The legal basis for air strikes against Syrian government targets – House of Commons Library

‘This paper looks at the general prohibition in international law on the use of force or threat of force directed at other states, and the legal advice on which the Government decided to participate with the US and France in air strikes on Syrian government targets on 14 April.’

Full text

House of Commons Library, 16th April 2018

Source: www.parliament.uk

Recent Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk

Posted April 17th, 2018 in legislation by tracey

The Capital Allowances (Designated Assisted Areas and Amendment) Order 2018

The Customs (Contravention of a Relevant Rule) (Amendment) Regulations 2018

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted April 17th, 2018 in law reports by tracey

Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

Lancashire County Council, R (on the application of) v Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs & Anor [2018] EWCA Civ 721 (12 April 2018)

High Court (Chancery Division)

Lewis & Ors v Tamplin & Ors (trustee disclosure to beneficiaries) [2018] EWHC 777 (Ch) (16 April 2018)

High Court (Patents Court)

Conversant Wireless Licensing SARL v Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd & Ors [2018] EWHC 808 (Pat) (16 April 2018)

High Court (Queen’s Bench Division)

Diamond Services South East Ltd v Ogedengbe (t/a As Praise Embassy – Bright Steps Nursery) [2018] EWHC 773 (QB) (16 April 2018)

Source: www.bailii.org

Kensington & Chelsea fined £120k for disclosure of owners of empty properties – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea has been hit with a £120,000 monetary penalty by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) after the council unlawfully identified 943 people who owned vacant properties in the borough.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 16th April 2018

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Undocumented Commonwealth citizens resident in the UK – UK Visas and Immigration

Posted April 17th, 2018 in children, citizenship, deportation, documents, immigration, visas by tracey

‘This information is for Commonwealth citizens (known as “Windrush” cases) who are long-term residents of the UK and do not have documents to demonstrate their status. It explains their position and what they need to do next.’

Full guidance

UK Visas and Immigration, 17th April 2018

Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-visas-and-immigration

‘Overstated’ PI claim was not fundamental dishonesty, appeal rules – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted April 17th, 2018 in appeals, compensation, costs, fundamental dishonesty, news, personal injuries by tracey

‘The High Court has refused to overturn a personal injury ruling despite defendant lawyers arguing that the judge should have found the claim to be “fundamentally dishonest”.’

Full Story

Law Society's Gazette, 17th April 2018

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Members of Jewish community lodge 1,000 official complaints against Jeremy Corbyn – Daily Telegraph

Posted April 17th, 2018 in complaints, Judaism, news, political parties by tracey

‘Members of the Jewish community have lodged more than 1,000 official complaints calling on Labour to investigate Jeremy Corbyn over anti-Semitism.

The signatories add their names to a complaint lodged by the Campaign Against Anti-Semitism (CAA) earlier this month. The charity, which is considering legal action if Labour refuses to investigate, says that Mr Corbyn has failed to act to stamp out hatred for three years and now his party must show that they take the matter seriously.

Full Story

Daily Telegraph, 16th April 2018

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Trainee barristers told they will be marked down for wearing short skirts – The Guardian

Posted April 17th, 2018 in barristers, examinations, freedom of expression, news, universities by tracey

‘Trainee barristers are being told they will be docked points in their exams if they wear short skirts, colourful socks or “kinky boots”. A handbook at the BPP university law school warns students that they may lose points if they do not adopt an extremely conservative dress code in their advocacy assessments.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 16th April 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Badger cull fueling illegal wildlife crimes, charities claim – Daily Telegraph

Posted April 17th, 2018 in animals, crime, environmental protection, news, reports by tracey

‘The badger cull is fuelling hundreds of illegal wildlife crimes every year, charities have warned as they claimed the authorised slaughter is responsible for the trend. Nearly 1,300 incidents involving wildlife were recorded in 2016 alone, a report has found. The actual number of incidents is also likely to be “far greater” as the Home Office currently categorises many of the crimes as miscellaneous.’

Full Story

Daily Telegraph, 16th April 2018

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Ex-offenders face bleak future after reforms fail, report says – The Guardian

Posted April 17th, 2018 in charities, contracting out, news, probation, reports, volunteers by tracey

‘Ex-offenders trying to turn their lives around face a bleak future, a probation inspector has warned, as ambitious government plans to boost the role of charities and volunteers in the probation service have failed to materialise.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 17th April 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Legal challenge to devolved Brexit bills – BBC News

Posted April 17th, 2018 in bills, constitutional reform, devolution issues, news, Supreme Court, treaties by tracey

‘The UK government has launched a legal challenge to the Scottish and Welsh governments’ Brexit bills. The two devolved parliaments passed legislation last month that is intended to act as an alternative to Westminster’s EU Withdrawal Bill. But the UK government has asked the Supreme Court to rule whether the legislation is constitutional and within devolved powers.’

Full Story

BBC News, 17th April 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Companies House lambasted for trumpeting conviction of fraud whistleblower Kevin Brewer – The Independent

Posted April 17th, 2018 in costs, fines, fraud, money laundering, news, whistleblowers by tracey

‘Companies House has been lambasted for trumpeting the prosecution of a whistleblower who used Vince Cable’s name to expose a gaping loophole exploited by fraudsters.’

Full Story

The Independent, 16th April 2018

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Alfie Evans case: Court rules against parents again – BBC News

Posted April 17th, 2018 in appeals, children, detention, medical treatment, news, parental rights by tracey

‘The parents of terminally ill toddler Alfie Evans have lost their latest legal battle. Tom Evans and Kate James asked Court of Appeal judges to rule that the 23-month-old should be allowed to receive treatment in Italy.’

Full Story

BBC News, 16th April 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Criminal defence solicitors facing extinction – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted April 17th, 2018 in criminal justice, legal profession, news, solicitors by tracey

‘Criminal defence solicitors are on the way to becoming extinct, according to a graphic depiction published by the Law Society today. A heatmap of duty solicitor coverage shows that in several parts of England and Wales a majority of criminal law specialists are over 50 – and that few young solicitors are choosing the specialism.’

Full Story

Law Society's Gazette, 17th April 2018

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Ant McPartlin fined £86,000 for drink-driving – The Guardian

‘The TV presenter Ant McPartlin has been fined £86,000 and disqualified from driving for 20 months after admitting drink-driving.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 16th April 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Controlling girlfriend ‘first woman convicted’ of new domestic abuse offence – Daily Telegraph

‘A university graduate is believed to be the first woman convicted under new domestic abuse laws after scalding her boyfriend with boiling water, stabbing him and keeping food from him.’

Full Story

Daily Telegraph, 16th April 2018

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk