The criminal justice system is in danger of becoming a laughing stock according to the president of the Justices’ Clerks Society. Speaking at the Justices’ Clerks Society Annual Conference on 8 May, Tony Heath described the justice system as shambolic and lacking an overall aim. Heath singled out the police for attack when he accused […]
For the second year running, the number of female managing partners in The Lawyer’s Top 100 survey remains at three. This leaves open to question whether the rise of women has put a brick through the glass ceiling of male dominance yet. None of the three – one of whom is currently on maternity leave […]
I was surprised by Christie Davis’ article in The Lawyer 9 April. My memory of him at Cambridge is that he argued with academic rigour. I am not aware of any evidence that the Police or the CPS arrest and process fewer people towards the end of the financial year. I can produce figures for […]
This week’s announcement of a grassroots movement calling for new leadership at the Law Society must be music to the ears of many solicitors up and down the country who are becoming increasingly disenchanted with the shambles at Chancery Lane. Never have so many press pages been devoted to the internal machinations of a professional […]
Pinsent Curtis acted for Ingham in connection with its conversion into an investment trust.
I was very interested to read your piece in the Infotech section headed “Legal aid firm counts on accounting solution” (The Lawyer 30 April). As I am a costs draftsman it was most interesting to note that the necessity for my profession is to be eliminated by means of a computer system which will deal […]
I like Austin Mitchell and respect his views (The Lawyer 23 April). In 1993, he chaired a Fabian Society panel which made me that year’s Webb Memorial Essayist. Assuming that he has, therefore, some regard for my thoughts, I ask him to consider whether he is right to prescribe a National Legal Service as a […]
Wedlake Bell acted for Beeson Gregory
A NATIONAL campaign to oust Martin Mears from Chancery Lane received an immediate setback over the weekend when Michael Napier, the personal injury lawyers’ leader, announced he would not be challenging the president. The campaign for the Law Society presidency began in earnest last Friday with the launch of a national solicitors’ group determined to […]
Kownacki v Metropolitan Police – QBD, 29 April 1996 Claimant: Andrew Kownacki, 31 Incident: False imprisonment Injuries: Malicious arrest; plaintiff arrested during drug raid on public house in Hammersmith, London, where he worked as barman Jury award: £108,750 – £45,000 award for punitive damages Judge: Mr Justice French Plaintiff’s solicitors: Cart-wrights, Bristol Mansfield v Bacon […]
A TOP 10 list of leading legal aid fee earning firms has been greeted with claims that the figures are distorted. For the first time, the Lord Chancellor’s Department has published a list of the leading legal aid earners by name. But Russell Wallman, head of professional policy at the Law Society, said the figures, […]
Regional firm Shoosmiths & Harrison has recently invested £350,000 upgrading its telecommunications system. The firm has had 450 voice-mail boxes installed, and it plans to add the Octel HotDesk system soon. This means that employees can be contacted on any of their phones, at home or on a mobile, through a single phone number. The […]