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home > regional groups > reports from the regions- find out what they are doing

FEBRUARY 2008:Shropshire Regional Group - CROOKS, CHEATS AND TWISTERS

Report by Liz Holdsworth

On 23rd January 2008, at ten minutes passed five, after three hours, 25 lawyer delegates at the first meeting of the Shropshire SFE were still sitting “riveted” by the lecture being given by the incomparable Alastair Brierley who was speaking about Undue Influence, Forgery and Fraud in a style which was intellectually challenging, informative, amusing and immensely enjoyable.

He used the facts of alarming cases to great effect and interspersed his talk with challenging questions about the Christian names of the judges in the cases!

Alastair’s lectures leave one wishing it could have been a whole day! I can thoroughly recommend him to other groups, though he is a busy high street practitioner and would need persuasion! He can be contacted on 01743 350851 at Turnbull Garrard in Shrewsbury.

The cases on “dodgy” solicitors who had taken advantage of vulnerable clients reinforced my own strongly held personal belief that NO solicitor should be allowed to take ANY benefit under a client’s will UNLESS they are making a will for a family member in whose will they would have received a benefit regardless. I include in this the idea of sending vulnerable and frail clients to other solicitors which apparently makes it “alright”. My view is we just say no to the suggestion of a gift in a will and I am pleased to say that no will of any of my clients contains a gift to me though some may contain a legacy to a local charity instead. I would like SFE Code of Practice to include this and I wonder what others feel? Thoughts to the Forum and not me please!

Shropshire Regional Group – Annual report – Liz Holdsworth

This year has seen an unprecedented growth in Shropshire in the number of lawyers who have been accepted as members of SFE. We now have 29! This is good news for them as they will receive a great deal of current information direct to their computers, have access to the excellent members’ section on the web site and be able to access the SFE forum on line where many “knotty legal problems” are aired and resolved. It is good news, too, for the local population which will have a greater “spread” of specialists in “older client” issues.

We have had four training meetings during the year:-

q Who Cares for the Carers? Accessing Advice and Assistance for Carers. We were grateful to have presentations from Age Concern, Carers Support Services, Alzheimer’s Society and Crossroads.

q A lecture on Lasting Powers of Attorney by Caroline Bielanska

q An Update on the Mental Capacity Act 2005 by the then Master of the Court of Protection, Denzil Lush

q A talk on Some of the Practicalities of the Mental Capacity Act and IMCAs given by representatives from the Office of the Public Guardian and the Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy Service, including the IMCA for Shropshire, Tina Allport.

The numbers attending have increased considerably (55 at the last meeting) and we are fortunate to use a venue – The Shropshire Education and Conference Centre - which provides various locations for our meetings, including the 200 seat lecture theatre. We are delighted to have so many different professions and organizations sharing with us in the training events.

Many problems have arisen in connection with the implementation of the Mental Capacity Act and the procedures and processes at the OPG and the Court of Protection. SFE members have shared their experiences and advice on the members’ email forum and the Chair, Caroline Bielanska, has recently had a meeting with the Public Guardian, Richard Brookes, to raise our concerns

Already we have four training sessions planned for 2008. Please mark your diaries/ blackberries now!

23rd January 2008

Alastair Brierley gives an update on Undue Influence, Fraud and Forgery

24th April 2008

Peter Twiddy - Former head of Litigation at HMRC Capital Taxes Office and now a consultant with Bircham Dyson Bell will talk on Agricultural and Business Property Relief for older clients, followed by a session for discussion on other issues1

10th July 2008

Keith Biggs – Former District Registrar at Winchester Probate Registry will talk on Avoiding Problems when Applying for Grants

16th October 2008

Jerry White, the Local Government Ombudsman and Trish Longdon the Deputy Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman will give a presentation entitled ‘How can the Local Government Ombudsman and Health Service Ombudsman help your clients?’ A talk with particular reference to funding of care.

Thank you to those who serve on the committee and share the responsibility to organize meetings not only for members of SFE but also for lawyers who have not yet joined, and all the others who come who are not lawyers but who, in so many different ways, serve the older community of Shropshire.

I believe we have such firm foundations that the Shropshire Regional Group of SFE can look forward to good training and excellent networking for years to come.

Thank you to all who attend and share with us.