Radical reforms for parental leave and flexible working proposed – Home Office

Posted May 18th, 2011 in flexible working, news, parental rights, sex discrimination by tracey

“Theresa May, the Home Secretary and minister for women and equalities, today backed a consultation on modernising Britain’s workplace laws.”

Full press release

Home Office, 16th May 2011

Source: www.homeoffice.gov.uk

Sexual grooming of children far worse than thought, says minister – The Guardian

Posted May 18th, 2011 in child abuse, news, sexual grooming, trafficking in human beings by tracey

“The sexual grooming of children in the UK is a much bigger problem than has previously been recognised, the government has said.”

Full story

The Guardian, 17th May 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Lawyers demand pause in legal aid reforms – The Guardian

Posted May 18th, 2011 in Law Society, legal aid, news by tracey

“Law Society accuses ministers of ignoring consultation by pressing ahead with plans to remove legal help for vulnerable.”

Full story

The Guardian, 18th May 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Northampton brawling benefits cheat is jailed – BBC News

Posted May 18th, 2011 in benefits, fraud, news, sentencing by tracey

“A benefits cheat who was caught on CCTV brawling with police, despite claiming he could not leave home without a walking stick, has been jailed.”

Full story

BBC News, 17th May 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Derek Wiggett jailed for abusing boys in 70s and 80s – BBC News

Posted May 18th, 2011 in child abuse, guilty pleas, news, sentencing, sexual grooming by tracey

“A retired architect and former scout leader has been jailed for six years at Mold Crown Court for abusing two boys between 1976 and 1984.”

Full story

BBC News, 17th May 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

50pc ‘discount’ in jail term for rapists who enter early guilty plea – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 18th, 2011 in guilty pleas, news, rape, sentencing by tracey

“Rapists could have their sentences cut in half if they plead guilty after being arrested.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 18th May 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Gypsy gang jailed for ‘sophisticated’ £800k benefit fraud – Daily Telegraph

“A gang of Romanian gypsies flew in and out of Britain to defraud taxpayers out of more than £800,000 through a series of benefit scams, a court has heard.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 18th May 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Prisoners’ lifeline celebrates 20 years – The Guardian

Posted May 17th, 2011 in elections, human rights, legal aid, news, prisons, sentencing by sally

“Earlier this month the great and the good and a few ex-cons (not to mention the odd great and good ex-con) came out to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Prisoners’ Advice Service (Pas) and debate prisoners’ rights at the City law firm Hogan Lovells.”

Full story

The Guardian, 17th May 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Government launches review to help establish new communications laws – OUT-LAW.com

Posted May 17th, 2011 in consultations, internet, media, news, telecommunications by sally

“The Government has asked for industry’s input on new communication laws that could come into effect as early as 2015. It has opened a review into the regulation of the communications industry in the UK.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 17th May 2011

Source: www.out-law.com

Sunday Telegraph journalist criticised by high court judge – The Guardian

Posted May 17th, 2011 in expert witnesses, family courts, law reports, media, news by sally

“A high court judge has criticised a senior Sunday Telegraph journalist over his reporting of a case heard in the family courts last year.”

Full story

The Guardian, 17th May 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Overseas aid targets ‘will be made law’, insists government – The Guardian

Posted May 17th, 2011 in bills, charities, news by sally

“Downing Street has insisted the government is committed to enshrining its overseas aid spending targets in law, despite objections by the defence secretary, Liam Fox.”

Full story

The Guardian, 17th May 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Raft of firms and chambers advise as Sienna Miller wins £100k ‘Hackgate’ damages – Legal Week

Posted May 17th, 2011 in barristers, damages, interception, media, news, telecommunications by sally

“Matrix and Doughty Street Chambers are among a raft of law firms and barristers’ sets to have acted on the high-profile phone-hacking dispute between Sienna Miller and the News of the World (NoW).”

Full story

Legal Week, 17th May 2011

Source: www.legalweek.com

Breaking the myth of the barristers’ dinner – The Guardian

Posted May 17th, 2011 in barristers, inns of court, legal education, news by sally

“The focus on medieval ritual and indulgence does not paint a fair picture of the inns of courts’ qualifying sessions.”

Full story

The Guardian, 17th May 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Recent Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk

Posted May 17th, 2011 in legislation by sally

The Immigration (Designation of Travel Bans) (Amendment No.4) Order 2011

The Pensions Act 2008 (Abolition of Protected Rights) (Consequential Amendments) Order 2011

The Pensions Act 2007 (Abolition of Contracting-out for Defined Contribution Pension Schemes) (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2011

The Pensions Act 2007 (Commencement No. 4) Order 2011

The Pensions Act 2008 (Commencement No. 10) Order 2011

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted May 17th, 2011 in law reports by sally

Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

Dizaei v R. [2011] EWCA Crim 1174 (16 May 2011)

Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

Avon Estates Ltd v Welsh Ministers & Anor [2011] EWCA Civ 553 (16 May 2011)

High Court (Queen’s Bench)

CTB v News Group Newspapers Ltd & Anor [2011] EWHC 1232 (QB) (16 May 2011)

Furmedge & Ors v Chester -Le -Street District Council [2011] EWHC 1226 (QB) (16 May 2011)

High Court (Family Division)

Mekarska (Wife) v Ruiz (Husband) [2011] EWHC 913 (Fam) (09 May 2011)

K (A Child), Re [2011] EWHC 1082 (Fam) (16 May 2011)

High Court (Administrative Court)

Williams, R (On the Application Of) v Merseyside Police Authority [2011] EWHC 1119 (Admin) (05 May 2011)

High Court (Commercial Court)

Carboex SA v Louis Dreyfus Commodities Suisse SA [2011] EWHC 1165 (Comm) (12 May 2011)

Source: www.bailii.org

MSD Sharp & Dohme GmbH v Merckle GmbH – WLR Daily

Posted May 17th, 2011 in advertising, consumer protection, EC law, internet, law reports, medicines by sally

MSD Sharp & Dohme GmbH v Merckle GmbH (Case C-316/09); [2011] WLR (D) 159

“The dissemination on a website by a pharmaceutical undertaking of information relating to medicinal products available on medical prescription only, which consisted in the reproduction of the packaging, and in the literal and complete reproduction of the package leaflet or summary of the product’s characteristics, was not contrary to article 88(1)(a) of Parliament and Council Directive 2001/83/EC, as amended, prohibiting advertising to the general public of medicinal products available on medical prescription only. The dissemination of such information which had been rewritten by the manufacturer and which could only be explained by an advertising purpose was prohibited.”

WLR Daily, 5th May 2011

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Please note that once a case has been fully reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.

Bartlett and others v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions – WLR Daily

Posted May 17th, 2011 in benefits, EC law, freedom of movement, law reports by sally

Bartlett and others v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Case (C-537/09); [2011] WLR (D) 158

“The mobility component of disability living allowance constituted a special non-contributory benefit within the meaning of article 4(2a) of and Annex IIa to Council Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71 as amended by Council Regulation (EC) No 118/97 and Parliament and Council Regulation (EC) No 631/2005, and of Council Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71 as amended by Parliament and Council Regulation (EC) No 647/2005. The provisions in article 10a of the Regulation and of the amended Regulation making the award of this benefit subject to conditions of residence and presence within the awarding member state were not contrary to the provisions of free movement of persons.”

WLR Daily, 5th May 2011

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Please note that once a case has been fully reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.

Media lawyers in the driving seat as Mosley crashes and burns in ECHR – The Lawyer

“The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) won favour with newspaper media lawyers last week after it rejected a bid by ­former International ­Automobile Federation (FIA) president Max Mosley to force newspapers to warn people beforehand if they are going to publish details of their private lives.”

Full story

The Lawyer, 16th May 2011

Source: www.thelawyer.com

Ministry of Justice Releases New Action Plan to Promote Legal Services Sector – The Bar Council

Posted May 17th, 2011 in legal services, Ministry of Justice, news by sally

“The Bar Council, which represents barristers in England and Wales, has voiced its support for the Ministry of Justice’s new Action Plan to promote the UK’s legal services sector. The plan has been jointly published by the MoJ and UK Trade and Investment (UKTI), and sets out how the Government, along with key partners, will seek to strengthen the country’s reputation in commercial arbitration, mediation and court services.”

Full story

The Bar Council, 16th May 2011

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Anger as new parental leave law ‘flies in face’ of pledge to cut red tape – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 17th, 2011 in consultations, employment, news, parental rights by sally

“The Government has been accused of ‘saying one thing and doing another’ after bringing in new employment rules less than a week after announcing a review of workplace law.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 16th May 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk