Briefs

Hearsay goes up in value

The Civil Evidence Bill currently going through Parliament holds a welcome surprise for surveyors, according to Jim Cotter, a property litigator at the City firm of Nabarro Nathanson .

The proposed change in the law to permit the use of "hearsay" evidence in court in certain circumstances means that valuers will be able to introduce to civil proceedings, or arbitration hearings where the value of a property is an issue, materials upon which their opinions about market conditions and values are based, he says.

Hitherto, they have been restricted to bringing to the court material of which they have first-hand knowledge, or can prove by the oral evidence of a third party.

Take your work home with you

Technological advances within professional firms are contributing to the trend for working from home, according to the tax, law and business publisher Tolley. Fifty-four per cent of members of accountancy or law practices said they work from home at least once a week.

The numbers game

The Financial Training Company has joined forces with Professional Training Services to form what is claimed to be the largest provider of accountancy training in the Midlands.

Greening the economy

The role of fiscal measures, such as the UK's recently imposed landfill tax, in reducing environmental impacts and promoting sustainability are highlighted in a book to be published later this month. Green Budget Reform, to be published by Earthscan in association with IISD, argues that massive changes to current economic systems are needed if "environmental degradation" is to be prevented.

Advocates of change

London will play host to 1,000 more lawyers than usual next month when Sir Thomas Bingham, Master of the Rolls, opens the 39th annual congress of the Union Internationale des Avocats at the Grosvenor House Hotel, (pictured below).

The congress, which will run from 3 to 7 September, will have the theme "Meeting the Challenge" and will explore how the legal profession should deal with changes in key areas of the law in the coming years.