InfoUpdate
An Information Service supplied by the KwaZulu-Natal Law Society

23 October 2009

This professional service draws attention to current and important items of news
 and members are directed to the hosts' websites

InfoUpdate 22 of 2009
Useful Links
and Items of Interest 

Electronic copies of this information may be obtained from our librarians at help@lawlibrary.co.za or click on the underlined hyperlink where relevant

Legal Profession

South Africa

12 October 2009
Speech by Mr Andries Nel, Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, at the Annual General Meeting of the Free State Law Society, in Bloemfontein
SA Government Information website

Scotland

Legal eagle runs law firm from hospital bed - 18 October
A lawyer is running her legal practice from a hospital bed while receiving kidney dialysis. Jelina Berlow-Rahman, 30, has attended Glasgow Royal Infirmary three days a week for the past four years. Now legal watchdogs have given permission for her to work on cases and see clients while undergoing treatment. Jelina, who is waiting for a kidney transplant, said : "Because the dialysis was eating into so much of my time, I asked if I could work while in the dialysis ward. Under the rules, if you have your own practice you must do a minimum of 20 hours a week . . . The courts and tribunals are very helpful as they try and arrange hearings on the days when I am not on dialysis". - Sunday Mail website

United Kingdom

SRA responds to Hunt Report - 5 October
The SRA has published a statement on Lord Hunt's report on regulation of legal services. Peter Williamson, SRA chair, says : "in his report Lord Hunt makes a large number of constructive suggestions, many of which reinforce and complement the SRA’s programme of public interest reforms". - Times Online blog

See : Full report via http://www.legalregulationreview.com/site.php?s=1 

Lawyer's £5m battle over ruined career - 11 October
A former president of the Law Society and his City law firm are being sued for up to £5m over allegations that they helped a global oil company wreck a barrister's career. Michael Napier and three other lawyers from his company, Irwin Mitchell, have been accused of a breach of contract and negligence by Michael Ford for allegedly colluding with Exxon Mobil. Ford, a barrister in Hong Kong, claims that he has been unable to practise his profession for 16 years. Napier, Irwin Mitchell and Exxon deny the claims. - Guardian website

InfoUpdate : an Information Service supplied by the KwaZulu-Natal Law Society