News

Love: the Chancery Lane way
While couples dream up ever-more perfect ways to spend Valentine’s Day, the Law Society has launched an unromantic broadside. Neatly sidestepping Cupid’s arrow, the Society issued a ten-point guide to the law, urging couples to “love with your heart, think with your head”. Its advice includes naming both partners on the rental agreement; insuring your wedding ceremony; setting up a joint bank account; and being sure before you buy an engagement ring.

Supreme Court fees
The system of fees and concessions for civil and devolution cases in the Supreme Court has been set out by the Ministry of Justice in a consultation paper, “Fees in the UK Supreme Court”. The court becomes operational in October 2009. The proposed fees have been pitched at a level to recognise the benefi ts of the court for the “generality” of litigants in the civil court system in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and include a contribution from Scotland. The annual running costs of the court are estimated to be about £6.6m. The consultation ends on 5 May 2009.
 

Money laundering costs
The Law Society has urged the government to rethink its anti-money laundering regime. In evidence presented to the House of Lords home affairs sub-committee this week, the Society highlighted the heavy compliance burdens placed on solicitors and the fact no detailed cost/benefit analysis has been undertaken. It said evidence from solicitors suggests the regulated sector is spending significantly more on compliance than the UK government is recovering in criminal property.