SRA disciplinary decisions could stay in public domain for longer – Legal Futures

‘Details of disciplinary and other regulatory action taken by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) could be published for longer than the current three years to combat misinformation online, it said yesterday.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 11th May 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Doctors could soon face action over ‘misleading’ social media posts – The Guardian

‘Doctors who share “misleading” information on social media could face regulatory action, according to planned new guidelines.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 26th April 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Legal challenge sees decision to close hospital over staffing issues quashed – Local Government Lawyer

Posted April 26th, 2022 in consultations, coronavirus, hospitals, judicial review, news, statutory duty by sally

‘An NHS Trust has conceded, following a judicial review challenge, that its decision to close a hospital over staffing issues partly attributed to pandemic pressures was unlawful.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 25th April 2022

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

UK consumer law enforcement powers to be bolstered – OUT-LAW.com

‘Businesses that breach UK consumer protection laws will be subject to fines of up to 10% of their annual global turnover under changes to legislation the UK government has committed to making.’

Full Story

OUT-LAW.com, 21st April 2022

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Going backwards: statutory sick pay after the pandemic – by Dr Lisa Rodgers – UK Labour Law

‘The coronavirus pandemic has seen unprecedented interference by governments in many aspects of our working lives. In terms of labour law, some of the changes made by the UK government during the pandemic have been deregulatory and served to erode protection for workers (for example, through increasing flexibility in working time for key workers: Working Time (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020. For the most part though, these changes have increased worker protection and provided significant support for UK businesses and employees. The two furlough schemes, the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) and the accompanying Self-Employment Income Support Scheme have been widely judged as pandemic success stories, with the CJRS supporting 11.6 million people and playing a clear role in limiting job losses. Likewise, changes to the sick pay system during the pandemic have been positive, serving to increase access to the scheme and reduce the administrative burden on both employees and their employers.’

Full Story

UK Labour Law, 12th April 2022

Source: uklabourlawblog.com

Service and admin charges – from the Upper Tribunal – Nearly Legal

‘The First Tier Tribunal had been wrong to grant dispensation from section 20 consultation requirements on the basis that the freeholder “had started the consultation process and had kept the leaseholders of flats in the block informed until the works became sufficiently urgent that the respondent had had to carry them out without waiting for the consultation to be completed.”’

Full Story

Nearly Legal, 3rd April 2022

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

‘Conversion therapy’: Ban to go-ahead but not cover trans people – BBC News

‘The government insists it will ban so-called conversion therapy for gay or bisexual people in England and Wales – but not for transgender people.’

Full Story

BBC News, 1st April 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Greater Manchester: Bus firm appeals against public control ruling – BBC News

Posted March 28th, 2022 in appeals, consultations, judicial review, local government, news, transport by tracey

‘A bus operator that lost a legal battle to stop Greater Manchester’s bus network returning to public control is appealing against the ruling.’

Full Story

BBC News, 27th March 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Law will be changed to ‘undo’ P&O’s mass sacking of its workers, government vows – The Independent

Posted March 25th, 2022 in consultations, employment, government departments, news, trade unions, transport by tracey

‘The law will be changed to “undo” P&O’s mass sacking of its workers, the government is vowing – just hours after a minister warned that would harm the economy.’

Full Story

The Independent, 24th March 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Mobile loophole for gaming drivers is closed – BBC News

‘A loophole allowing drivers to escape punishment for handheld phone use if they are taking a photo or playing a game has closed in Great Britain.’

Full Story

BBC News, 25th March 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

A UK Bill of Rights? – London Review of Books

Posted March 23rd, 2022 in consultations, human rights, Ministry of Justice, news by sally

‘The United Kingdom​ might soon have its first bill of rights since the English Bill of Rights of 1688. On 14 December last year, the government published the much anticipated Independent Human Rights Act Review (IHRAR), which sets out the conclusions of a ten-month inquiry by an independent panel of experts into the operation of the Human Rights Act 1998. At the same time, the Ministry of Justice issued a consultation document, “Human Rights Act Reform: A Modern Bill of Rights”, the proposals of which bear no resemblance to the recommendations of the IHRAR (the consultation period ended on 8 March). Influenced, it seems, by Dominic Raab’s appointment as secretary of state for justice in the September reshuffle, the Ministry of Justice consultation document sets out a proposal that it describes, accurately, as “far-reaching”. By my count, 21 of the 29 questions it poses are not considered in the IHRAR. The whole document is founded on the decision to “replace” the Human Rights Act with a bill of rights, something not considered by the IHRAR panel (which noted in passing that it detected no depth of support for one).’

Full Story

London Review of Books, 24th March 2022

Source: www.lrb.co.uk

Outdoor civil weddings and partnerships here to stay – BBC News

Posted March 15th, 2022 in civil partnerships, consultations, coronavirus, licensing, marriage, news by tracey

‘Outdoor civil weddings and partnerships are being legalised permanently in England and Wales. Until last summer, non-religious ceremonies had to be held inside or in a permanent outdoor structure. The rules were relaxed to allow for more guests while coronavirus social distancing measures were in place.’

Full Story

BBC News, 15th March 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Andy Burnham’s move to bring bus services under public control ‘not unlawful’ – The Independent

Posted March 10th, 2022 in consultations, contracting out, local government, news, transport by tracey

‘Andy Burnham’s decision to reform bus services to bring them under public control in Greater Manchester was not unlawful, a High Court judge has found in a ruling against two bus companies.’

Full Story

The Independent, 9th March 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Internet scams to be included in UK online safety bill – The Guardian

‘Measures to protect people from internet scams will now be included in proposed online safety laws, the government has said.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 8th March 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Rule will require solicitors to challenge colleagues’ improper behaviour – Legal Futures

‘Solicitors will have a regulatory obligation to challenge colleagues who treat others unfairly or without respect as part of a plan to beef up the rules on health and wellbeing at work.’

Full Story

Legal futures, 7th March 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

LSB warns Bar Council over objections to “unreasonable” PCF rise – Legal Futures

Posted March 2nd, 2022 in barristers, budgets, consultations, fees, Legal Services Board, news, statistics by sally

‘The Legal Services Board (LSB) has approved a 4.5% increase in the practising certificate fee (PCF) for barristers, while warning the Bar Council that the exercise of its regulatory functions, such as setting the fee, “should not be prejudiced” by its representative role.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 2nd March 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Disabled people ‘given 12 days’ to respond to human rights consultation – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Disability and human rights groups have called for a consultation on controversial human rights reforms to be extended, telling the lord chancellor that disabled people have been given less than a fortnight to respond. The Ministry of Justice has apologised for the long wait for a ‘fully accessible’ document.’

Full Story

Law Society's Gazette, 2nd March 2022

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

The UK’s Human Rights Act Explained – Each Other

Posted March 1st, 2022 in consultations, human rights, news by sally

‘After more than a decade of “phoney war” over the UK’s Human Rights Act, this administration now seems determined to follow through with its threat to “overhaul” the landmark legislation. Against that backdrop, we break down here what the HRA is and how it protects us all, as well as outlining the government’s planned changes.’

Full Story

Each Other, 28th February 2022

Source: eachother.org.uk

Expect forward-looking UK corporate tax reform in coming months – OUT-LAW.com

Posted February 18th, 2022 in consultations, corporation tax, government departments, news, taxation by sally

‘This year may finally provide the UK chancellor of the exchequer, Rishi Sunak, with an opportunity to develop medium to long-term strategic corporate tax policies.’

Full Story

OUT-LAW.com, 17th February 2022

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Security Services And Civil Liberties Groups Both Criticise Human Rights Act Overhaul – Each Other

‘The 580-page report of the Independent Human Rights Act Review (IHRAR) provides the backdrop to a series of oral evidence sessions now being held by parliament’s Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR). In that report, both security services and human rights charities have issued warnings to the government over proposed changes to the Human Rights Act.’

Full Story

Each Other, 17th February 2022

Source: eachother.org.uk