16 February 2015

Online civil court proposed

An internet-based court service should be created to handle low-value civil claims, the courts advisory body recommends today. Online dispute resolution could increase access to justice and streamline the courts process, the Civil Justice Council said.

17 February 2005

McLibel Two wrongly denied legal aid

Legal aid will have to be awarded to defendants in libel actions, it was claimed this week after the European Court of Human Rights ruled that the campaigners involved in a long-running legal battle with fast food giant McDonald’s were denied the right to a fair trial because they were refused funding.

22 February 1995

Labour creates a future vision

A vision of life for the legal profession under a future Labour government became clearer this week with the leaking of a paper from the party’s policy commission. It strikes a tone which is alternately hostile and conciliatory towards lawyers. It proposes the creation of a network of publicly funded advice centres that would scoop up much of the civil legal aid work done by private practitioners.

20 February 1985

Postbox: Solicitors and strikes

The anonymous local government solicitor who writes on ‘Solicitors and strikes’ missed the point. As an officer of the Supreme Court, a solicitor’s duty lies primarily neither to his employer nor to his union but to the court – and this comprehends not only his court work but all work undertaken in the furtherance of justice in our society.

19 February 1975

Whither the profession?

What subject, the Gazette asked the President, is raised most frequently at meetings? Not surprisingly, came the answer: ‘What is the Law Society doing to get more work for the profession?’ With the slowing down of business at the present time and a greater invasion of the profession’s traditional spheres of work by outsiders, what positive action can the Society take to protect the present fields of work and explore new avenues?

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