Innocent until proven guilty

The principle of being considered innocent until proven guilty is, and has been for centuries, seen as a cornerstone of the justice system in the UK, across the pond in the US and many other civilised nations. From having the right to remain silent so as not to incriminate oneself to the burden of proof being place on prosecutors to prove beyond reasonable doubt that a person has committed a crime, innocence until proven guilty is the primary principle at work

Or so most people think. (more…)

If you are a first time buyer or even if you have bought or sold a house before, conveyancing might be a bit of a mystery to you; something you have to do which involves carrying out various registry checks and ensuring the contract is sound.

This is your chance to find out what conveyancing is and, more importantly, why you need the service. (more…)

Sinkholes can seem to appear from nowhere

When sinkholes appear, threatening to swallow cars and buildings, they can be quite bizarre phenomena and often hit the headlines. A great example was reported a few years ago, when a huge sinkhole appeared over night in St Albans, Hertfordshire. Fortunately the hole, which measured 10m deep and appeared in the middle of a residential area, didn’t cause the collapse of any buildings. Apparently, the area is a former clay pit site and the most likely explanation for the phenomena was chalk excavation in the bedrock beneath the clay. (more…)

Challenging decisions taken by Government

The recent press coverage surrounding John Worboys’ imminent release has brought the spotlight on decisions taken by Government departments. Some of Warboys’ victims called for a Judicial review to have the decision for his release to be re-examined. (more…)

Have you picked up a bug on holiday?

We are still in the holiday season and people will be jetting off to more sun-kissed locations. Most people will have a great time and return home with happy memories to cherish on rainy days in England. For many, however, their holidays will be disastrous because of illness – sometimes quite severe and even life threatening. (more…)

When it comes to flying, time is money!

In recent years, you may have noticed bits and pieces in the press about airlines having to pay compensation for delayed flights. A common theme of discussion has been the validity of airlines’ objections to paying out. This article explains what it’s all about and should give you a rough idea of whether or not you may be entitled to compensation yourself. (more…)

Both in civil law and criminal law, timing and deadlines are absolutely essential to proceedings. Whether looking at the obligations of others in terms of their actions or considering the procedures we need to stick to, deadlines are important and not meeting them will make a difference on whether or not you get what you are entitled to or, more importantly, suffer a seemingly unfair consequence. (more…)

If you have noticed car insurance premiums increasing in recent years, you are not alone. Premiums have continued to rise because of personal injury claims and the ‘claims culture’ according to insurance companies.

This, it is said, is because of the prevalence of whiplash claims, many of which are fraudulent according to insurance assessors. While there is little doubt that fraudulent scams have been increasing with claims for personal injuries such as whiplash being the mechanism of preference, it is still important that those who are injured in a RTA (Road Traffic Accident) have access to justice and to a personal injury claim. (more…)

Why do I need a will?

This article explains what making a will is for and why you should do so. If you haven’t, you need to read on.

None of us want to think that the reaper is round the corner but the fact is that death is one of the few certainties in life. As we grow older many of us accumulate wealth in the form of money, possessions, assets, investments etc., and our personal lives can also become more complex with children and spouses for example. (more…)

The Case of Lord Janner

Only recently, many people were perplexed by decision made by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Alison Saunders, not to allow Lord Janner to face trial on allegations of child abuse. The decision had been made based on a judgement that he was unfit to stand trial due to his being too ill with dementia. A claim was brought for Victims’ Right to Review! (more…)