header-logo header-logo

15 May 2008 / Jennifer James
Issue: 7321 / Categories: Features , Legal services , Procedure & practice , Profession
printer mail-detail

Life is a roller-coaster

Jennifer James turns the tables on her judicial colleagues…and exposes some idiosyncrasies of the system

The Insider has not previously written about sitting as a deputy judge for fear of (at worst) contempt of court, or (at best) falling foul of the wise words imparted to me by my sweet silver-haired mother, namely, don't poop where you eat.

However, over the past few years it has become clear that the position has got its pros and cons, and I can write about these in (hopefully) sufficiently vague terms so as not to awake the Kraken or anybody else at the Ministry of Justice. Here goes.

The Balanced Approach

Pro: Most of the full-time costs judges can hopefully sympathise with me in this heat wave as they have worn stockings, even though they are men. This is of course thanks to the formal attire required for the annual Opening of the Legal Year festivities and only thanks to that. No, stop messing about.

Con: Several of them have better legs than me.

Pro: I get to meet costs draftsmen in situations

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Hogan Lovells—Lisa Quelch

Hogan Lovells—Lisa Quelch

Partner hire strengthens global infrastructure and energy financing practice

Sherrards—Jan Kunstyr

Sherrards—Jan Kunstyr

Legal director bolsters international expertise in dispute resolution team

Muckle LLP—Stacey Brown

Muckle LLP—Stacey Brown

Corporate governance and company law specialist joins the team

NEWS

NOTICE UNDER THE TRUSTEE ACT 1925

HERBERT SMITH STAFF PENSION SCHEME (THE “SCHEME”)

NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND BENEFICIARIES UNDER SECTION 27 OF THE TRUSTEE ACT 1925
Law firm HFW is offering clients lawyers on call for dawn raids, sanctions issues and other regulatory emergencies
From gender-critical speech to notice periods and incapability dismissals, employment law continues to turn on fine distinctions. In his latest employment law brief for NLJ, Ian Smith of Norwich Law School reviews a cluster of recent decisions, led by Bailey v Stonewall, where the Court of Appeal clarified the limits of third-party liability under the Equality Act
Non-molestation orders are meant to be the frontline defence against domestic abuse, yet their enforcement often falls short. Writing in NLJ this week, Jeni Kavanagh, Jessica Mortimer and Oliver Kavanagh analyse why the criminalisation of breach has failed to deliver consistent protection
Assisted dying remains one of the most fraught fault lines in English law, where compassion and criminal liability sit uncomfortably close. Writing in NLJ this week, Julie Gowland and Barny Croft of Birketts examine how acts motivated by care—booking travel, completing paperwork, or offering emotional support—can still fall within the wide reach of the Suicide Act 1961
back-to-top-scroll