Sentencing Council to make changes to manslaughter guidelines and introduce new guidance for sentencing pregnant offenders – Sentencing Council

‘Changes to a number of sentencing guidelines have been published by the Sentencing Council following a consultation on miscellaneous amendments. The changes, which will come into effect on 1 April 2024, include amendments to the manslaughter guidelines made in response to recommendations in the Domestic Homicide Sentencing Review and the introduction of a new, dedicated mitigating factor providing guidance for courts on sentencing pregnant offenders and new mothers.’

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Sentencing Council, 18th March 2024

Source: www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk

Leasehold Upper Tribunal roundup By Giles Peaker – Nearly Legal

Posted March 11th, 2024 in consultations, housing, landlord & tenant, leases, news, repairs, service charges by tracey

‘Some quick notes on various recent (ish) Upper Tribunal decisions.’

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Nearly Legal, 10th March 2024

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Bar Council warns regulator over plans for chambers – Legal Futures

Posted March 7th, 2024 in barristers, consultations, mergers, news, standards by sally

‘The Bar Council has warned the Bar Standards Board (BSB) not to go too far in its oversight of chambers and said its idea of encouraging smaller sets to merge is “inappropriate”.’

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Legal Futures, 7th March 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Councils call for “realistic and achievable timetable” and allocation of new burdens funding for implementation of Awaab’s Law – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Local Government Association has called on the Government to work with the social housing sector to set a “realistic and achievable timescale” for implementation of Awaab’s Law.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 6th March 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Law body considers which law governs digital asset disputes – OUT-LAW.com

‘The Law Commission of England and Wales has opened a new project to examine how questions on the application of private international law should be answered in the context of disputes over digital assets or electronic trade documents.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 29th February 2024

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Ministers to consult on doubling legal wattage of electric bike motors – The Guardian

Posted February 29th, 2024 in consultations, electricity, news, road safety, road traffic by sally

‘Ministers are to consult on doubling the legal wattage of electric bike motors, despite concerns over road safety and the risk of deadly fires caused by batteries.’

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The Guardian, 29th February 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Law Commission seeks views on regulation of self-flying and remotely piloted aircraft – Law Commission

Posted February 26th, 2024 in aircraft, consultations, Law Commission, news by tracey

‘The Law Commission of England and Wales is seeking views on how best to regulate self-flying and remotely piloted aircraft for now and in the future.’

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Law Commission, 26th February 2024

Source: lawcom.gov.uk

Government urged not to resurrect fees for UK employment tribunals – The Guardian

‘Unions and workers’ rights groups are urging the government to reconsider plans to reintroduce fees for employment tribunals amid fears it will encourage exploitation.’

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The Guardian, 26th February 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Proposed sentencing guidelines for aggravated vehicle taking and motoring offences unveiled – Solicitors Journal

Posted February 23rd, 2024 in consultations, dangerous driving, news, road traffic offences, sentencing, theft by michael

‘The independent Sentencing Council has published proposed sentencing guidelines for individuals convicted of motoring offences committed while driving vehicles without the owner’s consent.’

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Solicitors Journal, 21st February 2024

Source: www.solicitorsjournal.com

Consultation on Martyn’s law published but questions remain – OUT-LAW.com

‘The UK government’s consultation on proposed changes to the requirements for standard tier premises under draft anti-terrorism legislation confirms a commitment to proportionality. However, questions remain, including on what businesses must do to protect against acts of terrorism, an expert has said.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 14th February 2024

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

City council facing second judicial review challenge over tree felling – Local Government Lawyer

Posted February 13th, 2024 in consultations, judicial review, local government, news, planning, trees by tracey

‘A fresh judicial review threat has been made over Plymouth City Council’s controversial redevelopment plans, which saw the local authority fell more than a hundred trees on a city street.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 12th February 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Law group’s redundant workers awarded £570k by tribunal – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted February 8th, 2024 in compensation, consultations, employment tribunals, news, redundancy by tracey

‘Dozens of former Metamorph staff laid off when the group went under are collectively entitled to £570,000 in compensation, a tribunal has ruled.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 7th February 2024

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Fatal domestic abuse reviews renamed to better recognise suicide cases – Home Office

Posted February 6th, 2024 in bereavement, bills, consultations, domestic violence, homicide, news, suicide by tracey

‘Domestic Homicide Reviews will be renamed to Domestic Abuse Related Death Reviews following calls to better recognise deaths from domestic abuse related suicide.’

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Home Office, 5th February 2024

Source: www.gov.uk

MoJ to press ahead with fixed costs changes amid JR threat – Legal Futures

‘The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is pressing ahead with reforms to the fixed recoverable costs (FRC) regime that came into force in October, opening the door to a possible court challenge.’

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Legal Futures, 2nd February 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Government announces early legal advice pilot for separating couples – Legal Futures

‘The government is to launch a pilot of early legal advice for separating couples to judge what impact it could have to speed up a resolution.’

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Legal Furures, 26th January 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

New year, same ethnicity pay gap concerns – still no mandatory reporting – Kingsley Napley Employment Law Blog

‘After five years of consultation, last year the government confirmed there are no plans to make ethnicity pay gap reporting mandatory for employers. The ethnicity pay gap being the difference between the average earnings of white employees and those of other ethnic groups.’

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Kingsley Napley Employment Law Blog, 23rd January 2024

Source: www.kingsleynapley.co.uk

BSB launches a public consultation on amending the definition of academic legal training – Bar Standards Board

Posted January 15th, 2024 in barristers, consultations, education, legal education, news by tracey

‘The BSB has launched a three-month public consultation to seek views on our proposed approach to revising the definition of academic legal training and to dealing with consequential waivers and exemptions.’

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Bar Standards Board, 9th January 2024

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

An end to ‘a reasonable period’? Awaab’s Law – Nearly Legal

‘As you will doubtless recall, the Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023 introduced a new section 10A Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, implying a term into all social tenancies that the landlord will comply with all “prescribed requirements” on responding to relevant defects to be specified in regulations – the framework for “Awaab’s Law”. A breach of section 10A would be actionable by the tenant in the County Court – quite possibly together with section 9A/10 and section 11.’

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Nearly Legal, 9th January 2024

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Government consults on legal requirements for social landlords to address hazards including damp and mould quickly – and in some cases within 24 hours – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Michael Gove, has launched a consultation on the introduction of strict time limits for social housing providers requiring them to take swift action in addressing dangerous hazards such as damp and mould.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 9th January 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Easier access to historic wills under new government plans – Ministry of Justice

Posted December 19th, 2023 in archives, consultations, Ministry of Justice, news, wills by tracey

‘The ambitious digitisation programme could see millions of wills dating back more than 150 years moved online and more easily accessible to the public in a bid to improve the current storage system.’

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Ministry of Justice, 15th December 2023

Source: www.gov.uk