Single-use plastic items to be banned in England — reports – The Guardian

‘Single-use plastic items including cutlery, plates and polystyrene cups are reportedly to be banned in England by the UK government after a consultation.’

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The Guardian, 13th December 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Law Commission seeks views on decentralised autonomous organisations (DAOs) – Law Commission

‘The Law Commission has launched a call for evidence asking users and other experts for information about how decentralised autonomous organisations – DAOs – can be characterised, and how the law of England and Wales might accommodate them now and in the future.’

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Law Commission, 16th November 2022

Source: www.lawcom.gov.uk

MoJ makes late U-turn on how to extend fixed costs – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted November 11th, 2022 in civil procedure rules, consultations, costs, Ministry of Justice, news by tracey

‘The government appears to have significantly altered its plans for implementing the fixed recoverable costs extension just weeks before the rules need to be signed off.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 11th November 2022

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

New powers for forensic science regulator by end of March – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Forensic science witnesses in criminal justice cases can expect to be subject to the Forensic Science Regulator’s statutory regime by the end of March 2023, incumbent regulator Gary Pugh said today.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 4th November 2022

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Junior lawyers won’t have to ‘turn in’ bullying workmates – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Junior lawyers will be exempt from a new professional obligation to report on anyone mistreating colleagues in the workplace, following a rethink by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. However, proposed changes to conduct rules that will give the regulator more scope to clamp down on bullying, harassment or discrimination have otherwise got the go-ahead.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 3rd November 2022

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Law Commission to review how private international law applies to digital assets and other emerging technology – Law Commission

‘The Law Commission of England and Wales has launched a Government-commissioned review that aims to provide clarity on how private international law rules can apply to emerging technology, such as digital assets and electronic trade documents.’

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Law Commission, 18th October 2022

Source: www.lawcom.gov.uk

Research Briefing: The end of ‘no fault’ section 21 evictions – House of Commons Library

Posted October 25th, 2022 in bills, consultations, housing, landlord & tenant, news, repossession by sally

‘The Queen’s Speech 2022 committed to a Bill in the 2022-23 session to abolish “no-fault” section 21 evictions in the private rented sector. This paper covers developments to date.’

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House of Commons Library, 24th October 2022

Source: commonslibrary.parliament.uk

Removal process for judges ‘unconstitutional’, support network tells MoJ – Law Society’s Gazette

‘A new policy designed to remove judges from office if they have been long absent from work due to ill health would be unconstitutional, a support network for judges has told the government.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 20th October 2022

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Totality explained – Sentencing Council

Posted October 7th, 2022 in consultations, news, sentencing by tracey

‘Every day, judges and magistrates preside over cases coming before them in court and, if an offender is found guilty, they use sentencing guidelines to determine what the appropriate sentence should be. But what if the offender committed more than one offence? What happens then? Do the courts work out the sentence for each individual offence and then add them together? The simple answer is usually no.’

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Sentencing Council, 5th October 2022

Source: www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk

New reforms to ensure UK retains position as a leader in international arbitration – Law Commission

‘The Law Commission of England and Wales has today unveiled new proposals to update the Arbitration Act 1996, to ensure that the UK continues to be the foremost destination for international arbitration.’

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Law Commission, 22nd October 2022

Source: www.lawcom.gov.uk

Calls for Hillsborough pathology review to be suspended – The independent

Posted October 7th, 2022 in bereavement, consultations, families, government departments, inquests, news, police, sport by tracey

‘Politicians are calling for the suspension of a Home Office review into the pathology at the original Hillsborough inquests, after it emerged the victims’ families had not been consulted.’

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The Independent, 6th October 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

New property rights relevant to ‘data objects’ proposed – OUT-LAW.com

Posted October 6th, 2022 in consultations, cryptocurrencies, data protection, Law Commission, news by sally

‘A new property right that recognises an individual or entity’s control over “data objects” should be established in law in England and Wales, the Law Commission has said.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 3rd October 2022

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Law Commission seeks ban on discrimination in appointing arbitrators – Legal Futures

‘Arbitration agreements requiring that the arbitrator be a “commercial man” or otherwise specifying a protected characteristic will be unenforceable under Law Commission proposals published today.’

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Legal Futures, 22nd September 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Research Briefing: Regulation of estate agents – House of Commons Library

Posted September 12th, 2022 in consultations, consumer protection, estate agents, housing, news, parliament by tracey

‘This briefing paper provides an outline of the current regulation of estate agents. It also looks at past market studies and consultations and considers in detail recent government proposals to tighten regulation.’

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House of Commons Library , 5th September 2022

Source: commonslibrary.parliament.uk

Public Sexual Harassment Could Become A Criminal Offence – Each Other

‘A consultation has been launched which could determine whether public sexual harassment could become a criminal offence in the UK.’

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Each Other, 23rd August 2022

Source: eachother.org.uk

Modernising lasting powers of attorney: change is coming – Legal Futures

‘In 2007, the Mental Capacity Act 2005 introduced Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs) which for the first time allowed a donor to appoint an attorney to make decisions both about their property and financial affairs, but also about their health and welfare.’

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Legal Futures, 17th August 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

High Court gives green light for fourth judicial review challenge regarding future of London housing estate – Local Government Lawyer

Posted August 15th, 2022 in consultations, housing, judicial review, local government, London, news, planning by tracey

‘A judicial review challenge of Lambeth Council’s planning approval of a plan that would demolish part of a 1970s estate will be heard in November, making it the fourth judicial review application concerning the estate in seven years.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 12th August 2022

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Consultation: Revisions to sentencing guidelines for child cruelty offences – Family Law

‘The Sentencing Council is consulting on updated sentencing guidelines for offenders convicted of child cruelty offences, including causing or allowing death or serious injury, or neglect in England and Wales.’

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Family Law, 11th August 2022

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

Judges to be disciplined by lay majority panels – Legal Futures

‘Disciplinary panels hearing cases of judicial misconduct will have lay majorities, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and the judiciary have decided, as part of a major overhaul of the system.’

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Legal Futures, 9th August 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Costs in lower-value clin neg cases ‘far exceed damages’ – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted August 8th, 2022 in consultations, costs, damages, doctors, negligence, news by tracey

‘Doctors’ representatives in clinical negligence cases have claimed that average costs far outstrip the compensation secured for cases worth less than £25,000.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 5th August 2022

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk