Issue: Vol 159, Issue 7392

Businesses have until 1 February 2010 to make their opinions known on the default retirement age review due to take place next year.

Let us remember the names of the reviewers and researchers of legal aid since 1997: Sir Peter Middleton, Frontier Economics, Matrix Consultancy, Lord Carter of Coles, the (hapless) in-house Fundamental team and now Sir Ian McGhee. As Labour came into office, it asked a retired banker what to do. As it seemed likely to leave, it asked a former civil servant the same question.

The Bar Council attended all three major political party conferences this year. Our involvement in these events provided us with useful opportunities to meet various politicians and to share our ideas about the justice agenda. In these recessionary times, and given that we are, in the words of the Legal Services Commission, “celebrating” 60 years of legal aid, it will come as no surprise that I used these opportunities to brief ministers and opposition portfolio-holders on access to justice, legal aid funding, and the impact that cuts to the legal aid budget will have on vulnerable members of society who may be unable to obtain the representation they need.

Andrew Francis explains how to clear off troublesome covenants

Employment vetting law has been rewritten, says Timothy Pitt-Payne

Sarah Whitten & Jamie Wilson consider the pros & cons of litigating in the public eye

Andrew Morgan on the rethinking of success fees in asbestos claims

Is the UK a safe haven for modern slavery? asks Gwendolen Morgan

Is there life after Cherney v Deripaska? asks Ivan Gordienko

Veronica Bailey looks at advances in domain name disputes—10 years on