In the Media

Human rights breach

PUBLISHED November 16, 2012
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Thursday 15 November 2012

Fiji will be in breach of its international human rights commitments unless it halts prosecution of a legal rights organisation, Law Society president Lucy Scott-Moncrieff has warned the country's attorney general. The Citizens Constitutional Forum faces contempt proceedings for citing the findings of the Chancery Lane-endorsed report Fiji: the Rule of Law Lost.

LASPO offences

New offences created by the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act, dealing with the sale of scrap metal, threatening with a blade or weapon in public, and causing serious injury by dangerous driving, come into force on 3 December.

Welsh bill becomes law

The first Welsh bill passed under the National Assembly's new legislative powers has received royal assent. The official languages bill will give equal status to the English and Welsh languages in the assembly.

Training review under fire

The City of London Law Society criticised what it calls 'misconceived' assumptions underpinning the landmark review of legal education and training.

In a response to the Legal Education and Training Review being conducted by the three main regulators, the group representing 15,000 City lawyers says there is a lack of evidence to support the review's comment that the current system is unfit for purpose.

Pledge over legal aid

The Law Society has offered to work with the government to increase public understanding of legal aid, after the justice secretary announced an 'immediate examination' of the system following the Abu Hamza case. Chris Grayling ordered the review after it emerged that £680,000 in legal aid had been spent on Hamza's fight against extradition.

Custody challenge

Children's charity Just for Kids Law is to challenge the legality of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act code of practice allowing 17-year-olds in police custody to be treated as adults. See Lawyer in the News.

Student enrolment

The Solicitors Regulation Authority has opened the online student enrolment application system for those wanting to start their Legal Practice Course in 2013. Students must apply 30 days before the start of their course.

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