The Criminal Bar Association of England and Wales (CBA) has voted to support solicitors in their strike action over the 8.75% cut to legal aid fees that was imposed at the start of July this year.
200 judges claim discrimination over UK government’s planned pension cuts
Some 200 judges have taken the first step towards suing the UK government, claiming that changes to the judicial pension scheme that will cut the amount paid to those born after 1 April 1957 are discriminatory.
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Budget 2015: Banks off the leash as Osborne clamps down on non-doms
With inevitable consequences for City Law, UK Chancellor George Osborne yesterday (8 July) pushed back the date the country will rebalance its books, ditched the bank levy and tinkered with the fiercely-criticised non-dom status.
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Strike action: Solicitors and barristers to boycott legal aid cases from 1 July following ‘untenable’ cuts
Solicitors and barristers in London and across the UK have agreed to boycott legal aids cases from tomorrow (1 July) following ‘untenable’ further cuts of 8.75% in fees for duty solicitors.
A ‘one nation’ justice policy: Gove sets out agenda for justice system overhaul
Justice Secretary Michael Gove (pictured) has today (23 June) outlined his reform agenda for civil justice to tackle the ‘creaking, outdated’ current system by increasing the use of online tools, looking at whether formal hearings are always required and making cost savings through the court estate before further legal aid cuts.
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An all-Tory cabinet: what does the new Conservative majority mean for lawyers?
The surprising Conservative majority revealed on the morning of 8 May was generally seen as a favourable outcome for City lawyers. However, David Cameron’s appointment of controversial political heavyweight Michael Gove as the new Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice a few days later has ruffled some feathers in the legal profession.
Gove, who is the second non-lawyer to hold the post after his predecessor Chris Grayling, will be supported by ex-Linklaters corporate lawyer Dominic Raab as new Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Justice, while both the Attorney General Jeremy Wright QC and Solicitor General Robert Buckland QC were reappointed.
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The Queen’s Speech: What it holds for lawyers – devolution, referendum and the Snoopers’ Charter
While the replacement of the Human Rights Act with a British Bill of Rights was delayed, the Queen’s Speech today (27 May) laid out the new Conservative government plans for the next year including transferring tax and spending powers to Scotland, plans for an in-out EU referendum and the resurrection of the Snoopers’ Charter after being mothballed by the Liberal Democrats in 2012 during coalition.
Guest post: HMRC – Taking stock and keeping public confidence
Back in February Labour announced that it would, if it took power, begin an ‘immediate and independent review into the culture and practices of HMRC with regard to tax avoidance.’ This politicisation of the question whether HMRC retained public confidence diffused the logic of the demand.
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Frontbench reshuffles: Gove replaces Grayling at MoJ as Lord Falconer set to shadow
Former education secretary Michael Gove has replaced Chris Grayling (pictured) as Secretary of State for Justice as part of Prime Minister David Cameron’s post-election reshuffle while Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher partner, Lord Falconer, has been named as the Labour Party’s opposition spokesperson for the ministry.
Poll-axed: The City gets shock election result it wanted but EU vote looms after Conservative sweep
It has turned out to be the biggest election upset since 1992 and months of polling have been proved wrong but as the final results from the 2015 UK general election come in, the Conservative Party looks highly likely to win enough support to secure a working majority.