Issue: Vol 162, Issue 7526

How can a balance be struck between protecting investigative journalism & safeguarding the public, asks Iain Goldrein QC

David Burrows counts the costs in care proceedings

Ian Smith signs off for the summer with a whiff of controversy & a judicial blast

Lucinda Brown examines a charitable approach to litigation

Property contracts must be watertight, warns Siobhan Jones

Tim Spencer-Lane examines recent case law involving the community care responsibilities of local councils

Grey areas still exist at the boundaries of vicarious liability, notes Richard Scorer

Bill Gibson puts matters of interest under the spotlight in his special NLJ series on costs

Michael Cook confronts the ghost of hourly billing

Drysdale v Hedges [2012] All ER (D) 345 (Jul)