A stroll down Gazette memory lane

Gazette 11 October 2012

Grayling dishes out tough justice

Repeat violent or sexual offenders will receive mandatory life sentences under a party conference-pleasing set of measures announced by the new justice secretary, Chris Grayling, this week. Grayling’s speech also promised reform of community sentences to deliver what he called ‘proper punishment’.

17 October 2002

All firms to face regular inspections

Every firm in England and Wales will be inspected regularly in a major expansion of the Law Society’s regulatory efforts, the Society’s ruling council decided last week. The package was backed by council members by more than two to one. It has been costed as £21 million over the next three years.

14 October 1992

A cold wind of injustice

As the tumbril transporting those solicitors undertaking criminal legal aid work rolls inexorably towards the day when the Lord Chancellor’s Department will impose fixed fees, there is particular concern about the underlying ‘swings and roundabouts’ assumption on which fixed fees have been calculated. Research shows an enormous disparity of approach by courts in determining applications for legal aid. Those of us who practise in ‘law grant’ courts will only be able to undertake ‘roundabout’ cases.

13 October 1982

Postbox: Land Registry

What has gone wrong with the Land Charges Registry Department at Plymouth? Is it just my firm who are suffering, or is everybody finding that it is taking longer and longer to get searches back? At the moment I am waiting for the return of searches submitted nine and 10 days ago and on occasions even longer.

October 1962

Training the solicitor of the future

I have been impressed by the number of solicitors who during the last few months have described newly qualified men whom they have employed as ‘not much help’, ‘a dead loss’, ‘more of a liability than an asset’, or in similar terms. 

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