Talks tackle 'homes for votes' implications

Helen Sage reports

The licensing of sex shops and the legal implications of the Westminster 'homes for votes' scandals are among subjects included in the Law Society's latest programme of courses for local government lawyers.

The training unit of the local government group, which spearheaded training for local authorities on how to win CCT, has unveiled a programme of events addressing the main issues facing local government lawyers.

In the next few months Lord Woolf will speak about judicial review, housing barrister Jan Luba will review the major changes being made to housing law and Vice Chancellor Sir Richard Scott will talk about the disclosure of local authority documents and the law governing public interest immunity and disclosure of files, which featured heavily in the Scott Inquiry.

Peter Godber, director of training, said the aim was to ensure local government lawyers were up to speed on issues. He said: "We are the only organisation to address the needs of local government lawyers involved in high profile work."

The group is also putting together courses to deal with the new CCT proposals.