Improving Access to Justice: Community-based Solutions – Asian Journal of Legal Education

Posted August 5th, 2019 in equality, legal representation, legal services, pro bono work, reports by tracey

‘Inaccessibility to justice is a major issue internationally, and in some countries access to justice has decreased in recent years. For example, the growth of inequality and decline of state support have left access to justice in the UK and the US in a worst state in decades. There is therefore an urgent need to find solutions to protect peoples’ rights. This paper outlines key issues of access to justice, and identifies a number of solutions – from grass-root efforts to organizational changes. The paper highlights the importance of community-based solutions, such as mass pro bono contributions from individuals, law service providers and
other organizations.”

Full text

Asian Journal of Legal Education, May 2019

Source: https://research.gold.ac.uk/

Statutory school worship – managing post-Christendom pluralism – Law & Religion Uk

Posted August 5th, 2019 in Christianity, Church of England, education, news, school children by tracey

‘In this guest post, Dr Jonathan Chaplin, an independent scholar specialising in political theology and a member of the Divinity Faculty of Cambridge University, looks at some of the background relating to the forthcoming High Court challenge to compulsory religious assemblies in schools.’

Full Story

Law & Religion Uk, 5th August 2019

Source: www.lawandreligionuk.com

Illegal workers retain employee rights, court confirms – OUT-LAW.com

‘Organisations can be held liable for breaching employment contracts even if their employees have been working in the country illegally, according to the Court of Appeal in London.’

Full Story

OUT-LAW.com, 2nd August 2019

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted August 5th, 2019 in law reports by tracey

Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

Adesotu v Lewisham London Borough Council [2019] EWCA Civ 1405 (02 August 2019)

High Court (Administrative Court)

Palioniene v Prosecutor General’s Office, Lithuania [2019] EWHC 2096 (Admin) (02 August 2019)

Peel Investments (North) Ltd v Secretary of State for Housing Communities And Local Government & Anor [2019] EWHC 2143 (Admin) (02 August 2019)

Meisels & Anor v The Secretary of State for Housing Communities And Local Government [2019] EWHC 1987 (Admin) (31 July 2019)

Warren Farm (Wokingham) Ltd, R (On the Application Of) v Wokingham Borough Council [2019] EWHC 2007 (Admin) (31 July 2019)

High Court (Chancery Division)

Sofer v Swissindependent Trustees SA [2019] EWHC 2071 (Ch) (02 August 2019)

Various 3rd Wave Claimants v MGN Ltd [2019] EWHC 2122 (Ch) (02 August 2019)

High Court (Queen’s Bench Division)

Stark v Lyddon [2019] EWHC 2076 (QB) (02 August 2019)

High Court (Technology and Construction Court)

Stagecoach East Midlands Trains Ltd & Ors v The Secretary of State for Transport [2019] EWHC 2047 (TCC) (31 July 2019)

Source: www.bailii.org

Another judge wrongly views ‘without prejudice’ offer – Litigation Futures

Posted August 5th, 2019 in costs, disclosure, judges, news, tribunals, without prejudice communications by tracey

‘The First-tier Tribunal (FTT) wrongly took into account a “without prejudice” offer when deciding on the costs of a case when there was no reason to believe that it was “save as to costs”, the Upper Tribunal has ruled.’

Full Story

Litigation Futures, 5th August 2019

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Written pupillage agreements may help counter “shocking abuse” – Legal Futures

Posted August 5th, 2019 in barristers, legal education, news, pupillage, quality assurance, standards by tracey

‘Requiring chambers to enter into written agreements with pupils may help to counter “shocking” instances of abusive treatment, the Bar Council has said.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 5th August 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Post-LASPO and the role of diversity in family law – Family Law

Posted August 5th, 2019 in diversity, equality, families, legal aid, news, statistics, women by tracey

‘Celebrations and policy campaigns continue to mark a 100 years of women in law. In 2017, as reported in the Law Society’s Annual Statistics Report Flyer 2018 ‘for the first time, the number of female practising certificate (PC) holders exceeded male colleagues…women made up 50.1% of all PC holders – up from 43.4% in 2007.’ Black Asian Minority Ethnic (BAME) professionals as practising solicitors were at its highest at 16.5% of the profession. While significant strives have been made, little attention has been paid to the impact of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPO) on the role of diversity, with particular reference to women and BAME, in family law.’

Full Story

Family Law, 5th August 2019

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

Attorneys General lead international cooperation to combat cybercrime – Attorney General’s Office

‘Five Attorneys General from the UK, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand have today formalised their international cooperation in the fight against cybercrime.’

Full press release

Attorney General’s Office, 31st July 2019

Source: www.gov.uk/ago

Louise Porton jailed for life for murder of daughters – BBC News

‘A mother who killed her two daughters because they “got in the way of her sex life” has been jailed for life.’

Full Story

BBC News, 2nd August 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

‘Babies living with abusive parents under 24-hour CCTV, as Children’s Commissioner calls for review into the ‘Big Brother-style’ centres – Daily Telegraph

‘Babies are living with abusive parents under 24-hour CCTV surveillance, The Telegraph can reveal, as the Children’s Commissioner calls for a review into the ‘Big Brother-style’ accommodation.

However “disturbing” cases – which have remained unreported until now – where children have been physically injured and sexually abused while living in the units have prompted the Children’s Commissioner to call for a review into the controversial scheme.’

Full Story

Daily Telegraph, 4th August 2019

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Children in prison twice as likely to have special needs, figures show – The Independent

‘Children in prison are twice as likely to have special educational needs as those in the general population, new figures reveal, prompting concern that vulnerable teenagers are being let down by mainstream services.’

Full Story

The Independent, 4th August 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Rural crime in Britain hits seven-year high – The Guardian

Posted August 5th, 2019 in agriculture, gangs, insurance, news, statistics, theft by tracey

‘Rural crime has hit a seven-year high, costing the UK £50m in 2018, a report says. In its annual study of offences against farmers and rural businesses, the insurer NFU Mutual found rural crime in 2018 was up 12% on the previous year.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 5th August 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘I am DNA proof my father is a rapist’ – BBC News

Posted August 5th, 2019 in adoption, child abuse, children, DNA, news, rape, sexual offences, victims by tracey

‘A woman conceived by rape wants her father brought to justice in a so-called “victimless prosecution”, in one of the first cases of its kind, the BBC has learned.’

Full Story

BBC News, 5th August 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

‘Lolita’ phenomenon is allowing men to groom teenage girls without fear of arrest, Telegraph investigation reveals – Daily Telegraph

‘A boom in “Lolita” sites on Instagram, Facebook and other platforms is allowing paedophiles to target teenage girls without fear of arrest, an investigation by The Sunday Telegraph has found.’

Full Story

Daily Telegraph, 3rd August 2019

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Brexiteer jailed for threatening to kill MPs – The Independent

‘A Brexiteer has been jailed for threatening to kill MPs because he felt they were trying to “delay or stop the UK’s exit from the European Union”.’

Full Story

The Independent, 3rd August 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Victims’ commissioner to meet woman who went into hiding after ex freed – The Guardian

‘The victims’ commissioner for England and Wales is to call for increased support for domestic abuse victims after a woman went into hiding when her violent ex-partner was released from prison early.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 4th August 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com