Working Together to Safeguard Children: changes to statutory guidance – Department for Education

Posted October 27th, 2017 in children, consultations, education, government departments, news, regulations by sally

‘This consultation seeks views on significant revisions to ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children’ – the statutory guidance which sets out what is expected of organisations, individually and jointly, to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. These revisions are being made largely to reflect the legislative changes introduced through the Children and Social Work Act 2017.’

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Department for Education, 25th October 2017

Source: consult.education.gov.uk

Justice in jeopardy: government defies backlash to confirm ‘reckless’ legal aid cuts – Law Society Gazette

‘The government is to press ahead with reform of legal aid fees paid to solicitors in criminal cases – despite 97% of submissions to a consultation vehemently opposing the plans. Representative bodies have this afternoon condemned the decision as ‘reckless’, claiming it places justice in jeopardy.’

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Law Society Gazette, 24th October 2017

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Government floats referral fee ban and acting for both sides in bid to improve home-buying process – Legal Futures

Posted October 23rd, 2017 in consultations, conveyancing, estate agents, fees, news, sale of land, solicitors by sally

‘A ban on estate agents charging solicitors referral fees along with loosening the restriction on conveyancers acting for both seller and buyer were suggested by the government yesterday as possible reforms to improve the home-buying process.’

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Legal Futures, 23rd October 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Consultation launched on laws around antique firearms – Home Office

Posted October 19th, 2017 in consultations, firearms, press releases by sally

‘Public invited to give their views as new figures show the number of antique weapons recovered in criminal circumstances doubled between 2012 and 2016.’

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Home Office, 19th October 2017

Source: www.gov.uk/home-office

Ministers urged to ditch plans to cut number of MPs by 50 – The Guardian

Posted October 17th, 2017 in boundaries, constitutional reform, consultations, elections, news, parliament by sally

‘Government does not have parliamentary support for revised boundary changes, which would boost Tory election win chances, say Labour and Lib Dems.’

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The Guardian, 17th October 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Ministry of Justice “set to repeat mistakes of LASPO”, warns MASS chairman – Litigation Futures

Posted October 12th, 2017 in consultations, insurance, Ministry of Justice, news, personal injuries by sally

‘ASPO has not brought down insurance premiums, stopped referral fees or seen accident victims benefit from the promised 10% uplift in damages, and the Ministry of Justice is set to repeat its mistakes in the Civil Liability Bill, the chairman of the Motor Accident Solicitors Society (MASS) claimed yesterday.’

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Litigation Futures, 12th October 2017

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

BSB seeks views on updating some of the rules governing barrister training and qualification – Bar Standards Board

Posted October 4th, 2017 in barristers, consultations, inns of court, legal education, news by sally

‘As part of its ongoing Future Bar Training (FBT) programme, the Bar Standards Board (BSB) has today launched a new consultation on a number of aspects of the way in which barristers train and qualify.’

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Bar Standards Board, 3rd October 2017

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

BSB training plans could curb role of Inns – including compulsory dinners – and end 12-month term for pupillages – Legal Futures

Posted October 4th, 2017 in barristers, consultations, inns of court, legal education, news by sally

‘A drastic reduction in the role of the Inns of Court in the training of barristers – to the point where barristers would not have to be members of one – and an end to the required period of 12 months for pupillages are on the table as the Bar Standards Board (BSB) takes the next step in its Future Bar Training initiative.’

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Legal Futures, 4th October 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Consultation launched into new right of appeal at Investigatory Powers Tribunal – Home Office

Posted October 3rd, 2017 in appeals, consultations, investigatory powers, news, tribunals by sally

‘A public consultation on draft rules governing proceedings at the Investigatory Powers Tribunal has been launched today [29 September] by Security Minister Ben Wallace.’

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Home Office, 29th September 2017

Source: www.gov.uk

BSB proposes targeted approach to CMA disclosure recommendations: focuses on consumers who would benefit most – Bar Standards Board

Posted October 3rd, 2017 in barristers, competition, consultations, consumer protection, fees, news by sally

‘The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has today published a new consultation outlining its proposed response to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) recommendations for more transparency about legal service providers’ fees, services and rights of redress for consumers.’

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Bar Standards Board, 2nd October 2017

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Revealed: BSB set to expand price transparency obligation beyond public access to referral Bar – Legal Futures

‘The Bar Standards Board (BSB) will say today that new rules on publishing prices should extend to referral barristers as well as those handling public access work.’

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Legal Futures, 2nd October 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Ministers to tighten disqualification criteria for councillors and mayors – Local Government Lawyer

Posted September 21st, 2017 in consultations, criminal records, disqualification, local government, news by sally

‘Individuals who are given an anti-social behaviour injunction or a criminal behaviour order or who are added to the sex offenders’ register will no longer be able to be a councillor or elected mayor, under reforms put out to consultation this week.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 20th September 2017

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Dangerous cycling law review after death crash – BBC News

‘The government is launching a review into whether a new law is needed to tackle dangerous cycling.’

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BBC News, 21st September 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

McKenzie ban back to drawing board – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted September 18th, 2017 in codes of practice, consultations, fees, judiciary, Law Society, McKenzie friends, news by sally

‘HM Judiciary is set to reassess some of its proposals for regulating the fast-expanding “McKenzie friend” sector after a consultation on banning fee recovery received “large numbers of responses”.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 15th September 2017

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Duchy of Cornwall residents fight ‘unfair’ freehold ban – The Guardian

‘Prince Charles’s £1bn Duchy of Cornwall estate is facing a rebellion by residents who claim they are subject to an unfair ban on buying the freeholds to their homes.’

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The Guardian, 11th September 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

MoJ reveals potential new discount rate after announcing reform – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted September 7th, 2017 in compensation, consultations, news, personal injuries by sally

‘The lord chancellor has set out long-awaited proposals for calculating the “discount rate” applied to personal injury settlements. Under proposed legislation, the rate will be set by reference to rates of return on “low risk” rather than “very low risk” investments as at present. The rate will also be reviewed at least every three years.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 7th September 2017

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Your chance to shape new cyber-security rules – Technology Law Update

Posted August 17th, 2017 in computer crime, consultations, EC law, news, telecommunications by sally

‘Amid the noise about the introduction of data privacy reforms under Europe’s General Data Protection Regulation, the GDPR, less attention has been paid to the Network and Information Systems Directive. The NIS Directive calls on EU member states to introduce cyber-security requirements for “Operators of Essential Services” (OESs), with a less stringent set of obligations for certain groups of “Digital Services Providers” (DSPs).’

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Technology Law Update, 16th August 2017

Source: www.technology-law-blog.co.uk

Tougher laws to protect 10 million Britons who book holidays online – The Guardian

Posted August 15th, 2017 in consultations, consumer protection, holidays, internet, news by sally

‘Travellers booking package holidays online are to receive greater protection if a holiday company goes bust, under government proposals to strengthen rules.’

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The Guardian, 14th August 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Government to consider laser pen licence after attack rise – BBC News

Posted August 14th, 2017 in aircraft, consultations, government departments, licensing, news, weapons by sally

‘Buying powerful laser pens could require a licence in future, the government has said, amid concerns over the number of attacks on aircraft.’

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BBC News, 12th August 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Firms face £17m fine if they fail to protect against hackers – BBC News

Posted August 8th, 2017 in computer crime, consultations, data protection, fines, news by sally

‘Firms could face fines of up to £17m or 4% of global turnover if they fail to protect themselves from cyber-attacks, the government has warned.’

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BBC News, 8th August 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk