Before facial recognition tech can be used, it needs to be limited – The Independent

‘New research on facial recognition technology trials by police calls for tighter regulation to protect human rights.’

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The Independent, 21st February 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Teachers (and other public servants) pay – Employment Law Blog

‘Significant budgetary restraints. A significant deficit in the public finances. Does that all sound familiar? It is a feature not only in the United Kingdom but also in the Republic of Ireland. It is the context of Case C-154/18, Horgan and Keegan v Minister for Education and Skills, in which the Second Chamber of the ECJ gave Judgment on 14 February 2019, on a reference from the Irish Labour Court.’

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Employment Law Blog, 18th February 2019

Source: employment11kbw.com

LASPO Review: Bar Council reaction – The Bar Council

‘The Bar Council has reacted to the Ministry of Justice’s LASPO Part 1 review, published today. Richard Atkins QC, Chair of the Bar Council, said: “The Bar Council is disappointed with the Government’s post-implementation review of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (“LASPO”), published today. When the Bar Council gave evidence to the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) last year on the impact of the LASPO cuts to legal aid we identified five priorities to help reverse the decline in legal aid provision over almost six years. (See notes to editors). Few have been addressed.” ‘

Full press release

The Bar Council, 7th February 2019

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Fury over MoJ ‘betrayal’ on legal aid at inquests – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The Ministry of Justice has been accused of betraying those campaigning to ensure an equality of arms between bereaved families and the state at inquests.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 8th February 2019

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

A ‘drop in the ocean’ for justice? – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted February 11th, 2019 in budgets, legal aid, litigants in person, Ministry of Justice, news by tracey

‘The Ministry of Justice sweetened its long-awaited review of swingeing legal aid cuts with a pledge to spend £8m on legal support and litigants in person. But does its response go far enough?’

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Law Society's Gazette, 11th February 2019

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Gauke: Innovation and tech the way forward on legal aid – Legal Futures

Posted February 8th, 2019 in budgets, civil justice, legal aid, litigants in person, news by sally

‘The justice secretary said yesterday that innovation and technology, rather than significant increases in legal aid spending, are the way to improve access to justice.’

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Legal Futures, 8th February 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Care home ‘neglect’ contributed to teenager’s death, inquest rules – The Guardian

Posted February 8th, 2019 in budgets, care homes, inquests, mental health, news, suicide, young persons by sally

‘Neglect at a care home that had descended into “chaos” amid cost-cutting contributed to the death of Sophie Bennett, a mentally ill 19-year old, an inquest jury has ruled.’

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The Guardian, 7th February 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Surge in parents forced to fight child custody battles with no legal representation – The Independent

Posted February 5th, 2019 in budgets, children, custody, families, legal aid, litigants in person, news, statistics by tracey

‘The number of parents forced to represent themselves in child custody battles at family courts has more than doubled in six years in the wake of legal aid cuts. Campaigners have warned “huge injustices” are taking place and children’s best interests are being “obscured”. Government data revealed 23,881 parents who applied to open private law cases for child arrangements in 2017 had no legal representation – up 134 per cent since 2011.’

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The Independent, 4th February 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Lord McNally: ‘We had to cut legal aid. It’s not a bottomless pit’ – The Guardian

Posted January 30th, 2019 in budgets, human rights, legal aid, legal services, news, probation by sally

‘The Lib-Dem peer says coalition cuts were necessary but have gone too far – people must be able to access justice.’

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The Guardian, 30th January 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Government issues guidance for local authorities on Brexit preparations – Local Government Lawyer

Posted January 30th, 2019 in brexit, budgets, EC law, local government, news by sally

‘The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has issued guidance to assist local authority preparedness for Brexit and announced that it will provide £56.5m in financial support to councils in England.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 29th January 2019

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Half of magistrates courts in England and Wales closed since 2010 – The Guardian

Posted January 28th, 2019 in budgets, computer programs, courts, magistrates, news, statistics by sally

‘More than half of all magistrates courts in England and Wales have closed since 2010, forcing defendants, witnesses, police, lawyers and justices of the peace to travel sometimes more than 50 miles to access local justice.’

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The Guardian, 27th January 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Courts IT chaos prompts call for compensation and more funding – The Guardian

‘The computer network collapse that disrupted courts across England and Wales for days has prompted calls for compensation and improved funding for the beleaguered criminal justice system.’

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The Guardian, 23rd January 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Legal aid for welfare benefits plummets over a decade – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted January 18th, 2019 in appeals, benefits, budgets, legal aid, news, statistics by tracey

‘The Ministry of Justice says its delayed review of the impact of its controversial legal aid reforms is nearly done after publishing a table showing an alarming drop in the number of people who have been granted public funding in welfare benefits cases over the last decade.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 17th January 2019

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Javid and Hammond team up to tackle £14bn of economic crimes – The Guardian

Posted January 14th, 2019 in bribery, budgets, corruption, enforcement, fraud, money laundering, news, statistics by tracey

‘The home secretary and chancellor are to launch a joint assault on fraud, bribery, corruption and money laundering. Sajid Javid and Philip Hammond will chair a new taskforce that will work with senior figures in the financial sector to tackle economic crime. This is a broad category covering a range of illegal activity, with the Home Office estimating its scale to be at least £14.4bn a year.’

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The Guardian, 14th January 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

With friends like these…Burgess v Lejonvarn: Christmas cheer for construction professionals – Practical Law: Construction Blog

Posted December 20th, 2018 in appeals, budgets, construction industry, contracts, costs, duty of care, news by tracey

‘As we all get into the festive spirit you may well find yourself chatting to family or friends about their latest project. Some may ask for your opinion or advice. But don’t get carried away; remember the cautionary tale of Burgess v Lejonvarn before offering any free advice.’

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Practical Law: Construction Blog, 18th December 2018

Source: constructionblog.practicallaw.com

Boost for litigators as court approves 78% costs budget rise – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted December 20th, 2018 in budgets, costs, disclosure, news by tracey

‘The High Court has approved an upwardly revised costs budget after finding that extra disclosure demands constituted a ‘significant development’ in the case. Master Davison approved the increase in Al-Najar & Ors v The Cumberland Hotel (London) after lawyers acting for the claimants were given double the number of documents they had been expecting.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 20th December 2018

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Judges reject MoJ plans for trials by video link and warn against cuts – The Guardian

Posted December 20th, 2018 in budgets, courts, judiciary, live link evidence, Ministry of Justice, news, remote hearings by tracey

‘Judges have rejected radical Ministry of Justice plans to hold full trials via remote video hearings and warned that imposing deep cuts on staff numbers will render the courts system “unworkable”.

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The Guardian, 20th December 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Human dignity in a time of austerity: the Rule of Law as a counterpoint to the hostile environment for migrants – Garden Court Chambers

Posted December 12th, 2018 in asylum, budgets, human rights, immigration, news, rule of law by sally

‘Garden Court Chambers’ Amanda Weston QC delivered the plenary speech at our inaugural Migrant Support Conference with Legal Action Group (LAG) on 28 November 2018.’

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Garden Court Chambers, 3rd December 2018

Source: 2h12ms1eq7wnva373scllpi9-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com

Sexual assault victims waiting a year for counselling, MPs say – The Guardian

Posted December 12th, 2018 in budgets, news, sexual offences, social services, victims by sally

‘Sexual assault victims are waiting up to 14 months for counselling as specialist support services struggle to cope with unprecedented demand, MPs have said.’

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The Guardian, 11th December 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Restore legal aid for separating couples, MoJ urged – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted December 11th, 2018 in budgets, consultations, divorce, families, legal aid, news by sally

‘Digitising the divorce application process and hoping for the best isn’t enough to reform the legal requirements for splitting up, the Law Society has warned, telling the government to restore legal aid so that separating couples can receive early advice.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 11th December 2018

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk