Law centres warn on legal aid cuts – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted February 2nd, 2012 in law centres, legal aid, news by sally

“Law centres will close, leaving ‘many thousands’ of the poor and marginalised without access to justice if the government’s legal aid cuts are implemented, peers have warned.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 2nd February 2012

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

The solar panel challenge – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted February 2nd, 2012 in consultations, energy, judicial review, news by sally

“The government’s attempt to move forward the date for a reduction in subsidies for households with solar panel installations is concerning, both in legal terms and for the future of renewable energy. The Court of Appeal’s judgment on 25 January 2012 reassuringly blocked the government’s endeavours, but with the intention of the government to appeal to the Supreme Court, the legal battle continues.”

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Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 2nd February 2012

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

Recent Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk

Posted February 2nd, 2012 in legislation by sally

The Compromise Agreements (Automatic Enrolment) (Description of Person) Order 2012

The Automatic Enrolment (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2012

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

Teenager jailed for breaching new gang injunction – BBC News

Posted February 2nd, 2012 in gangs, injunctions, news, sentencing, young offenders by sally

“A teenager from north London has become the first in England or Wales to be jailed for breaching a new gang injunction.”

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BBC News, 1st February 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Law Society outlines initiatives to reinforce access to justice – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted February 2nd, 2012 in legal aid, news, pro bono work by sally

“The Law Society vice-president has outlined initiatives to bolster access to justice following the government’s proposed legal aid reforms – but stressed that Chancery Lane has not given up its opposition to the cuts.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 2nd February 2012

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Command Papers – official-documents.gov.uk

Posted February 2nd, 2012 in parliamentary papers by sally

Treaty between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the French Republic relating to Joint Radiographic/Hydrodynamics Facilities, Cm 8289 (PDF)

Protocol Amending the Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the State of Qatar for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income and on Capital Gains, Cm 8285 (PDF)

International Convention On the Control of Harmful Anti-Fouling Systems on Ships, 2001, Cm 8284 (PDF)

National Security Through Technology: Technology, Equipment, and Support for UK Defence and Security, Cm 8278 (PDF)

Equipment, Support, and Technology for UK Defence and Security: A Consultation Paper, Cm 8277 (PDF)

Source: www.official-documents.gov.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted February 2nd, 2012 in law reports by sally

Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

Armstrong, R v [2012] EWCA Crim 83 (01 February 2012)

OB v The Director of the Serious Fraud Office [2012] EWCA Crim 67 (01 February 2012)

Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

Hawksford Trustees Jersey Ltd v Stella Global UK Ltd & Anor [2012] EWCA Civ 55 (01 February 2012)

Coogan v News Group Newspapers Ltd & Anor [2012] EWCA Civ 48 (01 February 2012)

Tiffin v Lester Aldridge LLP [2012] EWCA Civ 35 (01 February 2012)

High Court (Chancery Division)

IBM United Kingdom Pensions Trust Ltd v Metcalfe & Ors [2012] EWHC 125 (Ch) (01 February 2012)

High Court (Commercial Court)

Standard Life Assurance Ltd v Ace European Group & Ors [2012] EWHC 104 (Comm) (01 February 2012)

Source: www.bailii.org

Bury equal pay case: Council settles with dinner ladies – BBC News

Posted February 2nd, 2012 in equal pay, local government, news by sally

“Nearly 1,000 female workers, including dinner ladies, cleaners and carers, are to receive five years’ back pay after an equality dispute with Bury Council.”

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BBC News, 1st February 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Regina (Samuel Smith Old Brewery (Tadcaster)) v Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change – WLR Daily

Posted February 2nd, 2012 in electricity lines, energy, judicial review, law reports by sally

Regina (Samuel Smith Old Brewery (Tadcaster)) v Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change [2012] EWHC 46 (Admin); [2012] WLR (D) 16

“Following the grant of a consent under section 37 of the Electricity Act 1989 (as amended) in respect of any operation or change of use that constituted development, a direction made by the Secretary of State under section 90(2) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 that planning permission for that and any ancillary development should be deemed to be granted was not a ‘determination under the planning Acts’ for the purposes of engaging the duty to act in accordance with the applicable development plan under section 38(6) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.”

WLR Daily, 31st January 2012

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Revenue and Customs Commissioners v GKN Group – WLR Daily

Posted February 2nd, 2012 in appeals, civil procedure rules, corporation tax, law reports by sally

Revenue and Customs Commissioners v GKN Group [2012] EWCA Civ 57; [2012] WLR (D) 15

“On an application for an interim payment under CPR r 25.7(1)(c) a claimant had to satisfy the court on a balance of probabilities that, on the material available to the court, he would succeed at trial in obtaining judgment from the defendant for a substantial amount of money. It was not sufficient to show that it was likely that he would succeed.”

WLR Daily, 31st January 2012

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Coalition overturns Lords amendments on welfare and bans further dissent – The Guardian

Posted February 2nd, 2012 in bills, news, parliament by sally

“Government uses rare parliamentary procedure to annul seven adjustments to reform and prevent further challenges from peers.”

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The Guardian, 1st February 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Deech: barristers and solicitors should share training – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted February 2nd, 2012 in barristers, legal education, news, solicitors by sally

“Barristers and solicitors should share most of their training, the chair of the Bar Standards Board has proposed.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 2nd February 2012

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Thousands wrongly labelled as criminals – Daily Telegraph

Posted February 2nd, 2012 in criminal records, news, vetting by sally

“At least 20,000 people have been wrongly labelled as criminals or accused of more serious offences because of blunders by the police and the Criminal Records Bureau.”

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Daily Telegraph, 2nd February 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Civil litigation cost reforms to be delayed until 2013, Government confirms – OUT-LAW.com

Posted February 2nd, 2012 in bills, civil justice, fees, news by sally

“Proposed changes to ‘no win, no fee’ agreements will not be introduced until April 2013 at the earliest, the Government has said. The changes will prevent losing parties having to pay certain elements of an injured party’s successful damages claim.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 1st February 2012

Source: www.out-law.com

Police spies: watchdog calls for safeguards over ‘intrusive tactic’ – The Guardian

Posted February 2nd, 2012 in investigatory powers, news, police, reports by sally

“A clandestine operation that secretly deployed police spies in political groups for 40 years is severely criticised today by the official policing inspectorate, which concludes that the “intrusive” tactic should in future be used only after independent authorisation.”

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The Guardian, 2nd February 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Coogan and Phillips v NGN – give a thought to the under-privileged – Kirsten Sjovoll – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted February 2nd, 2012 in appeals, interception, news, privilege, self-incrimination, telecommunications by sally

“The Court of Appeal today (1 February) dismissed Mr Glenn Mulcaire’s appeal against an order that he provide information to claimants in the phone hacking litigation. The Court (Lord Judge, Lord Neuberger and Maurice Kay LJ) unanimously upheld the rulings of Mann J and Vos J that, as a result of the operation of section 72 of the Senior Courts Act 1981, Mr Mulcaire was not entitled to rely on his privilege against self-incrimination (‘PSI’).”

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UK Human Rights Blog, 1st February 2012

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Amy Winehouse inquest put in doubt by coroner’s qualifications – The Guardian

Posted February 2nd, 2012 in coroners, inquests, news by sally

“A judicial investigation has been launched into the appointment of the coroner who chaired Amy Winehouse’s inquest, raising fears that the circumstances of the singer’s death might need to be examined again.

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The Guardian, 1st February 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk