The Law Society Gazette, 24 February 2005

ECtHR McLibel ruling splits press

The European Court of Human Rights ruling last week that a refusal to grant legal aid to environmental campaigners Helen Steel and David Morris for their epic libel battle with fast food giant McDonald’s breached their right to a fair trial left Fleet Street firmly divided.

Under a headline ‘How lawyers get rich on bogus human rights’, the Daily Telegraph rubbished the court’s decision.

By contrast, the Independent argued that libel actions continue to be used as a means of stifling public debate and hailed the ECtHR’s ‘hugely important judgment’.

22 February 1995

Labour creates a future vision

A vision of what life might be like for the legal profession under a future Labour government became substantially clearer this week with the leaking of a consultation paper from the party’s policy commission. It struck a tone which was alternately hostile and conciliatory towards lawyers. And, in a move which could cause Law Society officials concern, it appears that a Labour government could be sympathetic to some form of compulsory competitive tendering for legal aid franchises.

20 February 1985

Postbox: Advertising on TV?

Who says solicitors cannot advertise their services on television? Congratulations to the solicitor who acted recently in the purchase of No 11 Coronation Street, Weatherfield, for completing the transaction in just five days after the initial viewing by the eventual purchasers. Now at least 12 million people know of the fast and efficient service provided by the profession!

26 February 1975

Barrister’s diary: Girls everywhere

The choice of a middle-aged mum to lead the party of tradition makes some of us pause for thought. How are we to frame our political, social, professional, industrial – and all other – institutions so as to accommodate men and women equally within them? Our society has gone far to meet this demand, though there is still some way to go. Girls enjoy higher education, the universities are full of women, there are many in the professions.

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