Magistrates call for end to prison sentences under eight weeks – The Guardian

‘Prison sentences of less than eight weeks should no longer be imposed by the courts, the Magistrates’ Association is urging, in defiance of more radical government proposals.’

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The Guardian, 4th June 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

EVENT: The Inner Temple – History Society Play: The Misfortunes of Arthur

Posted June 3rd, 2019 in Forthcoming events by sally

‘Expect to encounter Arthurian legend, but not as you know it. Originally created for the 1587 Gray’s Inn revels and last performed for Elizabeth I at Greenwich Palace in 1588. The candlelit performance in the church will feature members of the Drama Society performing excerpts from the play, interspersed with commentary by academics from KCL. This is the first time it has been performed at an Inn for 432 years. Followed by a drinks reception in the Round.’

Date: 4th June 2019, 5.30-9.00pm

Location: Temple Church, London EC4Y 1AF

Charge: Inner Temple students: Free; Members and Public: £10.25

More information can be found here.

Inheritance battle “screams out” for judge-led ADR, says court – Litigation Futures

Posted June 3rd, 2019 in civil procedure rules, dispute resolution, executors, news, wills by sally

‘A battle between a widow and stepson over a large estate “cries, indeed screams out” for the kind of “robust, judge-led” processes used to settle family law disputes, a High Court judge has said.’

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Litigation Futures, 31st May 2019

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Number of PI claims “largely static” over past year – Legal Futures

Posted June 3rd, 2019 in news, personal injuries, statistics by sally

‘The number of personal injury claims registered with the Compensation Recovery Unit (CRU) increased marginally over the last year, but still remain low compared to recent history.’

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Legal Futures, 31st May 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

UK’s Top Spy Watchdog Steps Down, Commits To Review ‘Torture Loophole’ By October – Rights Info

Posted June 3rd, 2019 in intelligence services, ministers' powers and duties, news, torture by sally

‘The UK’s top spy watchdog has announced he will be stepping down in October, a week after a secret policy allowing ministers to approve actions that could lead to torture was revealed.’

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Rights Info, 31st May 2019

Source: rightsinfo.org

Solicitor hit with £500k POCA fine for using house as office – Legal Futures

Posted June 3rd, 2019 in confiscation, enforcement, news, planning, proceeds of crime, solicitors by sally

‘A West London solicitor has hit with a £500,000 confiscation order for repeatedly disregarding warnings from his local council to stop using a home as an office for his firm.’

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Legal Futures, 3rd June 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

National Action trial: Jurors unable to reach verdicts – BBC News

Posted June 3rd, 2019 in news by sally

‘Jurors have failed to reach verdicts against four people accused of being in neo-Nazi group National Action.’

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BBC News, 31st May 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Court modernisation “undermining access to justice”, lawyers tell MPs – Legal Futures

‘Criminal and civil lawyers have spelt out to MPs on the justice select committee a catalogue of ways in which court modernisation is undermining access to justice.’

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Legal Futures, 22nd May 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Secret ‘Torture Loophole’ Raises Serious Questions For Government, MP David Davis And Barrister Say – Rights Info

‘The government must be asked “serious questions” on how a secret policy allowing ministers to approve actions that could lead to torture was signed off, a leading QC and Tory MP have said.’

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Rights Info, 20th May 2019

Source: rightsinfo.org

New APIL chief: Falling PI damages “an affront to justice” – Litigation Futures

‘Trends in personal injury claims since LASPO, with damages falling, are an “affront to justice”, the new president of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) has claimed.’

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Litigation Futures, 21st May 2019

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Meals on wheels driver jailed for elderly woman’s murder 24 years on after DNA breakthrough – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 22nd, 2019 in burglary, DNA, evidence, murder, news, sentencing by sally

‘A meals on wheels delivery driver has been jailed for life 24 years after he murdered an elderly woman, following a DNA breakthrough.’

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Daily Telegraph, 21st May 2019

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Turkey seeks extradition of UK barrister over Twitter activity – The Guardian

‘A British barrister who has given evidence to parliament is facing possible extradition to Turkey on terrorism charges over his Twitter activity.’

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The Guardian, 20th May 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

UK’s First Human Rights Ambassador Could Become A ‘Laughing Stock’, Barrister Warns – Rights Info

Posted May 22nd, 2019 in barristers, diplomats, human rights, news, standards by sally

‘The UK’s first ever international human rights ambassador will become a “laughing stock” if the government does not practice what it preaches, a former chairwoman of the Bar human rights committee has warned.’

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Rights Info, 20th May 2019

Source: rightsinfo.org

Guidance on libel for the social media age – Law Society’s Gazette

‘”He tried to strangle me” – hardly innocuous words. But when Nicola Stocker posted them on Facebook in 2012 she could not have known it was the start of a 76-month libel dispute over two simple questions – questions that would reach the Supreme Court as Stocker v Stocker [2019] UKSC 17.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 20th May 2019

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Judge reprimands solicitors for “imbeclic request” comment – Litigation Futures

‘A judge has criticised solicitors in a copyright infringement claim for describing a disclosure request made by the opposing side as “imbecilic”.’

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Litigation Futures, 20th May 2019

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Law firm “sacked staff member by WhatsApp”, tribunal finds – Legal Futures

‘A small law firm sacked its administrator by sending him a brief WhatsApp message – and then backdated his P45 to support an argument that he was actually fired earlier and so his claim was out of time, an employment tribunal has found.’

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Legal Futures, 22nd May 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Financial regulators focus on climate change risk – OUT-LAW.com

‘In early May the UK government became the first in the world to declare an environment and climate change emergency. The impact of climate change will affect every aspect of daily life, and generates a number of significant financial risks.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 21st May 2019

Source: www.out-law.com

Contaminated blood inquiry: Victim’s ‘life of fear and anger’ – BBC News

Posted May 22nd, 2019 in blood products, hospitals, medical treatment, mental health, news, victims by sally

‘A man who was infected by contaminated blood has told a public inquiry of a life of fear, paranoia and anger.’

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BBC News, 21st May 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Maternity rights bill could make things worse, campaigner says – BBC News

‘A bill which aims to protect women’s jobs when they return to work after giving birth will have little impact, a pregnancy rights campaigner says.’

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BBC News, 22nd May 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Judge “bullied” litigant in person, Court of Appeal rules – Litigation Futures

‘A High Court judge “seriously transgressed” the core principle that he remain neutral during the evidence and used bullying language against a litigant in person, the Court of Appeal has ruled.’

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Litigation Futures, 20th May 2019

Source: www.litigationfutures.com