‘Someone has to make a stand’: widow’s battle for cohabiting couples – The Guardian

‘Siobhan McLaughlin’s case goes before supreme court as pressure grows to end legal inequality.’

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The Guardian, 27th January 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Court of Appeal allows ‘whistleblowing’ managing partner to sue former firm for £3.4m – Legal Futures

Posted January 29th, 2018 in appeals, constructive dismissal, law firms, news, solicitors, whistleblowers by sally

‘The ex-managing partner of a well-known law firm has won the right to sue his former firm for £3.4m under whistleblowing law.’

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Legal Futures, 29th January 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

English civil partnership may not be recognised abroad – Family Law

‘As England debates the future status, role and purpose of civil partnership, its cross-border status should be brought into account. Whilst marriage is almost universally recognised around the world and civil partnership is recognised by those countries with their own civil partnership laws, the legal status of an English civil partnership is not recognised in a number of countries. The civil partners have no different status in law to cohabitants in those countries. This places them in a real difficulty. A little-known and surprising piece of law may come to their aid. But should civil partnerships be continued now there is same-sex marriage including in view of the position abroad?’

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Family Law, 26th January 2018

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

Law Society joins battle over whether third-party capture insurer still has to pay solicitors’ costs – Litigation Futures

Posted January 29th, 2018 in appeals, costs, insurance, Law Society, news, solicitors by sally

‘The Law Society has been granted permission to intervene in the Supreme Court’s hearing of a case that made a major strike against the practice of third-party capture in personal injury.’

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Litigation Futures, 29th January 2018

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

UK rape complainants ‘face unfair questions about sexual history’ – The Guardian

Posted January 29th, 2018 in criminal procedure, cross-examination, evidence, news, rape by sally

‘Complainants in rape cases are being subjected to invasive and unfair questioning about their sexual history, according to a cross-party campaign supporting tighter restrictions on cross-examination in trials.’

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The Guardian, 29th January 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Surrogacy: Law Practice and Policy in England and Wales – Family Law

Posted January 29th, 2018 in families, human rights, news, surrogacy by sally

‘Since the first UK surrogacy case hit the headlines in 1985 with the birth of Baby Cotton, surrogacy law has been evolving in the UK, and indeed throughout the world. As the pool of adoptable babies continues to shrink, the growth of surrogacy as a means of supporting childless couples to start their families is a trend that is likely to continue.’

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Family Law, 25th January 2018

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

Police forces and prosecutors failing to carry out ‘basic’ procedure in rape cases, Attorney General says – Daily Telegraph

‘The failings which have lead to a nationwide review of all live rape and serious sexual assault cases were caused by police forces and prosecutors not carrying out “basic” procedure, the Attorney General has suggested.’

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Daily Telegraph, 27th January 2018

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Brexit: EU (Withdrawal Bill) fundamentally flawed, say peers – BBC News

Posted January 29th, 2018 in bills, brexit, constitutional reform, EC law, news, select committees, treaties by sally

‘Proposed legislation bringing existing EU law into UK law is “fundamentally flawed” and needs to be reworked, a Lords committee has said.’

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BBC News, 29th January 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

One in three people with legal problems in UK develop health issues – report – The Guardian

Posted January 29th, 2018 in civil justice, criminal justice, health, legal aid, mental health, news, reports by sally

‘Almost one-third of those with legal problems in the UK report developing a stress-related or physical illness as a result of their experience, according to a new international survey comparing people’s perceptions of justice around the world.’

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The Guardian, 29th January 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Crime statistics: Violent crime and sex offences rising, police figures suggest – BBC News

Posted January 26th, 2018 in crime, news, police, statistics by sally

‘The number of violent crimes and sex offences recorded by police in England and Wales has risen sharply over the past year, figures suggest.’

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BBC News, 25th January 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Case brought against ‘Little Mix’ promoter puts discrimination laws in the spotlight, says expert – OUT-LAW.com

Posted January 26th, 2018 in disability discrimination, disabled persons, equality, media, news by sally

‘A legal case brought against the promoters of a concert for one of the UK’s most popular bands highlights the risks to businesses if they do not make their services accessible to all.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 25th January 2018

Source: www.out-law.com

Top barristers who refuse to become judges “will destroy infrastructure”, warns Vos – Litigation Futures

Posted January 26th, 2018 in barristers, judiciary, news, recruitment, remuneration by sally

‘Commercial barristers “of the highest quality” who refuse to become judges will “destroy the very infrastructure that has allowed them to prosper”, the chancellor of the High Court has warned.’

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Litigation Futures, 25th January 2018

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Sadiq Khan challenges release of rapist John Worboys – The Guardian

Posted January 26th, 2018 in judicial review, news, parole, rape by sally

‘The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, is launching legal action to challenge the Parole Board over its decision to release the black-cab rapist John Worboys.’

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The Guardian, 25th January 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Fresh call to ban ‘gay conversion therapy’ – BBC News

Posted January 26th, 2018 in homosexuality, news, parliament, psychiatrists by sally

‘The government is facing a fresh push to ban “conversion therapy” aimed at changing gay people’s sexuality.’

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BBC News, 25th January 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

BSB to consider whether chambers need ‘work allocation officers’ to ensure equality – Legal Futures

‘The Bar Standards Board (BSB) is to consider requiring that chambers have a ‘work allocation officer’ as part of its Women at the Bar equality project, it emerged yesterday.’

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Legal Futures, 26th January 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Who were the Deepcut four? – BBC News

Posted January 26th, 2018 in armed forces, inquests, news, suicide by sally

‘Between 1995 and 2002, four young Army recruits died from gunshot wounds in unexplained circumstances at Deepcut barracks in Surrey.’

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BBC News, 25th January 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted January 26th, 2018 in law reports by tracey

Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

Sandoz Ltd & Anor v GD Searle LLC & Anor [2018] EWCA Civ 49 (25 January 2018)

High Court (Administrative Court)

General Medical Council v Bawa-Garba [2018] EWHC 76 (Admin) (25 January 2018)

Source: www.bailii.org

Air pollution will damage UK health for ‘many years’, court told – The Guardian

‘Air pollution will continue to take a heavy toll on people’s health for many years to come unless the UK government is forced once again to improve its action plan, the high court has been told.’

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The Guardian, 25th January 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Recent Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk

Posted January 26th, 2018 in legislation by tracey

The Tobacco Products Manufacturing Machinery (Licensing Scheme) Regulations 2018

The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Recovery of Listed Assets: Code of Practice) (England and Wales and Scotland) Regulations 2018

The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Investigations: Code of Practice) Order 2018

The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Cash Searches: Code of Practice) Order 2018

The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Search, Seizure and Detention of Property: Code of Practice) Order 2018

The Terrorism Act 2000 (Code of Practice for Authorised Officers) Order 2018

The Criminal Finances Act 2017 (Consequential Amendment) Regulations 2018

The Criminal Finances Act 2017 (Commencement No. 4) Regulations 2018

Source: www legislation.gov.uk

Police to be probed over ‘frozen patient’ death – BBC News

Posted January 25th, 2018 in complaints, emergency services, news, police by tracey

‘A police force has referred itself to the watchdog over its handling of a case involving a man thought to have frozen to death.’

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BBC News, 25th January 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk