Day: 23 September 2026

‘On Monday 7th September 2026, Jamaica filed a petition with King Charles asking him to refer three specific questions on transatlantic slavery to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (‘JCPC’) under s.4 of the Judicial Committee Act 1833 (‘JCA’). The questions focus on whether enslavement in Jamaica was ever lawful and whether there is an obligation on the UK to provide some form of reparation. The move has raised a number of interesting constitutional questions. What exactly is the JCPC, and what is the monarch’s connection to it? How does the s.4 mechanism work, and what role does the monarch play in relation to it? Ultimately, what is the likelihood that King Charles will make the referral and, in the words of Jamaica’s Culture Minister, ‘allow our case to have a fair hearing in the British courts’?’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 23rd September 2026

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

‘In Vince v Associated Newspapers [2026] EWCA Civ 899, the Court of Appeal held that an unfair processing compensation claim under data protection law provided redress against the seriously misleading publication of a juxtaposed headline and captioned photographs, even though this claim had not been raised in initial proceedings and redress was ruled out in defamation law. As with earlier cases, its facts confine it to the data protection/defamation interface whereas data protection law’s true potential will only be revealed when it is used with potent effect against journalistic privacy invasion/intrusion in the ordinary courts. Nevertheless, Vince’s clear focus on both the far-reaching and autonomous nature of data protection standards and the limits of its journalistic defence may help mainstream data protection law within journalistic proceedings and catalyse the recognition of new rights and remedies for the contemporary online media environment.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 22nd September 2026

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

‘The IFoA carried out a thematic review of the quality of expert reports produced by actuary PODEs and the way in which they work. A working party was set up to address the points raised, and this blog post launches its output in relation to standardisation and simplification of reporting.’

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Financial Remedies Journal, 22nd September 2026

Source: financialremediesjournal.com

‘Welcome to the sixth edition of Counsel magazine’s Bar Student & Pupillage Applicant Guide. Whether you are just beginning to explore a career at the Bar, starting your Bar training course or preparing to submit pupillage applications, we bring together practical advice, first-hand experiences and expert insight to help you navigate each stage of the journey. This edition also shines a spotlight on access to the Bar for those with visible and non-visible disabilities, including practical insights into securing the accommodations and support needed to thrive. And explore Counsel’s new Aspiring Barristers resource, which provides a wealth of content from previous guides; an excellent companion to this 2026 edition.’

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Counsel, 22nd September 2026

Source: lnprodstorage.z35.web.core.windows.net

‘A judge laid up at home in bed after surgery on a ruptured Achilles tendon should not have heard an optician’s disciplinary appeal by video, the Court of Appeal has ruled.’

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Legal Futures, 23rd September 2026

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

‘The value of legal services exports from the UK has grown by more than 60% in five years. Research compiled by the Law Society found that exports of legal services rose to almost £11bn in 2025, giving a trade surplus of around £9.6bn. The US (£3.2bn) and European Union (£3.7bn) account for almost two-thirds of export revenue.’

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Law Society Gazette, 22nd September 2026

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

‘Refusing to tell a client what commissions you were paid may be ‘unwise’, but the court cannot enforce disclosure through a Solicitors Act costs assessment, a new ruling has established.’

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Law Society Gazette, 22nd September 2026

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

‘King Charles has referred a landmark slavery reparations petition from Jamaica to a high-level UK appeals court for legal advice, Jamaica’s culture minister announced in parliament on Tuesday.’

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The Guardian, 23rd September 2026

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘Two men have had theft convictions quashed at the court of appeal half a century after they were wrongfully arrested because of a corrupt police officer, although one did not live to see his exoneration.’

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The Guardian, 22nd September 2026

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘Scrapping a law that could have shortened a man’s prison sentence because he committed murder as a child was not a breach of human rights, the Supreme Court has ruled.’

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BBC News, 22nd September 2026

Source: www.bbc.co.uk