For a time it was heretical to pick flaws in the Woolf Report. Lawyers felt duty-bound to welcome it, lest they were seen to be in any way hesitant about reform. Theoretically, it is a fine report. However, as was earlier pointed out, the actual implementation of the reforms is where the problems lie. Research […]
In the absence of my chairman I would like to refer to Richard Hegarty’s letter in The Lawyer (17 September). It is clear that Mr Hegarty has learned much from watching Prime Minister’s Question Time. He attacks our group and recounts the Law Society’s lamentable attempts to support property selling instead of replying to the […]
Sophie Hughes was born on 18 October, 1965 in Cardiff. She lives in Putney, London, and is a partner at Anthony Gold Lerman & Muirhead, specialising in family and matrimonial work. What was your first job? Selling undies in Marks & Spencer. What was your first ever salary as a lawyer? £12,000. What would you […]
Memery Crystal acted for Recruitment Exchange on its admission to trading on the OFEX. The company is capitalised at £1.69 million. Memery Crystal also acted for Ellis & Partners
The Lawyer, in association with Canon, is offering the chance to win a Canon FC230 Personal Copier. The portable photocopier costs £595, plus VAT, and is designed for home use. It measures 359x397x104mm, weighs 8.4 kg, and prints at four pages a minute. The device can copy on A4 and A5 paper, tracing paper, labels […]
The Courts and Legal Services Act 1990 set out a statutory objective of making new or better ways of providing advocacy and litigation services and offering a wider choice of people to provide them. To achieve this, an “authorised body” – the Law Society is the only authorised body for solicitors – has the power […]
I attended the Bar Conference on Saturday, 28 September. As a law student, I was dismayed at what took place. One female barrister suggested that the Bar should treat women equally and that changes be made to the selection procedure to ensure equality of opportunity. It was very disappointing to note the lack of applause. […]
I refer to the article relating to Hounslow Law Centre published in The Lawyer 24 September. Yvonne Patterson’s employment was terminated and her claim settled by the law centre for reasons other than the claims of discrimination (which they deny) and so as to save the costs of a protracted hearing. Your article quoted me […]
A struck-off solicitor is planning to take the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal to court over a decision not to allow him to defend himself at a hearing. John Shepherd, 52, from Upton, Wirral, was struck off last year after being jailed for three years in December 1993 for fraudulently claiming green form fees at a standard […]
Chicago firm McDermott Will & Emery, one of the largest firms in the US, is planning to open an office in London following the official severing of its association with City firm Paisner & Co last month. McDermotts’ chairman, Lawrence Gerber, said it no longer needed the formal link with Paisner & co to serve […]
Alison Laferla reports Legal IT supplier Peapod Solutions is launching an all-in-one system for high street solicitors which will compete directly with the Law Society’s High Street Starter Kit. It includes a Pentium PC running Windows 95 and Microsoft Office, accounts and practice management software from Pracctice, Peapod’s electronic forms system, and a time-recording package. […]
Admissibility of document by one conspirator against others R v Devonport (1996). CA (Beldam LJ, Judge J and Allen J) Summary: Admitting a document prepared by one of the defendants charged with conspiracy to defraud as evidence against the others. Appeal by defendants who, with three others, had conspired to steal money from bank accounts […]