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News, analysis, comment and updates from ICLR's case law and UK legislation platform
Concluding our review of significant trends and developments in last year’s legal news, part 1 of which covered from January to June 2014. July: Fakes We reported in July (Weekly Notes, 4 July) that some high street banks were using the names of fake solicitors’ firms on the letterhead of their chasers-up to defaulting debtors. This… Continue reading
Welcome to the ICLR Criminal Law Updater for November and December 2014. Here’s our round up of the reportable and unreportable criminal cases decided in the High Court, the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) and the UK Supreme Court over the last four weeks. Where a transcript is available on BAILII, a linked reference has… Continue reading
Court procedure may be getting less adversarial but the relationship between lawyers and the executive has become more so, as the number of defeats suffered by the government in judicial review proceedings grows steadily greater. No wonder the government wants to cut back on the scope for bringing judicial review, yet even in this endeavour… Continue reading
Guest post by David Burrows A buttress to the right to a fair trial under article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights is the concept of ‘equality of arms’. This does not mean that where an opponent’s representation is paid for, every civil case justifies a grant of state funding; but, for example,… Continue reading
The week’s selection of legal stories from home and abroad includes a simian entitlement to human rights, a juror’s entitlement to a hot lunch, and the public’s right to government information. Plus the Google tax and a veiled threat. Other recent articles of interest: Dan Bunting, blog post about A conversation with the Lord Chief Justice John Bolch,… Continue reading
Reviewed by Paul Magrath This charming little handbook is now in its third printing, after proving a popular stocking-filler at Wildy’s bookshop. Its author, a retired judge, is also a keen watercolourist and draughtsman, a family trait that apparently can be traced back tot he 18th Century. It is well known, however, that the law… Continue reading
This week’s roundup of legal stories from home and abroad includes a cutting critique of the MoJ, an “unlike” for the way Facebook is being blamed for a murder, a faker’s shakeup of criminal convictions and an immigration lawyer’s bear-faced cheek. UPDATED 8 December 2014. Recent writings of interest: Carl Gardner, on Head of… Continue reading
Reviewed by Paul Magrath Faith in the justice system to deliver a fair verdict is in short supply on the grim council estate where the rape, drug dealing and some pretty grievous bodily harm take place in Kathy Lette’s latest novel, Courting Trouble. Her writing style, a giddy cocktail of high-heeled chick lit and wisecracking… Continue reading
This week’s selection of legal tales from home and abroad looks at legal aid cuts, litigants in person and their McKenzie friends, and the government’s approach to internet crime and surveillance. Plus plebs at the gate and the five-a-day fruits of law enforcement. Recent blogs etc of interest: David Allen Green on the FT blog, asks What… Continue reading
On the benefits of foreign law and the dangers of expert evidence By Paul Magrath, Head of Product Development and Online Content, ICLR As a green young pupil at chambers tea, it was impressed upon me (and I have often heard it repeated since) that English law is law Foreign law is fact Expert… Continue reading
