BOOK REVIEW An appreciation by Elizabeth Robson Taylor MA of Richmond Green Chambers and Phillip Taylor MBE, Head of Chambers, Reviews Editor, "The Barrister", and Mediator. Paul Patterson has undeniable courage in producing his personal critical survey on what he calls "a costs scam" involving council tax recovery processes. He is an angry man! And his anger is about the concept of the award of costs which are at the discretion of the court. There are always at least two sides if not more to a story, and costs are often as emotional as the judgment itself. Sadly, the way in which council tax payments are obtained from the local electorate has remained an area of concern for many since 1275 with the initial poll tax conflict, reignited with the modern council tax. In his earlier book, an historic forerunner entitled, "My Council Tax Stance" from October 2017, Paul wrote: "This all started in January 2016 when my son Jay started to tell me how the council where investing in arms companies, if that wasn't immoral enough, it came apparent that the council are deceiving people who have fallen into arrears with their council tax. They are deceiving them in the summons they are sending out to them." He continues, declaring that a summons is "nothing more than an invitation to the council's place of business, a room in the magistrates' court, nothing to do with the magistrates, just a way of putting fear into you. Hundreds of people all summons to appear at Bodmin Magistrates Court on a Friday afternoon at 1.20pm." With his new paperback, Paul has expanded his points to cover the pandemic and after. Paul then sets the scene, stating that "a council officer will be waiting to usher you into their place of business, get you into agreeing to paying by instalment and that way accepting liability without even seeing a magistrate. In his original book, he offers advice that many of the letters he cites can be used as templates for your own council tax stance". And Paul is back on the attack in 2020 with "The Great Council Tax Recovery Scam". He updates his original work setting out how a Defendant might challenge costs in a practical way. There is an analogy here to the non-payment of the licence fee where those opposed to such fees were encouraged "on mass" to make a challenge and clog up the court system. With the sheer numbers of Defendants in both licence fee and council tax cases being so high. The court (and the Johnson government since 2019) have remained concerned at the numbers and chaos which can ensue. Bulk listing liability orders have been a matter of concern with the council tax and many other civil proceedings where the allegation is that the Claimant receives preferential treatment with their causes of action, and the inflated costs sought against mainly vulnerable people. There is only one conclusion: urgent reform. There is also a bigger issue about the extent of the powers of local government officials who are often considered to "over-egg" the costs they seek by doubling up the sums of money for work done. Sadly, it remains the position that costs so often out-strip any sums of money sought or issues in dispute resolved which makes a mockery of "open justice" which remains the preserve of the rich (except the council tax payer). It is clear this book will be highly unpopular with many officials, and it does not aim to replace professional legal advice which should be sought. It is feared that the only real solution is a root and branch reform which will occur with the post-Covid developing chaos to the justice system once tax arrears and costs claims return to the courts. You are very brave to take these people on, Paul.

Do you really know why you pay council tax? What do you think your council tax money is really spent on? What if you can avoid paying it altogether? Do you know the power that is lawfully available to you? Would you like to learn how to wield it? If your curiosity has been sparked, then read through this book in order to answer the above questions. Let the Council Tax Painkiller guide you! THROUGH THE FIRE AND ALL THE WAY! Learn how to free yourself. Learn what the councils really do not want you to know. Learn how you can turn the tables on them. Learn how to win!

The Model Rules of Professional Conduct provides an up-to-date resource for information on legal ethics. Federal, state and local courts in all jurisdictions look to the Rules for guidance in solving lawyer malpractice cases, disciplinary actions, disqualification issues, sanctions questions and much more. In this volume, black-letter Rules of Professional Conduct are followed by numbered Comments that explain each Rule's purpose and provide suggestions for its practical application. The Rules will help you identify proper conduct in a variety of given situations, review those instances where discretionary action is possible, and define the nature of the relationship between you and your clients, colleagues and the courts.

This report of the President's Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Justice -- established by President Lyndon Johnson on July 23, 1965 -- addresses the causes of crime and delinquency and recommends how to prevent crime and delinquency and improve law enforcement and the administration of criminal justice. In developing its findings and recommendations, the Commission held three national conferences, conducted five national surveys, held hundreds of meetings, and interviewed tens of thousands of individuals. Separate chapters of this report discuss crime in America, juvenile delinquency, the police, the courts, corrections, organized crime, narcotics and drug abuse, drunkenness offenses, gun control, science and technology, and research as an instrument for reform. Significant data were generated by the Commission's National Survey of Criminal Victims, the first of its kind conducted on such a scope. The survey found that not only do Americans experience far more crime than they report to the police, but they talk about crime and the reports of crime engender such fear among citizens that the basic quality of life of many Americans has eroded. The core conclusion of the Commission, however, is that a significant reduction in crime can be achieved if the Commission's recommendations (some 200) are implemented. The recommendations call for a cooperative attack on crime by the Federal Government, the States, the counties, the cities, civic organizations, religious institutions, business groups, and individual citizens. They propose basic changes in the operations of police, schools, prosecutors, employment agencies, defenders, social workers, prisons, housing authorities, and probation and parole officers.

The legal framework of family justice in England and Wales is strong. Its principles are right, in particular the starting point that the welfare of children must be paramount. Every year 500,000 parents and children are involved in the system. But the system is under great strain: cases take far too long (the average case took 53 weeks in 2010); too many private law disputes end up in court; the system lacks coherence; there is growing mistrust leading to layers of checking and scrutiny; little mutual learning or feedback; a worrying lack of IT and management information. The Review's recommendations aim: to bring greater coherence through organisational change and better management; making the system more able to cope with current and future pressures; to reduce duplication of scrutiny to the appropriate level; and to divert more issues away from the courts. The chapters of the review cover: the current system; the proposed Family Justice Service; public law; private law; financial implications and implementation; and there are eighteen annexes. The proposals are now out for consultation, with the final report due in autumn 2011.

The best country-by-country assessment of human rights. The human rights records of more than ninety countries and territories are put into perspective in Human Rights Watch's signature yearly report. Reflecting extensive investigative work undertaken by Human Rights Watch staff, in close partnership with domestic human rights activists, the annual World Report is an invaluable resource for journalists, diplomats, and citizens, and is a must-read for anyone interested in the fight to protect human rights in every corner of the globe.