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

Ministry of Justice plan to destroy historical wills is ‘insane’, say experts – The Guardian

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

‘“Sheer vandalism” and “insane”. This is how leading historians on Monday described government plans to destroy millions of historical wills to save on storage costs. The Ministry of Justice is consulting on digitising and then throwing away about 100m paper originals of the last wills and testaments of British people dating back more than 150 years in an effort to save £4.5m a year.’

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The Guardian, 18th December 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Civil Justice Council working group consult on procedure for determining mental capacity in civil proceedings – Local Government Lawyer

‘A Civil Justice Council (CJC) working group has launched a consultation on the procedure for determining mental capacity in civil proceedings.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 18th December 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Strikes: what will minimum service levels look like in the education sector? – Local Goverment Lawyer

‘The Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023 came into force on 20 July 2023 and gives the government powers to make regulations to set minimum service levels in specified sectors during strikes. This includes education. Joanne Moseley looks at the implications for the sector.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 15th December 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Artificial Intelligence (AI) – Judicial Guidance – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted December 15th, 2023 in artificial intelligence, codes of practice, consultations, judges, judiciary, news by tracey

‘The use of Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) throughout society continues to increase, and so does its relevance to the court and tribunal system. All judicial office holders must be alive to the potential risks. Of particular importance, as the guidance document emphasises, is the need to be aware that the public versions of these tools are open in nature and therefore that no private or confidential information should be entered into them.’

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Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 12th December 2023

Source: www.judiciary.uk

Amendments at the appeal stage – Local Government Lawyer

Posted December 11th, 2023 in agriculture, appeals, consultations, local government, news, planning by tracey

‘Wheatcroft, then Holborn, now Bramley – the Planning Court has ruled on practicalities of amendments at appeal stage. Thea Osmund-Smith and Odette Chalaby provide a digest of the decision.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 8th December 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Bringing the Right to Die to the British Isles (Part II): The Cautionary Experience of Australia’s Northern Territory – Oxford Human Rights Hub

Posted November 30th, 2023 in assisted suicide, bills, consultations, euthanasia, news by sally

‘Part I of this blog discussed the legality of assisted dying in the Isle of Man at present and the proposed legalisation of assisted dying and voluntary euthanasia under the Assisted Dying Bill 2023. If enacted, the Isle of Man will become the first jurisdiction in the British Isles to legalise any form of assisted dying, although the legislatures of the UK, Ireland, and Jersey are currently conducting consultations on such laws. However, there is precedent for a semi-independent jurisdiction, like the Isle of Man, spearheading the legalisation of assisted dying and voluntary euthanasia – and being reprimanded as a result.’

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Oxford Human Rights Hub, 29th November 2023

Source: ohrh.law.ox.ac.uk

High court challenge to ‘constitutionally unprecedented’ UK anti-protest law – The Guardian

‘A new law making it easier for the police to put conditions on peaceful protests is “constitutionally unprecedented” and unlawful, according to a claim filed at the high court in London.’

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The Guardian, 29th November 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Online Safety Act super-complaints process must not overwhelm Ofcom – OUT-LAW.com

Posted November 28th, 2023 in complaints, consultations, internet, news by tracey

‘The UK government must ensure that the way the new “super-complaints” process under the Online Safety Act is configured enables new risks and systemic issues across services to be addressed whilst guarding against the potential for overwhelming the regulator.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 27th November 2023

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

How new UK laws affect ‘nationally significant infrastructure projects’ – OUT-LAW.com

Posted November 23rd, 2023 in consultations, energy, environmental protection, news, planning by sally

‘Major new legislation recently enacted in the UK will impact developers seeking to deliver “nationally significant infrastructure projects” (NSIPs) in the years ahead.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 22nd November 2023

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Consolidation of legal regulators “may be a good thing” – Legal Futures

‘Consolidation of legal regulators “may be a good thing” if designed to achieve “the pulling together of knowledge, lessons, consumer research and engagement”, the Legal Services Consumer Panel has said.’

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Legal Futures, 22nd November 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Competition watchdog seeks views on use of landbanks and how planning rules affect competition – Local Government Lawyer

Posted November 22nd, 2023 in competition, consultations, housing, local government, news, ombudsmen by sally

‘The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has published two ‘working papers’ seeking feedback on its assessment of the use of landbanks, and how planning rules concerning zoning, consultations and local plan processes may be impacting competition and how new homes are delivered.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 21st November 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Draft reforms to UK holiday pay rules leave room for future changes – OUT-LAW.com

‘The UK government’s response to two post-Brexit consultations on reforming holiday pay leaves the door open for more reforms in the future, according to two legal experts.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 17th November 2023

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Legal Practice Management Association (LPMA) Conference, 9 November 2023 – Bar Standards Board

Posted November 10th, 2023 in barristers, consultations, news by tracey

‘Speech by Mark Neale, Director General Bar Standards Board.’

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Bar Standards Board, 9th November 2023

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

BSB could publish assessments of chambers and encourage mergers – Legal Futures

Posted October 24th, 2023 in barristers, consultations, mergers, news, standards by tracey

‘The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has floated the idea of publishing assessments of individual chambers as part of a new “graduated supervision strategy”.’

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Legal Futures, 24th October 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Government consults on safe and legal routes for refugees – Home Office

‘Local authorities will be consulted on plans to determine an annual cap on the number of refugees resettled in the UK each year, based on the UK’s capacity to accommodate and support people coming to the UK via safe and legal routes, as the government continues work to deliver its plan to stop the boats.’

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Home Office, 20th October 2023

Source: www.gov.uk

An update to the Wills Act 1837 – Mills & Reeve

‘On 5 October 2023, the Law Commission began a consultation into the use of electronic wills and the effect of a marriage or civil partnership on an existing will.’

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Mills & Reeve, 12th October 2023

Source: www.mills-reeve.com