Dear Member

Annual Dinner

A huge thank you to everyone who supported and attended our Annual Dinner.

It was a great success with 264 guests.  I think we all appreciated the opportunity to catch up with our colleagues after the events (or lack of) over the last 18 months.

We have sent the link to the official photos to the person who organised your table.  A selection can be found on the PLS website.

https://plymouthlawsociety.co.uk/events/law-society-annual-dinner/

We also thank our sponsors who will enable us to make a generous donation to St Luke’s Hospice.  Details of this will follow in a few weeks.

                                           

Mayflower 400 Lecture

With regret we have had to take the difficult decision to postpone this year’s Lecture in November.  Due to structural issues with Elliot Terrace who at short notice have had to decline accommodating Lady Hale and hosting her Dinner along with the ongoing threat of Covid the Committee felt we could not reasonably discharge our responsibility for the health and security of Lady Hale and the other members of the judiciary attending the event.

The positive news is Lady Hale has agreed to reserve dates in her diary for next year where she will hopefully present the Lecture we have been waiting for over the last year.

HHJ Robertshaw Notice – Experts

HHJ Robertshaw has asked me to circulate the attached as she has concerns that the instruction of experts in Devon is extremely high – much higher than most other DFJ areas.

The attached memo that has just arrived from the President is a very timely and important reminder to adopt a robust and enquiring approach to the use of experts. Judges must scrutinise each and every application for an expert and consider and apply the criteria robustly.

Please have this memo at your fingertips whenever you are asked to consider granting permission for the instruction of an expert,  whenever you are considering making an application for the instruction of an expert and whenever you give your response to such a request by another party.
 
PFD – Memo – Experts – 13 October 2021

HHJ Robertshaw – Late Filing of Bundles – Practice Direction

Further notice from HHJ Robertshaw:

Increasingly, bundles are being filed late in contravention of case management orders. The frequency of this occurring is high. Directions specifying when bundles are to be filed (eg that bundles are to be filed at least three working days or 48 hours before a hearing) are being ignored. Bundles are invariably being filed the day before a hearing and even on the morning of the hearing. No explanation has been given when bundles are filed late.

The consequence of late filing of bundles places Judiciary and staff under unnecessary, increased and disproportionate pressure. Judges’ lists are already filled to over capacity. They should not be expected to chase staff and in turn, staff who are similarly working under pressure, chase parties for bundles. Judges should not be expected to forgo essential breaks during their lunch hours or evenings due to non compliance with case management orders. The health and welfare of the Judiciary and staff requires that they must be protected from such unreasonable and unnecessary demands.

CONSEQUENTLY:

  1. UNLESS A CASE MANAGEMENT ORDER PROVIDES OTHERWISE, OR A HEARING IS LISTED AT SHORT NOTICE, BUNDLES MUST BE EFILED NOT LESS THAN THREE WORKING DAYS PRIOR TO A HEARING
  2. THE LATE FILING OR ABSENCE OF A HEARING BUNDLE IS LIKELY TO RESULT IN A HEARING BEING VACATED

Friday Night Drinks Social/Networking – Friday 29 October 2021

We have booked The Treasury for a joint Plymouth Law Society and Plymouth Junior Lawyer Division social/networking event on Friday 29 October at 5.15pm.

We shall offer a first free drink (wine/beer/soft drink) to PLS and PJLD members.

Please come along and invite other members from your firm to join us (it is pay day!)

Hope to see you there.Best wishes

James Walsh
President of the Plymouth Law Society

Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 01752 203536

ABOUT PLYMOUTH LAW SOCIETY

Committed to maintaining the standards of the profession in the Plymouth travel to work area for more than two centuries.

 

 

 

Interested in Joining?

To become a member of Plymouth Law Society simply contact the Treasurer, James Walsh, by emailing [email protected] or by writing to the below postal address:
The Treasurer, Plymouth Law Society, GA Solicitors, 25 Lockyer Street, Plymouth. PL1 2QW