Second consultation paper – Ministry of Justice

Posted July 12th, 2012 in constitutional reform, consultations, human rights, news by sally

“The Commission on a UK Bill of Rights has today (11 July) published a second Consultation Paper.”

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Ministry of Justice, 11th July 2012

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Second time lucky? Bill of Rights Commission consults… again – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted July 12th, 2012 in constitutional reform, consultations, human rights, news by sally

“Last year, the troubled Commission on a Bill of Rights consulted the public on whether the UK needed a new human rights instrument. Many, including me, commented that the consultation document was a little sparse on detail. In any event, the consultation closed in November 2011.”

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UK Human Rights Blog, 11th July 2012

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Views sought on Government’s ‘communications data’ surveillance plans – OUT-LAW.com

“A Parliamentary committee is seeking views on Government plans to expand existing laws on communications surveillance.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 11th July 2012

Source: www.out-law.com

Companies planning a takeover bid will have to disclose impact on target’s pension scheme – OUT-LAW.com

Posted July 11th, 2012 in consultations, news, pensions, takeovers by tracey

“Companies planning a takeover bid will have to set out the likely impact of their proposal on the target company’s pension scheme under proposed changes to the Takeover Code.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 10th July 2012

Source: www.out-law.com

Lawyers decry government plans for ‘flexible courts’ to speed up justice – The Guardian

“Plans to overhaul the court system to hold evening and weekend hearings, first introduced at the height of last summer’s riots and now being deployed for the Olympics, have met strong opposition from lawyers being forced to work longer hours.”

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The Guardian, 9th July 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Joint Committee on the Draft Communications Data Bill call for evidence – Joint Committee on the Draft Communications Data Bill

“The Joint Committee is a committee of both Houses appointed to conduct pre-legislative scrutiny of the draft Communications Data Bill. Inquiry Status: The Committee has issued a Call for Evidence, which asks for submissions by 23 August 2012.”

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Joint Committee on the Draft Communications Data Bill, 5th July 2012

Source: www.parliament.uk

Two Articles on Local Government Law – 11 KBW

Local Government Law Update: 27 June (PDF)
Local Government Law Update: 28 June (PDF)

11 KBW, June 2012

Source: www.11kbw.com

Privacy blunder shuts online pornography consultation – Daily Telegraph

Posted June 29th, 2012 in consultations, internet, news, pornography by tracey

“The Government has been forced to close a public consultation on blocking online pornography after it emerged visitors were able to view others’ supposedly confidential responses, and personal details including passwords.”

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Daily Telegraph, 29th June 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Opening doors for electronic communications across the UK – Law Commission

Posted June 28th, 2012 in consultations, electronic mail, news, telecommunications by sally

“In a consultation opening today, the Law Commission is seeking views on how the Electronic Communications Code is working for those who use it, and what can be done to make it more transparent and user-friendly.”

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Law Commission, 28th June 2012

Source: www.lawcommission.justice.gov.uk

Automatic bar on net porn considered – BBC News

Posted June 28th, 2012 in children, consultations, internet, news, pornography by sally

“The government is to consider putting extra pressure on computer users to filter out pornography when setting up internet accounts.”

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BBC News, 28th June 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Proposed new law would make it harder for insurers to avoid contracts – OUT-LAW.com

Posted June 28th, 2012 in consultations, contracts, insurance, news by sally

“Proposed changes to insurance law for businesses could make it harder for insurers to avoid contracts where a company does not disclose “every material circumstance” when taking out a policy.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 27th June 2012

Source: www.out-law.com

Ofcom outlines new anti-piracy rules – The Guardian

Posted June 26th, 2012 in appeals, codes of practice, consultations, copyright, internet, news by sally

“Illegal downloaders will start receiving warning letters from internet service providers from 1 March 2014, under a draft code for the government’s anti-digital piracy regime drawn up by media regulator Ofcom.”

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The Guardian, 26th June 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Reforming the duty of disclosure in business insurance, and bringing the law on warranties up to date – Law Commission

Posted June 26th, 2012 in consultations, disclosure, insurance, news, warranties by sally

“In a consultation opening today, the Law Commission and Scottish Law Commission are proposing a new law to make clear what businesses must tell insurers when they buy insurance.”

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Law Commission, 26th June 2012

Source: www.lawcommission.justice.gov.uk

Bar Standards Board seeks views on Bar Transfer Test – Bar Standards Board

Posted June 25th, 2012 in barristers, consultations, legal education, news, solicitors by sally

“The Bar Standards Board has issued a consultation reviewing the Bar Transfer Test (BTT).”

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Bar Standards Board, 22nd June 2012

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Former prisons inspector condemns probation service reform plans – The Guardian

Posted June 25th, 2012 in bills, competition, consultations, news, probation by sally

“Lord Ramsbotham, a former prisons inspector, has condemned government plans to overhaul the probation service and promised to lead a rebellion of peers and politicians unless they are rewritten.”

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The Guardian, 24th June 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Bar Council Responds to Consultation on Separate Legal Jurisdiction for Wales – The Bar Council

Posted June 21st, 2012 in consultations, jurisdiction, news, Wales by sally

“The Bar Council has responded to the Welsh Government’s consultation on whether there should be a separate legal jurisdiction for Wales. The Bar Council does not express a view on this matter, which is essentially a political question, but it seeks to identify a number of practical issues relevant to arguments for and against the proposition.”

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The Bar Council, 20th June 2012

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Lawyers slam shared parenting plan – Law Society’s Gazette,

Posted June 21st, 2012 in consultations, divorce, news, parental rights by sally

“Lawyers have described government plans to introduce a legal presumption of shared parenting after relationship breakdown as ‘unnecessary political posturing’ that could detract from children’s wellbeing.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 20th June 2012

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

QASA – and what it means to you – LegalVoice

“New rules for solicitors (and registered European lawyers) who want to undertake criminal advocacy form January 2013 will require them to notify the Solicitors Regulation Authority under the new Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates (Crime) arrangements, writes Anne-Marie Lynch. The scheme opens on July 2nd 2012 and will be open for notifications until 21st September 2012. It will introduce a system for accreditation for criminal advocacy work in the Crown and magistrates’ courts.”

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LegalVoice, 20th June 2012

Source: www.legalvoice.org.uk

Civil partnerships should have been called marriage, says top divorce lawyer – Daily Telegraph

“The debate over same-sex unions could have been avoided if civil partnerships had been described as marriage by the Government, a top divorce lawyer has said.”

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Daily Telegraph, 18th June 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Bringing electoral law up to date – Law Commission

Posted June 18th, 2012 in consultations, elections, Law Commission, news, referendums by sally

“In a consultation opening today (15 June), the Law Commission is asking which of the rules governing elections and referendums should be reviewed as part of its electoral law reform project. Electoral law in the UK is spread across 25 major statutes. It has become increasingly complex and fragmented and, according to the Commission, needs to be simplified, modernised and rationalised in order to benefit the electorate, administrators, and candidates.”

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Law Commission, 15th June 2012

Source: www.lawcommission.justice.gov.uk