Students think they need connections to progress legal career – Legal Futures

Posted February 28th, 2024 in diversity, equality, law firms, mental health, news, solicitors, statistics, universities by sally

‘A significant number of students think nepotism and connections are important to progress in the law, according to research which found that this did indeed help some get jobs.’

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Legal Futures, 28th February 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Sunak’s asylum laws trapping 55,000 people in ‘perma-backlog’, says UK thinktank – The Guardian

Posted February 28th, 2024 in asylum, delay, deportation, government departments, immigration, news, Rwanda by sally

‘Rishi Sunak’s asylum laws have introduced a “perma-backlog” of up to 55,000 people who cannot have their claims processed and risk being left indefinitely in taxpayer-funded temporary accommodation, according to a new report.’

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The Guardian, 28th February 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

ABI urges extension of injury damages tariff beyond whiplash – Legal Futures

Posted February 28th, 2024 in accidents, damages, insurance, news, personal injuries, road traffic by sally

‘The fixed tariff for whiplash claims should be extended to other injuries to help reduce motor insurance premiums, the Association of British Insurers (ABI) argued yesterday.’

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Legal Futures, 28th February 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Edith Thompson: Hanged woman’s case denied pardon bid – BBC News

‘The case of a woman hanged over 100 years ago for the murder of her husband does not meet the requirements for a royal pardon, a commission has ruled.’

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BBC News, 28th February 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

The ‘halo effect’ that means Aldi will keep making copycat products – The Independent

Posted February 28th, 2024 in appeals, food, intellectual property, news, trade marks by sally

‘A long-running battle between Aldi and Marks & Spencer over light-up gin bottles is just the latest in a line of court cases the German discounter has faced with its brand rivals.’

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The Independent, 27th February 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

ICO guide addresses Online Safety Act and GDPR cross-over – OUT-LAW.com

Posted February 28th, 2024 in data protection, internet, news, ombudsmen by sally

‘New guidance has been issued by the UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) to help content platforms meet their duties under the UK’s Online Safety Act in a way that accords with UK data protection law.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 27th February 2024

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Southern Water fined £330,000 for stream pollution that killed 2,000 fish – The Guardian

‘A water company has been fined £330,000 after raw sewage escaped into a stream in Hampshire for up to 20 hours, killing about 2,000 fish including brown trout.’

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The Guardian, 27th February 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

No-fault evictions: Ministers discuss watering down renter reforms – BBC News

Posted February 28th, 2024 in bills, government departments, housing, landlord & tenant, news, repossession by sally

‘Ministers are consulting backbench Tory MPs on watering down planned protections for renters in England.’

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BBC News, 28 February 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Upskirting Cheshire mechanic had spy cameras in his house – BBC News

Posted February 27th, 2024 in indecent photographs of children, news, sentencing, video recordings, voyeurism by tracey

‘A man who secretly filmed women and children undressing and going to the toilet has been jailed.’

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BBC News, 26th February 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Climate protesters guilty of trespass at Wimbledon – BBC News

Posted February 27th, 2024 in climate change, conditional discharge, demonstrations, news, sentencing, sport, trespass by tracey

‘Three Just Stop Oil protesters have been found guilty of storming the Wimbledon tennis courts with confetti and puzzle pieces.’

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BBC News, 26th February 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Court of Appeal: FTT failed to apply Iran country guidance to Kurdish asylum seeker’s case – EIN Blog

Posted February 27th, 2024 in appeals, asylum, Iran, married persons, media, news by tracey

‘FA (Iran) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2024] EWCA Civ 149 (22 February 2024). The Court of Appeal has held that the UT should have concluded that the FTT had failed to apply the current Iran country guidance cases to the appellant FA’s case, who was a Kurdish National of Iran who claimed to have left Iran illegally on foot, and claimed to have got married en route to the United Kingdom. He had entered the United Kingdom on 4 December 2019 and then claimed asylum. The SSHD rejected his claims for asylum and for humanitarian protection. The appeal was remitted to a different judge in the FTT for him to consider the question of risk to the appellant if he were returned to Iran. The Court of Appeal grappled with the two determinations at hand, i.e. the FTT determination and the UT determination which Elisabeth Laing LJ referred to as determination 1 and determination 2 during the course of her judgment. She touched on the effects of XX (PJAK – sur place activities – Facebook) Iran CG [2022] UKUT 23 (IAC), SSH and HR (Illegal Exit) Iran CG [2016] UKUT 308 (IAC), HB (Kurds) Iran CG [2018] UKUT 430 (IAC) and also BA (Demonstrators in Britain: Risk on Return) Iran CG [2011] UKUT 36 (IAC). The SSHD’s case was that FA admitted in his asylum interview that he was a supporter of the Kurdish Democratic Party of Iran (“KDPI”) and not a member. The SSHD considered it strange that FA had not been introduced to the KDPI until he was 29 and considered that the answers to questions in the the asylum interview were inconsistent.’

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EIN Blog, 26th February 2024

Source: www.ein.org.uk

Recent Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk

Posted February 27th, 2024 in legislation by tracey

SI 2024/213 – The Employment Rights (Increase of Limits) Order 2024

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted February 27th, 2024 in law reports by tracey

Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

Coal Action Network, R (On the Application Of) v Welsh Ministers & Ors [2024] EWCA Civ 168 (23 February 2024)

Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

Brooker v R. [2024] EWCA Crim 103 (13 February 2024)

High Court (Administrative Court)

Nita v Romania [2024] EWHC 408 (Admin) (26 February 2024)

L1T FM Holdings UK Ltd & Anor, R. (On the Application Of) v Secretary of State in the Cabinet Office [2024] EWHC 386 (Admin) (23 February 2024)

High Court (Chancery Division)

Gowing & Ors v Ward & Anor [2024] EWHC 347 (Ch) (26 February 2024)

Stoop (t/a Warwick Risk Management) v Johnson [2024] EWHC 286 (Ch) (23 February 2024)

Cotham School v Bristol City Council & Ors [2024] EWHC 397 (Ch) (23 February 2024)

Burke & Ors v Peabody Construction Ltd [2024] EWHC 392 (Ch) (23 February 2024)

Your Lawyers Ltd v Capital Interchange Ltd & Anor [2024] EWHC 287 (Ch) (23 February 2024)

High Court (Family Division)

West Northamptonshire Council v The Mother (Psychological Assessments) [2024] EWHC 395 (Fam) (23 February 2024)

High Court (King’s Bench Division)

Hinds v British Boxing Board of Control Ltd [2024] EWHC 380 (KB) (26 February 2024)

Co Mayo Estates Ltd v Hidden Gem Ltd [2024] EWHC 401 (KB) (26 February 2024)

Source: www.bailii.org

The Sordid Controversies of Litigants? Why and When Facts Matter – Supreme Court

Posted February 27th, 2024 in contracts, interpretation, judiciary, news, Privy Council, Supreme Court by tracey

‘Lady Rose – The Sordid Controversies of Litigants? Why and When Facts Matter. The Neill Law Lecture 2024.’

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Supreme Court, 23rd February 2024

Source: www.supremecourt.uk

An Evolving Institution: The work of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council – Supreme Court

‘Lady Rose – An Evolving Institution: The work of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. The Queen’s Distinguished Lecture in Law.’

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Supreme Court, 21st February 2024

Source: www.supremecourt.uk

High Court judge provides guidance on applications for psychological assessments in care proceedings – Local Government Lawyer

Posted February 27th, 2024 in care orders, family courts, news, psychiatrists, social services by tracey

‘A High Court judge has given guidance on when applications for a psychologist to undertake a cognitive assessment in care proceedings should be made and the approach that the Family Court should take, warning that “misconceived applications are exceedingly common”.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 27th February 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

High Court removes arbitrator who pre-judged expert evidence – Legal Futures

Posted February 27th, 2024 in arbitration, bias, expert witnesses, film industry, news by tracey

‘The High Court has removed a sole arbitrator it found had pre-judged the merits of a dispute because he said he knew and would believe the expert witnesses one side had put forward.’

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Legal Futures, 27th February 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Litigant misled court over response from other side’s solicitors – Legal Futures

Posted February 27th, 2024 in auctioneers, disclosure, legal representation, litigants in person, news by tracey

‘A litigant in person who made a ‘without notice’ application to move property transactions to completion, blaming the other side’s solicitors for not replying to him, mislead the court, a judge has found.’

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Legal Futures, 27th February 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

News focus: How well are neurodiverse people supported in the profession? – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted February 27th, 2024 in autism, disabled persons, diversity, legal profession, news by tracey

‘As volunteer group Neurodiversikey launches a survey to find out how much support neurodiverse people in the law receive, three legal figures recount the anxiety of training and trying to fit in.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 27th February 2024

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Royal Mail sued by delivery drivers in ‘Uber-style’ gig economy legal case – The Guardian

Posted February 27th, 2024 in minimum wage, news, postal service, self-employment, sick leave by tracey

‘Royal Mail is being sued for classifying delivery drivers as self-employed, enabling it to avoid paying sick pay and the minimum wage, in a case that mirrors a landmark gig economy legal ruling against Uber.’

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The Guardian, 25th February 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com