Law Society Gazette, 18 September 2008

Crisis set to spur consolidation

The collapse of Lehman Brothers amid turmoil on Wall Street will provide rich pickings for top firms but spell tough times for the rest, analysts have warned. Magic circle and

big US firms have won the bulk of work flowing from the fallout, with legal advice being requested by national banks, regulators and administrators as well as the companies involved.

 

11 September 2003

Letter: Probate operetta

I see the Lord Chancellor is in favour of ‘Tesco Law’. My view is that funeral directors are the best persons to undertake probate work.

They will be able to offer a true ‘one-stop-shop; or as Gilbert and Sullivan might have said,  ‘If you want to be a probate lawyer stick closely to your coffins and never

study law’.

 

14 September 1988

Medical malpractice

The UK is highly unlikely to experience a medical malpractice crisis of US proportions. Differences between the two countries’ legal, health care and social insurance systems will see to it. So conclude the health policy analysts at the King’s Fund Institute. In a new study of medical negligence they dismiss as exaggerated claims that the UK is already experiencing a malpractice crisis.

 

September 1963

The rate for the job

Recently, when acting in my official capacity as the clerk to the bench of lay justices, a solicitor in private practice who was prosecuting on behalf of the police applied for costs against a defendant who had been convicted of driving a motor vehicle when unfit through drink. The justices asked my opinion and, the case having been contested pretty vigorously, I suggested a fee of £7 7s. or £8 8s., at least, for the advocate.

This seemed to shock one of the justices, an officer of a large organisation for the protection of the living standards of a certain trade. He looked at me aghast and said: ‘What! Eight guineas! Why, that’s more than a skilled man would get!’ I thought this incident might interest those members of our profession who are concerned with our public image.

 

September 1948

A cricket match has been arranged between the Law Society and the Sussex Club and Ground to take place on the County Ground on Wednesday the 22nd September. The Society’s side will contain at least six players with county experience.

 

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