The Bar

Articles

Back to the future

It's 2020. Ten years ago Lord Justice Jackson made recommendations to control the spiralling costs of civil litigation. Most have been implemented and the first clutch of appeals are now coming through. DJ Richard Chapman has written up the first case reports for Solicitors Journal

Straw in "astonishing" U-turn on court fees

In an extraordinary U-turn, justice secretary Jack Straw has decided to scrap the court fees paid by councils for care proceedings.

Conductor's family escapes assisted suicide prosecution

The children of Sir Edward Downes, the conductor, who died with his wife at the Dignitas clinic last July, will not be prosecuted, the Crown Prosecution Service has announced.

Update: personal injury

Vijay Ganapathy discusses pleural plaques compensation, causation and intervening acts, occupiers' liability and low-level asbestos exposure

High Court setback for shared surface scheme

Guide Dogs, the guide dogs training charity, has been granted leave to bring judicial review proceedings against a 'shared surface' scheme proposed by Kensington and Chelsea Council.

Fate of 300 complaints staff hangs in the balance

The fate of over 300 staff at the Legal Complaints Service in Leamington Spa hangs in the balance this week as the High Court considers whether or not they are protected by TUPE.

Multiple choice tests for criminal advocates

Multiple choice tests should be used to assess the quality of advocates in the criminal courts, the Legal Services Commission has said.

Bar launches judicial review

The Bar Council has responded to planned cuts in fees for criminal legal aid barristers by launching a judicial review.