Robots Over Rationality? The Use of Algorithms to Assess Visa Applications – Drystone Chambers

‘Traffic light coding has been used to determine green ‘low risk’ applications with ‘positive attributes and evidence of compliance’, amber ‘medium risk’ ‘with limited evidence or equally balanced evidence of negative and positive attributes so potential for refusal’ and red ‘high risk applications, appearing to have a greater likelihood of refusal because of the individual’s circumstances’. The coding is based on responses to a set of yes or no questions.’

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Drystone Chambers, 24th June 2019

Source: drystone.com

County council admits flawed practice of turning homeless children away, settles judicial review challenge – Local Government Lawyers

‘Essex County Council has settled a judicial review challenge brought on behalf of a 16-year-old homeless child, admitting that it had operated an unlawful practice of turning homeless children away from care in breach of section 20 of the Children Act 1989.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 4th July 2019

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Revealed: Children to be exempt from whiplash portal – for now – Legal Futures

‘Children and protected parties are to be exempt from the increase in the small claims limit and the new whiplash portal – at least for now – Legal Futures can reveal.’

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Legal Futures, 8th July 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

NDAs: Millionaire given secrecy order over sex assault claims – BBC News

‘A senior British establishment figure was given anonymity after accusations of sexual harassment and assault in an employment case, it has been reported.’

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BBC News, 6th July 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Three jailed for detergent attack on pregnant teenager – BBC News

‘Three people who forced laundry detergent into a pregnant teenager’s mouth as they tried to make her have a miscarriage have been jailed.’

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BBC News, 8th July 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

SRA: ‘Independent solicitors’ could come together in chambers – Legal Futures

‘The new breed of freelance solicitor – or what will officially be called an ‘independent solicitor’ – could join forces with others in a chambers-style arrangement, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has suggested.’

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Legal Futures, 5th July 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

UK ministers challenge court ruling on Saudi Arabia arms sales – The Guardian

Posted July 8th, 2019 in appeals, export controls, news, Saudi Arabia, statistics, Supreme Court, war, weapons by sally

‘Ministers have asked the courts to set aside a landmark ruling that British arms sales to Saudi Arabia are unlawful, a legal manoeuvre that prompted Jeremy Corbyn to accuse the Conservatives of prioritising military exports over civilian lives.’

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The Guardian, 8th July 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

University conducted flawed disciplinary proceedings in removing MA student from social work over disapproval of homosexual acts: Court of Appeal – Local Government Lawyer

‘A university conducted flawed disciplinary proceedings when it removed an MA student from a social work course for fitness to practice reasons, after he expressed religions views on a public social media platform disapproving of homosexual acts.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 5th July 2019

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Social housing and religion: R (Z & Anor) – Law & Religion UK

‘A non-Jewish woman, Z, had four children, including a son with autism. She was at the top of Hackney Council’s list for a four-bedroom home in the area. The co-defendant, the Agudas Israel Housing Association (AIHA), was founded in 1986 to provide social housing for Orthodox Jews in north London: it does not accept applications from anyone outside the Orthodox community. Six four-bedroom properties owned by AIHA became available but Ms Z was not allowed to apply for one of them. She sought judicial review of that refusal, arguing that it was unlawful and discriminatory for the AIHA to refuse her a home. As we noted, in R (Z & Ors) v Hackney London Borough Council & Anor [2019] EWHC 139 (Admin), a Divisional Court dismissed her claim, holding that a Jewish housing association might legitimately refuse to rent houses to those who were not Orthodox Jews. Z appealed.’

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Law & Religion UK, 5th July 2019

Source: www.lawandreligionuk.com

Inheritance tax: Rules on gifts to loved ones ‘should be simplified’ – BBC News

Posted July 8th, 2019 in inheritance tax, news, statistics, taxation by sally

‘Fewer people should have to pay tax on gifts given just before death, under proposals for a major overhaul of the inheritance tax system.’

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BBC News, 5th July 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Helen’s Law: Killers who conceal victims’ remains face parole refusal – BBC News

Posted July 8th, 2019 in bereavement, disclosure, families, murder, news, parole, victims by sally

‘Murderers who refuse to reveal the location of their victims’ bodies could be denied parole under a new law.’

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BBC News, 6th July 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Tribunal rejects paralegal’s disability discrimination claim – Legal Futures

‘An employment tribunal has comprehensively rejected a disability discrimination claim brought by a paralegal who worked for well-known personal injury firm Ralli.’

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Legal Futures, 5th July 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Man in south Wales jailed for abusing 150 children online – The Guardian

‘An aspiring barrister has been jailed for 10 years after recording more than 150 children carrying out sex acts he told them to perform.’

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The Guardian, 5th July 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

CPS cancels meeting on rape victims’ phone data due to legal action – The Guardian

‘Police chiefs and prosecutors have been accused of treating a coalition of women’s groups with contempt after cancelling a meeting to discuss concerns over requests to hand over mobile phone records in rape investigations.’

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The Guardian, 6th July 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

UK slavery network ‘had 400 victims’ – BBC News

‘Members of a gang behind the biggest modern-day slavery network ever exposed in the UK have been jailed.’

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BBC News, 5th July 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Man hit dog with hammer, strangled it with washing line then dumped it in river because it was ‘following him around and getting on his nerves’ – The Independent

Posted July 8th, 2019 in animal cruelty, dogs, news, suspended sentences by sally

‘A dog owner who hit his German Shepherd on the head with a hammer and strangled her with a washing line for “getting on his nerves” has been spared jail.’

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The Independent, 5th July 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Case Comment: R (DA & Ors) v Secretary of State for Work & Pensions [2019] UKSC 21 Part Two – UKSC Blog

Posted July 8th, 2019 in appeals, benefits, equality, families, human rights, news, Supreme Court by sally

‘In order to make good an art 14 claim, a claimant has to establish that (a) the Jones_Jcircumstances fall within the ambit of a substantive Convention right, (b) the claimant has a relevant status for the purposes of art 14, (c) they have been treated differently from others in a similar situation, by reason of their status; if so the burden is then on the state to demonstrate (d) whether the difference in treatment is objectively justified. In a Thlimmenos claim, the third question becomes “they have been treated the same as others in a relevantly different situation”. The way in which those issues were resolved by Lord Wilson for the majority is summarised above, but the court’s analysis of status and justification is worth some closer consideration.’

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UKSC Blog, 2nd July 2019

Source: ukscblog.com

Green bicycle mystery: Case ‘worthy of Sherlock Holmes’ – BBC News

Posted July 8th, 2019 in barristers, bicycles, evidence, legal history, murder, news, victims, women by sally

‘It was a murder trial that captivated a nation: a well-spoken former Army officer represented by the most famous barrister of the day stands accused of killing a vivacious, independent young woman.’

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BBC News, 8th July 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Case Comment: R (DA & Ors) v Secretary of State for Work & Pensions [2019] UKSC 21 Part One – UKSC Blog

Posted July 8th, 2019 in appeals, benefits, equality, families, human rights, news, Supreme Court by sally

‘In these joined appeals, the Supreme Court considered whether the “revised benefit Jones_Jcap” – the effect of which is to restrict the maximum amount of benefits payable to couples and lone parents to £23000 in London and £20000 elsewhere – discriminated against the lone parents of young children, and against the children themselves. The Supreme Court decided by a majority of 5-2 that it did not, though there were various differences of opinion even amongst the majority.’

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UKSC Blog, 2nd July 2019

Source: ukscblog.com

BA faces record £183m fine over data breach – The Guardian

‘British Airways is set to be fined more than £183m by the Information Commissioner’s Office over a customer data breach, the company said.’

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The Guardian, 8th July 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com