I'm flat out at the moment. Even my usual posting windows of a Saturday or Sunday have seen me either too tired or working to manage a post. So all I can manage is to point to two cases for Housing people's attention, to which I will return when I have time....
Homelessness and Ex Parte Injunctions – a warning
Mr Justice Munby has issued a stern statement on the use and abuse of ex-parte injunction applications to the Administrative Court in R (Lawer) v Restormel Borough Council [2007] EWHC 2299 (Admin). Covering failure to use the Pre-Action Protocol,...
Through the Looking Glass
'It seems very pretty,' she said when she had finished it, `but it's RATHER hard to understand!' (You see she didn't like to confess, ever to herself, that she couldn't make it out at all.) `Somehow it seems to fill my head with ideas -- only I don't exactly...
Do it yourself
A strong argument for not pursuing a case as a litigant in person can be found in this case. That said, hats off to the applicant for at least getting a Judicial Review hearing in person. Not least after turning up two hours late. There is an indication that...
Open letter to Jack Straw
Dear Minister for Justice, I note that in your address to the Society of Labour Lawyers you asked for the help of the legal profession in finding out why England and Wales spend more on legal aid than 'any other nation'. I am somewhat surprised that you...
Stop Equal Pay Claims – EOC
I was, to put it demotically, gobsmacked by the content of a 'warning' from the Equal Opportunities Commission that the Employment Tribunal system is creaking under the weight of claims brought by those naughty 'no win no fee' solicitors. When they have...
Nemesis and cab ranks
I am indebted to Victorian Maiden (QC) at Ruthie's Law for the news that Bruce Hyman is to be sentenced tomorrow, 19 September. He may make history as the first barrister for 800 years to be sent to prison for perverting the course of justice. Hyman's...
Possession claims dropping? Not all.
The latest figures, up to Quarter 2 2007 are available on the Ministry of Justice site, link to the PDF. The figures show quite a drop in the Q2 figures for non-accelerated possession claims issued (including claims by Councils and Housing Associations)...
Yossarian -v- the Legal Services Commission
A few more details on R(Southwark Law Centre) v Legal Services Commission [2007] EWHC 1715 (Admin), which I mentioned a few days ago. First, it is worth noting that Mr Justice Collins effectively said that 'net rent' for the purposes of the LSC entitlement...
Don't put our client on the stand
_____________________________________ Brief to Counsel to the tune of Noel Coward's Don't put your daughter on the stage _____________________________________ Don't put our client on the stand Mr Worthington, Don't put our client on the stand. The possession...
Criminal behaviour
These are tough times for Criminal practices. There are anecdotal reports of floods of practioners trying to get jobs with the CPS, getting out of the profession, or even (shudder) trying to switch to conveyancing (just in time for Tesco Law to wipe out that...
Champagne does not affect professional judgment
Or so says David Pannick QC. Somewhere back in the mists of time, I suggested that Chambers hosting schmoozing parties didn't have much effect on solicitors' choice of barrister, at least in my experience. David Pannick's response to a rather sniffy Bar...