Consumer panel warns SRA that latest Handbook reforms are recipe for “consumer confusion” – Legal Futures

‘The Legal Services Consumer Panel (LSCP) has warned that the second phase of reforms to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) Handbook would “compound existing complexities” and could further confuse consumers.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 9th January 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Bar Council: New Lord Chancellor must ensure justice is properly resourced and functioning effectively – The Bar Council

Posted January 9th, 2018 in barristers, legal aid, lord chancellor, news by sally

‘Commenting on the appointment of The Rt Hon David Gauke MP as Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, the Chair of the Bar, Andrew Walker QC, said:

“The Bar Council warmly congratulates David Gauke on his appointment. We look forward to working with the new Lord Chancellor to ensure access to justice is available to all, to ensure that the system for securing the administration of justice is resourced properly and functioning effectively, and to achieve fair and sustainable public funding arrangements for advocacy and legal advice. These matter because they underpin the rule of law and our constitutional principles which the Lord Chancellor has a special responsibility to uphold.”‘

Full Story

The Bar Council, 9th January 2018

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

2018 and beyond: Our legal futures… – Legal Futures

Posted January 9th, 2018 in law firms, legal profession, legal services, news, solicitors by sally

‘It’s that time of year again. Thinking about what’s gone before us and planning for the future – looking at what we do, how we do it, and more importantly, who we do it for.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 9th January 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Beach huts: chattels, leases, estoppel – Nearly Legal

Posted January 9th, 2018 in estoppel, gifts, housing, leases, news by sally

‘Gilpin and ors v Legg [2017] EWHC 3220 (Ch) is a gift (at least to land law examiners) that is going to keep on giving. This is not just because of the claims discussed – whether beach huts were fixtures or chattels, whether a lease had been granted to the owners of the huts, whether the landowner was estopped from obtaining possession, and even certain pleadings issues (the pleadings do seem to have been a little, erm, jejeune) – but also because HHJ Matthews (who I’m ashamed to say I haven’t come across) added his tuppenies to a couple of controversies, not least making some important observations on the correctness of the Supreme Court judgment in Berrisford v Mexfield. Part of the problem in the case was that the events which underpinned the various claims happened over many years, were oral, and, in some cases, involved transfers of title (the issues of which were neatly stepped over by the judge who referred to bona fide purchasers, so we might be dealing with unregistered land, a point not made clear).’

Full Story

Nearly Legal, 8th January 2018

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Self-proclaimed Nazi found guilty of stirring antisemitism in UK – The Guardian

Posted January 9th, 2018 in inciting religious hatred, news, speeches, threatening behaviour by sally

‘A self-proclaimed Nazi who claimed Britain took the wrong side in the second world war has been convicted of stirring racial hatred against Jewish people.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 8th January 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Abingdon vicar guilty of ‘spiritually abusing’ boy – BBC News

Posted January 9th, 2018 in Church of England, clergy, disciplinary procedures, news, tribunals by sally

‘A Church of England vicar has been convicted by a tribunal of spiritually abusing a teenage boy.’

Full Story

BBC News, 8th January 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Rape victim who overdosed on diet pills did not receive appropriate care because A&E was overcrowded, inquest hears – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 9th, 2018 in health, inquests, mental health, news, rape, suicide, victims by sally

‘A rape victim who sent a final text about overdosing on diet pills did not receive appropriate care because A&E was overcrowded, an inquest heard.’

Full Story

Daily Telegraph, 8th January 2018

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Wales smacking ban plan goes to public consultation – BBC News

Posted January 9th, 2018 in consultations, corporal punishment, news, Wales by sally

‘Plans to outlaw smacking children in Wales are going out to a three-month consultation.’

Full Story

BBC News, 9th January 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Plastic microbeads ban enters force in UK – The Guardian

Posted January 9th, 2018 in environmental protection, news, waste, water by sally

‘Plastic microbeads can no longer be used in cosmetics and personal care products in the UK, after a long-promised ban came into effect on Tuesday. The ban initially bars the manufacture of such products and a ban on sales will follow in July.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 9th January 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Recent Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk

Posted January 9th, 2018 in legislation by tracey

The Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (Designated Sites under Section 128) (Amendment) Order 2018

The Non-Domestic Rating (Rates Retention) (Amendment) Regulations 2017

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk