Steinfeld and Keidan: what happens next? – Family Law

‘Five Supreme Court Justices have ruled in favour of a heterosexual couple whose three and a half year legal campaign challenged legislation preventing opposite-sex couples from entering into a civil partnership. The court unanimously agreed that the Civil Partnership Act 2004 is ‘incompatible’ with the European Convention on Human Rights as it applies only to same-sex couples and therefore amounted to discrimination.
This judgment will likely put the Government under significant pressure to change the law and allow heterosexual couples to become civil partners. Currently, opposite-sex couples may only marry, whilst same-sex couples may opt to marry or enter into a civil partnership.’

Full Story

Family Law, 28th June 2018

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

Jury fails to reach verdict in Buckingham Palace terror trial – BBC News

Posted July 2nd, 2018 in juries, news, offensive weapons, terrorism by sally

‘A jury has been dismissed in the trial of an Uber driver accused of planning a sword attack at Buckingham Palace, after it failed to reach a verdict.’

Full Story

BBC News, 29th June 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Inquest into killing of London academic gets under way – The Guardian

Posted July 2nd, 2018 in diminished responsibility, homicide, inquests, news by sally

‘The widow of academic Dr Jeroen Ensink, 41, who was stabbed to death as he posted cards to friends announcing the birth of his daughter, hopes questions will be answered at his inquest which begins on Monday.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 2nd July 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Head of Legal Information and Pro Bono

Posted June 28th, 2018 in by sally

Head of Legal Information and Pro Bono at Law for Life

Law for Life is seeking a passionate and experienced lawyer to join our expert legal information team. We are an independent legal charity that works to ensure that everyone has the knowledge, confidence and practical skills they need to secure access to justice. We do this through community-based education and training, research and policy, and through the Advicenow website which provides easy-to-use information on rights and the law for the public. In 2017 Advicenow won both the Access to Justice through IT Award at Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year, and a Plain English Campaign award.

We’re looking for a solicitor with 3 years PQE in civil or family law, to lead on researching, writing and updating legal information for the Advicenow service and to help us develop routes to affordable advice and unbundled services for our users. You will also manage our pro bono relationships.

Based at our London office, you’ll be joining us at an exciting time in our development as the leading charity in the field of public legal education. You’ll have a passion for communicating complex information clearly and simply to help members of the public (with a particular focus on litigants in person) better understand how to deal with every-day family and civil legal problems.

Conditions of Employment

Salary: £36,842 pa (pro rata), inclusive of London weighting. Cost of living pay awards are negotiated nationally and are normally effective from 1 August each year. Pension 9%.

Hours: 21 hours per week

Period: Permanent

Location: Law for Life, 404 China Works, Black Prince Road, London, SE1 7SJ. Nearest tube stations: Vauxhall, Stockwell, Westminster.

Holidays: Pro rata 25 working days per annum, exclusive of public holidays

For more details about the post please download the Job Description & Person Specification.

Requirements:

Please complete and return the application form addressing all the points in the Person Specification to: mihaela.rosca@lawforlife.org.uk

Application deadline: Sunday 8th July 2018, midnight.

Proposed interview dates: 16,17,23,24 July 2018.

“Significant increase” in barristers reporting bullying, harassment and discrimination – Legal Futures

‘A third of women barristers, those from a black, Asian or ethnic minority (BAME) background and disabled barristers have experienced harassment, bullying or discrimination in recent years, new Bar Council research has revealed.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 25th June 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Court of Appeal overturns costs penalty imposed on claimant who gave dishonest evidence – Litigation Futures

Posted June 28th, 2018 in appeals, costs, disclosure, news, personal injuries by sally

‘A judge was wrong to penalise a claimant for not disclosing an important piece of evidence, given that the defendant made the part 36 offer she accepted in full knowledge of her dishonesty, the Court of Appeal has ruled.’

Full Story

Litigation Futures, 26th June 2018

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Defamation claims on the rise in London – OUT-LAW.com

Posted June 28th, 2018 in defamation, media, news, statistics by sally

‘The growing use of social media could be a factor behind the 39% rise in the number of defamation claims brought before the courts in London that has been recorded, a media law expert has said.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 27th June 2018

Source: www.out-law.com

Environment watchdog agrees first enforcement undertaking over odours – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Environment Agency has for the first time accepted an enforcement undertaking (EU) for alleged permit breaches relating to odour at an installation.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 26th June 2018

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Law Pod UK Ep. 38: Brexit – Two years on – 1 COR

Posted June 28th, 2018 in bills, brexit, EC law, immigration, news, referendums, treaties by sally

‘Catherine Barnard of Cambridge University talks to reporter Boni Sones about the progress of the Brexit negotiations two years after the UK narrowly voted to leave the EU in a Referendum on Thursday, June 23rd, 2016.’

Full Story

Law Pod UK, 26th June 2018

Source: audioboom.com

Supreme Court declares Civil Partnership Act 2004 incompatible with human rights law – Family Law

‘The Supreme Court has ruled unanimously that lack of provision in the Civil Partnership Act 2004 for opposite-sex couples to enter into a civil partnership is incompatible with human rights law.’

Full Story

Family Law, 27th June 2018

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

Dealer of toxic diet pills that killed student guilty of manslaughter – The Guardian

Posted June 28th, 2018 in drug offences, food, homicide, mental health, money laundering, news by sally

‘An online steroid dealer who sold toxic slimming pills that killed a bulimic student has been found guilty of manslaughter.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 27th June 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Man found guilty of murdering wife on New Year’s Eve – BBC News

Posted June 28th, 2018 in murder, news by sally

‘An estate agent has been found guilty of murdering his wife after a drinking game on New Year’s Eve.’

Full Story

BBC News, 27th June 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Justice secretary’s plan for female prisoners ‘underfunded by £15m’ – The Guardian

Posted June 28th, 2018 in criminal justice, news, prisons, women by sally

‘The government’s advisers on dealing with female offenders have written a joint letter to the justice secretary branding a new strategy for women in prison a missed opportunity that is underfunded by at least £15m.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 27th June 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

The ‘straight civil partnership’ challenge: All you need to know before the Supreme Court Judgment – UK Human Rights Blog

‘The Supreme Court will hand down Judgment on Wednesday 27th June 2018 in R (on the application of Steinfeld and another) v Secretary of State for the International Development (in substitution for the Home Secretary and the Education Secretary).’

Full Story

UK Human Rights Blog, 25th June 2018

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

The Lanzarote Convention Will Help End the Sexual Abuse of Children: Here’s How – Rights Info

Posted June 28th, 2018 in child abuse, news, sexual offences, treaties by sally

‘The Lanzarote Convention is an important step forward in protecting children from sexual abuse. But what else needs to be done?’

Full Story

Rights Info, 25th June 2018

Source: rightsinfo.org

Free childcare to be extended to foster carers – Family Law

Posted June 26th, 2018 in children, costs, fostering, news by sally

‘Foster carers are to receive the 30 hours free childcare offer for children in their care for the first time from September 2018. The Government also announced that over 340,000 children were in a 30-hour place in the first year of the policy.’

Full Story

Family Law, 26th June 2018

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

Jail for man who provided unqualified immigration advice – Legal Futures

Posted June 26th, 2018 in compensation, costs, immigration, news, recidivists, sentencing by sally

‘A man convicted for the second time of providing unqualified immigration advice and services has been jailed for a year.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 26th June 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

The risks to litigants in person when cross-examining psychologist expert witnesses – Family Law

Posted June 26th, 2018 in cross-examination, expert witnesses, news, psychiatrists by sally

‘Many psychologist expert witnesses, from professional bodies (British Psychological Society) to more informal expert witness networks, have raised concerns about the impact of this practice. The concerns fall into three main areas: the potential harm of conducting such a cross-examination to the litigants in person (LiPs) in question; potential breaches of ethical conduct for the psychologist expert; and the potential impact on the quality of the evidence. This paper hopes to set out these issues and invites discussion as to potential guidance and remedy.’

Full Story

Family Law, 28th June 2018

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

Transgender woman wins pension court battle – BBC News

Posted June 26th, 2018 in EC law, marriage, news, pensions, transgender persons by sally

‘A transgender woman who was unable to access her pension, was discriminated against by UK law, the European Court of Justice has found.’

Full Story

BBC News, 26th June 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

European regulators report sharp rise in complaints after GDPR – The Guardian

Posted June 26th, 2018 in complaints, data protection, news by sally

‘The first month of GDPR has seen a sharp increase in the number of complaints to regulators across Europe, showing strong public interest in the new rules.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 26th June 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com