It's been a good week for…
Jilted lovers. Romance and the law do not go hand in hand, particularly after surveyor William Parker's (above) action against his former lover Helen Holdsworth (above right) for recovery of the £18,000 worth of gifts he gave her during their affair, which settled out of court last week for £10,000. Parker, who was represented by Cardiff sole practitioner Anthony Jeremy, could have paved the way for a series of revenge-driven actions.
Internet lawyers keen to help develop the legal systems of cyberspace after Prince Philip spoke out about the dangers of "technology without ethics" during a visit to Korea.
m Lottery lawyers after an Alabama court compelled waitress Tonda Dickerson to share her $10m (£6.25m) winnings with her co-workers after being given a lucky ticket as a tip. The customer got nothing.
It's been a bad week for…
Workaholics, City types and other lawyers working uncivilised hours. It seems there is no escape from Europe, despite the Government drafting the Working Time Directive so clumsily that nobody can work out what it means. The Government now intends to rewrite the rules and make them easier to comply with. And just when they thought they'd got away with it. It's all due to Lord Haskins, chairman of the Cabinet office's Better Regulation Task Force, who called the introduction of the EU Directive a "dog's dinner".
Jack Straw, who understandably failed to raise a smile when he quipped that Scousers "are always up to something" during the launch of the Crime Reduction Bill.
Solicitors' reputations following the exploits of high-profile solicitor Michael Palmer, former senior partner of Mayfair firm Palmer Cowen, who, among other famous clients, advised Dodi Fayed and Princess Michael of Kent. Palmer – who allegedly has links with MI5 – was sentenced to three years in prison at the Old Bailey after stealing from the legacies of orphaned children and charities.
Investigative psychologist Professor David Canter, of Liverpool University, who has devoted his career to the study of crime only to be stalked by his own secretary.
This week
This week could spell the end of secrecy in government and judicial appointments, depending on Attorney-General John Morris' reaction to the tribunal that is hearing the sex discrimination case brought by Josephine Hayes over the appointment of Philip Sales as Treasury Devil or First Treasury Counsel. Morris has until 30 April to decide whether or not to comply with the tribunal's ruling that he disclose details of secret consultations preceding the Sales' appointment.
Quote of the week
"If you can't make decisions then go home."
– Susannah Haan, chair of the Trainee Solicitors' Group, despairing at indecision in a Law Society council meeting.
