Latest legal news

As the US teetered on the edge of a fiscal cliff, the country's top judge proudly claimed in the last few days that the judiciary has dutifully tightened its belt in tough economic times. | 13yrs

Details of alleged racial profiling of two black lawyers in Canada were aired for the third time in three years earlier this week, as the Ontario appeal court grappled with what can be considered evidence of discrimination. | 13yrs

China's growing role as a regional legal powerhouse was confirmed today by figures showing its law firms dominating Asia in terms of boots on the ground. | 13yrs

Female lawyers in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu have welcomed proposals by chief minister Jayalalithaa Jayaram to impose the death penalty and chemical castration on convicted rapists. | 13yrs

Antiquated elitist backslapping is perhaps the mildest of invective being hurled at the British honours system, but nonetheless, a raft of lawyers has featured in this year's list announced at the weekend. | 13yrs

Wrangling over the fate of an alleged Nazi war criminal continues this week in Canada as the government pressed ahead with moves to deport Helmut Oberlander. | 13yrs

Legal qualification routes in the UK should be liberalised to allow a non-academic path via apprenticeships, a government minister stated at the end of last week. | 13yrs

Two Pennsylvania lawyers were found guilty of fraud last Friday over bogus asbestos claims brought on behalf of railway worker clients. | 13yrs

A US reality television star has finished 2012 by having to cough up about $100,000 more to her divorce lawyers than she fancied, after a court ruled her bid to slash a bill was unjustified. | 13yrs

Women lawyers in Nigeria are calling on the Abuja government to beef up child protection legislation and laws against domestic violence. | 13yrs

Jumping off the so-called fiscal cliff may sound ominous to ordinary US citizens, but the rapidly approaching New Year deadline is keeping a phalanx of law firms churning out fee notes as they advise clients on dramatic tax implications. | 13yrs

A high profile Hong Kong immigration hearing has sparked concern among the island's legal profession that China is infringing on its autonomy. | 13yrs

A top California law school is to launch an innovative legal clinic to advise on religious freedom under the US constitution in what organisers maintain is the first development of its kind. | 13yrs

A partner at a law firm in Panama is suing the Huffington Post newspaper after claiming he did not write a blog published under his name and photo. | 13yrs

A controversial move by on-line photo-sharing web site Instagram to allow advertisers access to user pictures is to be challenged in a California court, claimant lawyers have announced. | 13yrs

Sexual orientation politics and the law recently clashed on both sides of the Atlantic, as a senior English judge attacked plans to legalise same-sex marriage, while a California court lifted a ban on so-called homosexual reversal therapy. | 13yrs

Japanese motorcar manufacture Toyota is to stump up more than $1 billion to settle an action over claims that millions of its vehicles suffered from dangerous acceleration faults. | 13yrs

Nothing warms the heart more at the end of the year than a David-and-Goliath battle that sees the small chap coming out on top -- and a US appeal court has duly obliged with one in the eye to global giant Cleary Gottlieb over costs. | 13yrs

Patent and brand protection in China could soon become easier following an announcement that the Beijing authorities are to crack down on infringements in the jurisdiction. | 13yrs