Thursday 02 August 2012
The Legal Services Board has approved the Bar Standards Board's application to introduce an aptitude test for prospective candidates for the bar professional training course.
Expert guidance
The Civil Justice Council has issued revised guidance on the use of expert witnesses in civil claims. The guidance is intended to help litigants comply with part 35 of the Civil Procedure Rules. See the Judiciary website for the full publication.
Bids invited for £14m
The government has pledged up to £14m to schemes that help parents maintain a collaborative relationship after separation. Experts, from legal advisers to marriage counsellors, are invited to bid.
Interpreter call
The Law Society has asked for evidence from solicitors about whether new arrangements for the provision of court interpreters have affected hearings. Responses will inform any submission it may make to parliament's Justice Committee. Solicitors should email details by 6 August to consultationresponse@lawsociety.org.uk.
QC on VAT charge
Rohan Anthony Pershad QC, who practises from London's Thirty Nine Essex Street, is to face a charge of cheating the public revenue in relation to non payment of VAT. He denied any wrongdoing.
Call for copyright hub
Government and creative industries should work together to set up an online copyright hub to educate internet users about copyright, enable the quick licensing of digital material and allow 'due diligence' searches for copyright holders.
This is one of the recommendations of Copyright Works, an independent report for the government's Intellectual Property Office published on Tuesday. See www.ipo.gov.uk.
Insurance launch
A City lawyer has launched a new firm focused on representing the intermediated insurance market. David Coupe, former partner at Clyde & Co and Ince & Co, has set up EC3 Legal, specialising in handling legal issues for brokers, Lloyd's agencies and financial advisers.
Commercial ABS
A boutique commercial firm has become the 10th entity to be awarded alternative business structure status by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Thinking Legal, based in Birmingham, was set up by former Browne Jacobson partner Joanne Bligh to represent businesses of all sizes.
Scottish quality
The Law Society has confirmed the first solely Scotland-based law firm to secure the Lexcel legal quality mark. Tods Murray was awarded the Society's accreditation after being independently assessed against standards of management practice and customer care.
The firm, with 34 partners and offices in Glasgow and Edinburgh, joins practices in Canada, Ireland and Poland in achieving the quality mark.
