New Law Journal Latest News

Top 100 Best Companies for Lawyers

admin — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Pannone again topped the league for the legal sector, achieving 18th place, albeit with a significant drop from its third place last year.

The Manchester firm has made the top ten for the last six years running.
Lewis Silkin ranked 33 in the table, Mishcon de Reya made 48, Mills & Reeve were at 72, Brabners Chaffe Street at 83, Freeth Cartwright at 94 and Cripps Harries Hall made a new entry into the table at 97.

Jackson on YouTube

admin — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 09:35:00 +0000

NLJ’s costs webcast, a live panel discussion held after Jackson LJ’s press briefing to launch his final report on civil costs litigation, is available to view at www.youtube.com/user/LexisNexisUK#p/a/u/0/iGq-64sYRts.

News in brief

admin — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 09:30:00 +0000

Lord Justice Jackson has agreed to oversee how his recommendations for overhauling the civil costs regime will be implemented and has been allocated half a day a week to do so. He will be supported by a judges committee, comprising the Master of the Rolls Lord Neuberger, Moore-Bick LJ and Kay LJ, which is due to meet for the first time this week.

NLJ Jackson webcast on YouTube

End of term report: B+

admin — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 09:25:00 +0000

Of these, 799 related to complainants seeking to overturn judicial decisions, which are not issues of judicial misconduct and cannot therefore be considered by the OJC. The report also includes public statements where a judicial office holder was removed and the number of judicial office holders who resigned during an investigation.

Judicial diversity move

admin — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 09:20:00 +0000

Instead, there should be a “fundamental shift in approach” towards diversity at all stages of a judicial career.

The final report of the Lord Chancellor’s Advisory Panel on Judicial Diversity, chaired by Baroness Neuberger, makes 53 recommendations, including increased mentoring for judicial applicants, a campaign of “myth-busting” about the reality of becoming a judge, and the evolution of the Judicial Studies Board into a Judicial College to provide training for prospective judicial applicants.

Law Society superbrand

admin — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 09:15:00 +0000

Silk status award celebrated

admin — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 09:10:00 +0000

The new silks include 20 women (out of 46 applicants) and 17 ethnic minority applicants (out of 35). Six applicants are aged 55 years or above.
Eversheds partner Marcus Trinick was the only successful solicitor-advocate applicant, out of 10 who applied. Last year three out of four solicitor-advocates were awarded silk.

Asbestos illness payments rise

admin — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 09:00:00 +0000

From April, lump sum payments made under the 2008 Mesothelioma Scheme will increase to the same level as those paid under the Pneumoconiosis etc (Workers’ Compensation) Act 1979. This means individuals who develop the disease from asbestos exposure outside the workplace will receive the same payment as those exposed at work.

Sufferers currently receive a minimum payment of £8,197 from the Mesothelioma Scheme. This will rise to £11,678 in April. The maximum payment will rise from £52,772 to £75,176.

Barristers’ Rights to Practise

admin — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 10:15:00 +0000

Its consultation paper, ‘Development of authorisation to practise arrangements’, published this week, asks whether existing criteria regarding rights of audience and the conduct of litigation remains relevant.

Baroness Ruth Deech, BSB chair, said: “The decisions made in relation to authorisation to practise will affect all members of the Bar. It is important that any potential flaws in the proposals are identified so that any serious objections can be taken into account.”

Paragraph 168

admin — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 10:00:00 +0000

Lord Neuberger has clarified his criticism of the Security Service’s record to make clear that he was referring only to the circumstances of the Binyam Mohamed case, and removed a suggestion that the Foreign Office had an interest in the suppression of information.

Eric Metcalfe, JUSTICE’s director of human rights policy, said: “The Master of the Rolls has rightly concluded that his first thoughts were his better thoughts.”

EU Proposals on Maternity Leave

admin — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 10:00:00 +0000

Fathers should be given two weeks of fully paid paternity leave within the period of maternity leave.

There is currently no legislation at EU level on paternity leave.

The legislation should also apply to adoption where the child is less than 12 months old. The committee adopted amendments to ban the dismissal of pregnant workers from the beginning of pregnancy until six months following the end of maternity leave.

Norris extradition appeal dismissed by Supreme Court

admin — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 11:00:00 +0000

Former head of Morgan Crucible, Ian Norris has lost his appeal against extradition to the US over charges of obstructing justice.

Nine justices of the Supreme Court unanimously held that Norris could not rely on Art 8 rights to private and family life to bar extradition.