Woman killed herself after series of NHS trust errors, jury finds – The Guardian

Posted July 26th, 2018 in duty of care, health, inquests, mental health, news, suicide, young persons by sally

‘A young woman with mental health problems killed herself after a series of major errors by the NHS trust that was looking after her, a jury at an inquest into her death has found.’

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The Guardian, 25th July 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Nuisance by Knotweed – Jeremy Hyam QC – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted July 26th, 2018 in agriculture, appeals, human rights, news, nuisance by sally

‘Hancock’s curse, monkey fungus, elephant ears, pea shooters, donkey rhubarb are all (bizarre) English names for Fallopia japonica or Japanese knotweed. Although initially lauded for its beauty (it was so celebrated that in 1847 it was named by one Horticultural society as the ‘most interesting new ornamental plant of the year’) it is now well known as a fast growing and pernicious weed that is very difficult to eradicate. This is because it has a large underground network of roots (rhizomes). So bad is its destructive nature that since 2013 a seller of property is required to state whether Japanese knotweed is present on their property through a TA6 form – the property information form used for conveyancing.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 25th July 2018

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

“Fragility” of criminal law firms threatening rights, MPs warn – Legal Futures

‘Fundamental rights to legal advice and representation for people accused of crimes are at risk, the justice select committee has warned, calling for a “comprehensive and independent” review of criminal legal aid.’

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Legal Futures, 26th July 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Police custody deaths hit 10-year high, with experts citing austerity – The Guardian

‘Police custody deaths have hit their highest level in a decade with police, campaigners and experts warning that austerity and a crisis in mental health services have driven the figure up.’

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The Guardian, 25th July 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Teacher bans: Sexually motivated conduct is most common cause – BBC News

Posted July 26th, 2018 in disqualification, news, professional conduct, sexual grooming, teachers by sally

‘Sexually motivated, inappropriate conduct is the reason for a third of teaching bans, the BBC has found.’

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BBC News, 26th July 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Drone Bill may ban children from owning larger aircraft – BBC News

Posted July 26th, 2018 in aircraft, bills, children, consultations, disqualification, news by sally

‘Children could be banned from owning drones weighing more than 250g (0.55lb) under a new proposal from the Department for Transport.’

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BBC News, 26th July 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

John Worboys case shows Parole Board is not independent, court to hear – The Guardian

Posted July 26th, 2018 in criminal justice, criminal procedure, human rights, news, parole by sally

‘A British prisoner is seeking a judicial review because he says he does not have a fair chance of parole following the controversy surrounding the decision to release the serial sex attacker John Worboys.’

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The Guardian, 26th July 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Barbara Coombes sentenced to nine years for killing her father – The Guardian

‘A woman has been sentenced to nine years in prison after confessing to killing her father and burying his body in her back garden in Greater Manchester after a “lifetime of abuse” at his hands.’

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The Guardian, 11th July 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Claim against law firm within limitation period despite “unconnected” abuse of process – Litigation Futures

Posted July 12th, 2018 in abuse of process, law firms, limitations, negligence, news by sally

‘A professional negligence claim was brought within the limitation period despite an “unconnected” abuse of process over the court fee paid, the High Court has held.’

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Litigation Futures, 11th July 2018

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Solon Solomon: The Chequers Agreement: Brexit and the Infeasibility of Judicial and Legal Independence – UK Constitutional Law Association

‘The Chequers agreement reshapes the UK Brexit position. By formally throwing its lot behind a soft Brexit, Theresa May’s government has made a point. It is unclear how this stance was influenced by the House of Lords voting in favour of such a soft Brexit some months ago or by the City entrepreneurs voicing their support to such a scenario. Projecting into the future, it is equally unclear how the Chequers agreement will impact UK politics and the government’s viability.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 12th July 2018

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

Brexit: trade marks and designs – 10 things to know – OUT-LAW.com

Posted July 12th, 2018 in agreements, brexit, EC law, intellectual property, news, trade marks, treaties by sally

‘While Brexit negotiations between the UK and EU are ongoing, the UK government and European Commission have found an agreement in principle that will alleviate many right holders’ concerns in respect of trade marks and designs.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 11th July 2018

Source: www.out-law.com

Prisons squalid and dangerous due to staff cuts, report says – The Guardian

Posted July 12th, 2018 in health & safety, news, prison officers, prisons, reports, violence by sally

‘Prisoners in England and Wales are enduring some of the most disturbingconditions ever seen as violence and self-harm rockets due to stretched resources and staff shortages, the chief prisons inspector has said.’

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The Guardian, 11th July 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

EVENT: IALS – Urban Law Day 2018: Human Rights in Cities

Posted July 12th, 2018 in Forthcoming events by sally

‘The Urban Law Day is a specialised forum aiming to bring together a multidisciplinary circle of academics and practitioners interested in urban legislation, including planners, architects, policy makers, economists, urbanises, and lawyers.’

Date: 13th July 2018, 10.00am-1.30om

Location: Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, 17 Russell Square, London WC1B 5DR

Charge: Free, registration required

More information can be found here.

Top-earning QC gives up practice to become Attorney General – Legal Futures

Posted July 12th, 2018 in attorney general, barristers, news by sally

‘The head of Thomas More Chambers and one of the highest-earning MPs as a result of his legal work is giving it all up today after he was catapulted into the cabinet as Attorney General.’

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Legal Futures, 10th July 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

EVENT: IALS – ‘Refugee Protection in a Hostile World?’ Third Annual Conference, Refugee Law Initiative

Posted July 12th, 2018 in Forthcoming events by sally

‘This year’s special theme – ‘Refugee Protection in a Hostile World?’ – reflects on an apparent strengthening of long-standing currents of anti-refugee feeling and other forms of instability in the world. This trend raises urgent questions about its present and future impact on refugee protection globally, as well as the interaction between global politics and refugee law.’

Date: 18th – 19th July 2018, 9.00am-8.00pm

Location: The Beveridge Hall, Ground Floor, Senate House, Malet Street, London WC1E 7HU

Charge: See website for details

More information can be found here.

HMRC seeking ‘unprecedented’ information request powers – OUT-LAW.com

‘HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) in the UK is seeking “unprecedented” powers to obtain information about taxpayers without independent oversight from the tax tribunal, a tax expert has said.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 12th July 2018

Source: www.out-law.com

High Court judge berates leading law firm for “shameful” behaviour – Legal Futures

Posted July 12th, 2018 in airlines, costs, law firms, news, professional conduct by sally

‘A High Court judge has accused leading law firm Pinsent Masons of losing sight of “any basic standard of decent and compassionate behaviour” in the way it dealt with the widow of a defendant its client was suing.’

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Legal Futures, 11th July 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Judge refuses permission for legal challenge to Inner Temple planning permission – Local Government Lawyer

Posted July 12th, 2018 in inns of court, judicial review, news, planning by sally

‘The High Court has refused permission for a judicial review of the Corporation of the City of London’s grant of planning permission for educational facilities in the Inner Temple Treasury Building, which involves the loss of the upper gallery of its library, it has been reported.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 10th July 2018

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

A question of authority – settled accommodation – Nearly Legal

Posted July 12th, 2018 in homelessness, housing, local government, news, Supreme Court by sally

‘Doka v Southwark concerned what could amount to ‘settled accommodation’ for homelessness matters, and specifically for ‘breaking the chain’ of intentional homelessness.’

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Nearly Legal, 11th July 2018

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Paul Cleeland’s 45-year fight to clear name over gun murder – BBC News

‘A man at the centre of one of the UK’s longest alleged miscarriages of justice is making a fresh bid to clear his name after a legal fight spanning more than four decades.’

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BBC News, 12th July 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk