Professional Update November 21, 2013

Special general meeting

The Law Society has called a special general meeting at 10:30 on 17 December. The meeting will consider a motion of no confidence in the Law Society’s leadership. The motion relates to the strategy adopted by the Law Society to influence and ameliorate the government’s criminal legal aid proposals.
Full details

Referral fees

Does the ban on referral fees cover all areas of work? Find out the answer on our FAQs page or call the Practice Advice Service on 0870 606 2522.
Find out more about our service

Our library services: a wealth of legal information

Members can benefit from an array of services at the Law Society library. Here’s just a few: Knowledge base – free online access to our legal information databases Lawdocs – copies of precedents, case law and legislation straight to your inbox Enquiry service – so far this year the team has helped with over 12,000 legal research enquiries by email or telephone Find out more about the library

Iran: update on financial sanctions

HM Treasury has issued a notice about the restrictive measures directed by the Council of the European Union against Iran. The consolidated list of all targets of financial sanctions has also been updated.
Read the notice (PDF)
View the consolidated list

Human rights essay competition: enter now

Law students, trainee solicitors, pupil barristers and junior lawyers are invited to enter our annual Graham Turnbull essay competition. This year’s essay title is: ‘Applying human rights and humanitarian law, in what circumstances should forcible measures be permitted against a state that is subjecting its people to human rights abuses?’.
Find out how to enter – deadline for entries: 21 February 2014

Guideline hourly rates: survey reminder

The Civil Justice Council is urging all firms involved in litigation to respond to a survey on guideline hourly rates. We encourage members to take part so that future recommendations are based on the costs of running a litigation practice.
Take the survey – closes on 29 November
Read a letter by the costs committee chair about the survey (PDF)

Career information for solicitors

Career Planning for Solicitors is essential reading for anyone planning their future as a solicitor. It gives guidance to trainees, recently qualified solicitors and those reconsidering their careers. It includes advice on how to market yourself, change career direction and achieve work-life balance, and has personal testimonials covering all types of legal career. Find out more about this book and order your copies

Law Society flies the flag in Russia

This week, Law Society president Nicholas Fluck was in Moscow to promote the reputation of English law in Russia and strengthen links between the two jurisdictions.
More on Russia

Virtues and values in the profession

The University of Birmingham is undertaking a project on professional values in law, medicine and teaching. It has prepared an online survey for lawyers and the Society encourages members to complete it. It normally takes 20 minutes and its main section is a set of ethical dilemmas.
More information and take the survey

Training and events

Anti-money laundering workshops – 2 CPD hours Money laundering reporting officers are regularly faced with difficult and challenging questions. These two-hour workshops will help you deal with those challenges by discussing real-life scenarios with experts in the field. Book today – various dates

In association with:

Capital markets in the 21st century 2014 – 6.5 CPD hours This annual conference brings together members of the global capital markets legal community for a full day’s programme, including social and networking opportunities and informative, substantive sessions presented by world-class experts. Book today – 27 February

Legal aid conference 2014: the new landscape – 6 CPD hours The Law Society’s legal aid conference will inform and prepare you for the continuing changes to the legal aid landscape. The government has proposed major restructuring to the provision of criminal legal aid. Our conference will give you practical advice on how the changes will affect your business. Book today – 20 March

What is a non-delegable duty of care following Woodland v Essex County Council? – 1 CPD hour This case raised the issue of the scope of an education authority’s duty of care to its pupils. The webinar provides insight from the solicitor acting for the appellant and will provide an analysis of the decision and the rationale used by the Supreme Court in coming to its decision. Book today – 9 December

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