Annika’s Blog # 14

I am now in the final year of my Training Contract and I am due to undertake the Professional Skills Course over the next few months. The PSC consists of three core modules and 4 elective modules. The core electives are in Advocacy, Client Care and Professional Standards and Financial and Business skills. The Financial…




Lady seeks £975,000 in compensation after accident at work

Ms Bateman, A pub landlady is suing her brewery after she fell through the rungs on a ladder resulting in her accidentally ‘hanging herself’. Ms Bateman climbed the ladder to gain access to the attic of the pub in order to put the Christmas decorations away. A bolt securing the ladder in place came away…




The weight of children’s wishes and feelings in family cases

A judge has recently re instated the limited weight that is placed on the ‘wishes and feelings’ of children in family cases. The Court of Appeal has ruled that a mother can relocate to Ireland with her 10-year-old daughter despite her daughter’s expressed desire to remain in England with her father. The Judge granted the…




The Court of Protection: the power to order life or death treatment

A senior Judge has ordered that a woman suffering from schizophrenia who does not believe she has a life threatening cancer can now undergo a risky operation that could save her life despite it being against her wishes. The woman was deemed to lack the capacity to make critical decisions regarding medical treatment by herself,…




Annika’s TC Blog # 13

It’s been a busy few weeks since my last Training Contract Blog. I have been out at Court quite a lot recently to represent clients in applications for Non Molestation Orders, Prohibited Steps Orders, Residence Orders, Occupation Orders and Contact Orders. As my attendance at court continues to increase I am having more involvement with…




Stalking Becomes a Criminal Matter in the UK

When the Scottish legal system changed in 2010 to make stalking a criminal offence the UK decided not to change its laws. However this has now been revised and it is now a criminal offence to stalk a person in the UK. Stalking is a term commonly used to refer to unwanted or obsessive attention…




Nicola’s Diary #3

It’s been a busy few weeks in last wrote. I have been out at Court quite a lot recently, mainly on children matters. The Court has made some final orders on some of my matters which concludes cases. This is always good for the families involved as it means that the stress of going to…




Taryn’s Training Diary #2

It has been a busy few weeks at Lewis Rodgers since my last diary entry. Lat week was a busy week for various Court hearings and we were also on police station call over the weekend. We have had a committal hearing, which officially sends a case to a Crown Court from the Magistrates Court…




Major issues with the ‘portal’ fees which may affect people’s access to Justice in personal injury claims.

The Government has got plans to drastically reduce the fees for Road Traffic Accident, also known as RTA’s. The Ministry of Justice wants to cut fixed recoverable costs for claims up to £10,000 through the RTA Portal from £1,200 to £500. For claims valued up to £25,000, fixed costs will be set at £800. This…




NIcolas Diary #2

Since my last diary entry I have been just as busy. This week though I have not been out at Court at all, therefore I have been catching up with administration work in the office. We have had some complex cases which have required us to instruct Counsel. This is a barrister. A barrister has…