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Clarke highlights minor legal aid concessions

Introducing the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill in the Commons this afternoon, justice secretary Ken Clarke highlighted a series of minor changes the government is making to its drastic legal aid cuts.

Conveyancing and divorce top of consumer complaints

Conveyancing snags and divorce outcomes top the list of consumer complaints against lawyers.

No retreat on legal aid cuts and Jackson reforms

The government is making few concessions on its legal aid cuts and implementation of the Jackson reforms, an advance copy of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill seen by Solicitors Journal has indicated.

Clarke's sentencing discounts ditched

David Cameron has abandoned completely justice secretary Ken Clarke's plan to increase sentence discounts for people who plead guilty at the earliest stage from 33 to 50 per cent, it has emerged.

Solicitors' firm accepts defeat in battle to save court

Robin Murray & Co, the Kent law firm which launched a judicial review to save Sittingbourne Magistrates' Court, has accepted defeat.

Guiding light

The new sentencing guidelines are designed to ensure consistency and transparency, and give equal weight to both harm and culpability, argues Rosalind Campion as she rebuffs Jeannie Mackie's criticism

You will go to the ball

Mediocre food, talking shop and terrible speeches – why are barristers so keen on work parties? Felix figures it out

Measuring up

As French practitioners brace themselves for legal aid reform, Geraldine George considers how their system compares with ours