Solicitors reject lower standard of proof at SDT
Over 90% of solicitors responding to a Law Society survey oppose the application of a lower standard of proof in disciplinary cases, ahead of a consultation on the subject expected soon.Some 37 of 40 solicitors who responded favoured retaining the current criminal standard. They cited the serious consequences of cases and the high prosecution success rate as good reasons for cases to be established ‘beyond reasonable doubt’, rather than on the ‘balance of probabilities’. Respondents rejected a like-for-like comparison with other professions because solicitors are regulated differently.The three solicitors who demurred said it was ‘in the public interest’ for the lower civil standard to be applied, and that this would bring solicitors into line with other professions. The bar’s regulator opted to lower the standard last November.’We will present our members’ views on this important issue when the SDT publishes its consultation,’ said the Society.Last October Chancery Lane published a discussion paper putting forward both sides of the argument and acknowledging the perception that the criminal standard protects solicitors rather than clients. Its formal position has been and remains to support the criminal standard.Law Society president Joe Egan said: ’The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal can end a solicitor’s career. The large majority of people who responded to our paper felt the tribunal should be sure it is making the right decision before it does so. We hope this summary of responses from the profession is useful evidence to inform the tribunal’s rules.’
First Published: 11th January, 2020 15:24 IST SUBSCRIBE TO US Last Updated: 11th January, 2020 15:24 IST Goncalves Registers Third Top 10 Stage Finish For Hero In Dakar Hero MotoSports Team Rally rider Goncalves continued his fine show & registered his third top 10 spot in a row by finishing stage 6 of the grueling Dakar rally WATCH US LIVE LIVE TV COMMENT
Press Trust Of India FOLLOW US Hero MotoSports Team Rally rider Paulo Goncalves continued his fine show and registered his third top 10 spot in a row by finishing stage 6 of the grueling Dakar Rally at the eighth position here. His teammate Sebastian Buhler, who has been impressive so far and was well poised to break into the top 15 in the overall rankings, suffered a technical issue with his bike and could not finish the stage on Friday. As a result he too is now out of the contention for the overall results, but like his teammate Joaquim Rodrigues, Buhler will opt to restart the race again in stage 7, and still compete for the stage results and gain valuable Dakar experience.READ | NFL Playoffs Divisional Round: Ravens’ Blitzkrieg, Chiefs’ Balance Likely To DominateGoncalves registers third top 10 stage finisAnother Hero rider C S Santosh continued to gain confidence as he too made a last dash for a better ranking on Friday to finish the stage in the 32nd place. Rodrigues too had a steady stage as he finished 27th in the stage rankings. In the overall rankings, now with only two riders in contention, Santosh leads the team at 36th position overall while Goncalves made further gains to climb up to the 46th place. READ | Conners Takes Hard, Rewarding Road To HawaiiIt has been a tough first week in the Dakar Rally for Hero MotoSports with some really good starts and impressive stage performances being undermined by a series of unfortunate technical snags. The team is looking forward to the rest day on Saturday here, as it will give everyone a chance to recover mentally and physically and also to re-organise their strategy for the even longer second week of the Dakar 2020. The stage 6 of the rally was the longest stage yet of the Dakar 2020 with a total of 830 kms to be done, including the 478 kms of the special. READ | Tua Tagovailoa Signs Up With 2018 NFL NVP Patrick Mahomes’ AgencyFrom Ha’il to Riyadh, the change of scenery was dramatic as the special stage was 100 per cent sand and entirely off-road. After a relatively fast first section, the competitors met with the dunes challenge. The second half of the Dakar 2020 will start on Sunday with the stage 7, the longest stage of the rally with 546 kms to be done on the clock. It will be followed by a series of really long stages, including a marathon stage, designed to put to test, the endurance and mettle of the competitors before the grand finish at Qiddiyah on January 17. READ | Packers Seek To Recruit 700 Snow Shovelers Ahead Of Playoff Game Against Seattle Seahawks Written By