on with its reckless approach’ to best value tendering (BVT). The two bodies, together with the Criminal Bar Association, issued a joint statement as ...

  • News

    Client-matching website takes aim at claims handling firms

    2009-06-18T00:00:00Z

    A solicitor has launched a ­website to bring together prospective clients and solicitors who will take on their cases in an attempt to drive claims handlers out of the process. The Law Bazaar, set up by Costas Andrea (pictured), who practised as an international litigator for ...

  • News

    Jackman collects legal aid gong

    2009-06-18T00:00:00Z

    Angela Jackman, a partner at London firm Fisher Meredith, received an award for outstanding achievement at last night’s Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year awards. Jackman was recognised for her work in the development of education law to ensure justice for disadvantaged children, as well as ...

  • News

    Cut-price HIPS boost interest

    2009-06-11T00:00:00Z

    Solicitors could oust estate agents as the first port of call for home sellers if a trend started in Merseyside catches on nationally, a conveyancer claims. Liverpool firm MSB says that after launching a cost-price home information pack (HIP) it has had a 500% surge ...

  • News

    Solicitors encouraged to apply for judicial posts

    2009-06-11T00:00:00Z

    Solicitors have never been in a better position to apply for judicial office, the Law Society has said in response to research suggesting that many still perceive the judiciary as ‘a career for others’. A study sponsored by the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) says that solicitors ...

  • News

    Defence fee caps will be final blow for legal aid, practitioners say

    2009-06-11T00:00:00Z

    Government proposals to cap payments made to acquitted defendants who have paid privately for their defence are the ‘final nail in the coffin’ of criminal legal aid firms, a leading practitioner group has warned. The Ministry of Justice announced this week it is to press ...

  • News

    All-party group boosts legal aid

    2009-06-11T00:00:00Z

    Michael Mansfield QC (pictured standing) criticised the government’s ‘short-sighted and completely erroneous’ approach to the provision of legal aid services at last week’s launch of an all-party parliamentary group on legal aid. The group, chaired by Labour MP Karen Buck, aims to promote parliamentary and public understanding of the role ...

  • News

    Defence solicitors shun pilots of virtual court

    2009-06-04T00:00:00Z

    Pilots of a ‘virtual court’ enabling defendants to make their first appearance before magistrates by video link have been snubbed by solicitors. Of the 21 firms in Westminster that are eligible to take part in the first 12-month pilot, only 11 have agreed to ...

  • News

    BVT ‘threatens criminal chambers as well as solicitors’ firms’

    2009-06-04T00:00:00Z

    Criminal chambers as well as solicitors’ firms will go to the wall under best value tendering (BVT), practitioners have warned while calling for the profession to unite on the issue.

  • News

    Home Office plans big cuts in forensic science service

    2009-06-04T00:00:00Z

    The Forensic Science Service (FSS) could cut up to 800 jobs in a move to make it more competitive. The Home Office confirmed the company, which is owned by the government and analyses crime scene evidence for the police, has begun a consultation with its staff ...