Lawyers and women’s rights charities call for family court judge’s cases to be reviewed – Local Government Lawyer

‘Over 130 family lawyers and women’s rights groups have called for Judge Tolson’s continuing cases to be reviewed, following Justice Russell’s condemnation of the family court judge’s treatment of an allegation of sexual assault in a child protection fact-finding trial last month.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 20th February 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Court of Appeal provides guidance on “borough-wide” injunctions – No. 5 Chambers

‘Bromley LBC had secured a without notice interim injunction in the High Court which prohibited encampment and entry/occupation in relation to all accessible public spaces in the Borough except cemeteries and highways. These amounted to 139 parks, recreation grounds or open spaces, and 32 public car parks. Although the injunction was against “persons unknown”, it was widely understood that the injunction was aimed at the Gypsy and Traveller community.’

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No. 5 Chambers, 12th February 2020

Source: www.no5.com

Equitable briefing – Counsel

Posted February 19th, 2020 in barristers, diversity, equality, news, sex discrimination, statistics, women by sally

‘Talent is everywhere, opportunity is not: why equitable briefing is the most pressing practice issue for the Bar in 2020 – writes Lucy Barbet.’

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Counsel, February 2020

Source: www.counselmagazine.co.uk

Ethical veganism: a philosophical belief – 3PB

‘The Claimant, Mr Casamitjana, was dismissed from his role at the League Against Cruel Sports in April 2018 after disclosing to colleagues that the company’s pension funds were being invested ‘unethically’. This was considered by the Respondent to be contrary to a management instruction not to provide financial advice to his colleagues. The Claimant brought claims of indirect discrimination, direct discrimination/harassment and victimisation by reference to his belief in ethical veganism, and PIDA detriment and dismissal, and wrongful dismissal.’

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3PB, 7th February 2020

Source: www.3pb.co.uk

Sexist comments “remain rife” in legal profession – Legal Futures

Posted February 18th, 2020 in equality, legal profession, news, sex discrimination, women by sally

‘Some 58% of women in the legal profession say they or women they work with have received inappropriate comments from male colleagues relating to their gender, new research has found.’

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Legal Futures, 17th February 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Watchdog rejects Met’s claim that he supported facial recognition – The Guardian

Posted February 13th, 2020 in equality, facial mapping, London, news, police by tracey

‘The official biometrics commissioner has rebuked the Metropolitan police after it falsely claimed that he supported its use of facial recognition CCTV in an equalities impact assessment published as the force made its first operational use of the controversial technology.’

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The Guardian, 12th February 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Equalities watchdog launches inquiry into use of restraint in schools – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Equality and Human Rights Commission has launched a formal inquiry into how schools are monitoring and recording their use of restraint, “following widespread concerns about its use and the lack of data available”.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 12th February 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

‘The victimisation was horrible’: why are so many disabled lawyers treated badly? – The Guardian

‘A new study says that more than half of disabled lawyers have experienced bullying or discrimination at work.’

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The Guardian, 11th February 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Disability Discrimination: Long-Term Requirement – Pallant Chambers

Posted February 11th, 2020 in disability discrimination, equality, news by sally

‘Until Tesco Stores Ltd v Tennant UKEAT/0167/19 there was no direct authority on whether it was possible to pursue claims of alleged disability discrimination during the 12-month period starting from the date the impairment met all the other requirements under the legislation.’

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Pallant Chambers, 5th February 2020

Source: www.pallantchambers.co.uk

“Artificial intelligence, machine learning, Algorithms and discrimination law: The new frontier” – Cloisters

Posted February 11th, 2020 in artificial intelligence, chambers articles, equality, news by sally

‘Robin Allen QC spoke on “Artificial intelligence, machine learning, Algorithms and discrimination law: The new frontier” at Michael Rubenstein’s Annual Discrimination Law Conferences in London and Edinburgh this month.’

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Cloisters, 7th February 2020

Source: www.cloisters.com

Bereavement payments for co-habiting couples urged – BBC News

Posted February 10th, 2020 in benefits, bereavement, children, cohabitation, equality, news by sally

‘A landmark legal case has found denying bereavement payments to co-habiting couples is against human rights law.’

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BBC News, 7th February 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Green Space borough-wide preventative injunctions: the view from the Court of Appeal – Local Government Lawyer

‘Steven Woolf examines the Court of Appeal’s recent decision and guidance on Green Space borough-wide preventative injunctions.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 7th February 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Firm sacked paralegal days after emergency bowel surgery – Law Society’s Gazette

‘ Birmingham firm who dismissed a worker within days of him leaving hospital post-surgery have been found in breach of employment law by a tribunal.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 6th February 2020

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

‘Casual sexism is still prevalent’: how close is the law to gender equality? – The Guardian

‘Almost 100 years ago, Dr Ivy Williams joined the Inner Temple as a law student. In 1922, three years after the Sex Disqualification Removal Act, she became the first woman to be called to the bar in this country. Most people have never heard of her. Although she never entered private practice, she taught law for 25 years and gave free legal advice to those who couldn’t afford it. A tireless activist and campaigner, her example paved an important road.’

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The Guardian, 4th February 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Civil partnerships for heterosexual couples: what you need to know – Family Law

‘As of 31st December 2019, it is now possible for both same-sex and heterosexual couples to enter into a civil partnership. The institution was initially devised solely for same-sex couples through the Civil Partnership Act 2004; it was meant to be a distinct separate relationship status for same-sex couples akin, but different to, a marriage. This has now changed and moving into 2020, heterosexual couples may opt for a civil partnership instead of a marriage.’

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Family Law, 5th February 2020

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

High Court hears JR over extending QOCS to Equality Act claims – Litigation Futures

‘Qualified one-way costs shifting should be extended to people pursuing claims under the Equality Act, the High Court heard last week.’

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Litigation Futures, 3rd February 2020

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Employment Tribunal provides reasoning in ethical veganism case – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted January 31st, 2020 in employment, employment tribunals, equality, harassment, human rights, news, veganism by sally

‘Following his headline-grabbing finding on 3rd January 2020 that “ethical veganism is a philosophical belief which qualifies as a protected belief within the meaning of section 10 of The Equality Act 2010”, Norwich Employment Tribunal Judge Postle has now provided his full determination.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 29th January 2020

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Solicitor rejected for job was victim of age discrimination – Legal Futures

‘An experienced property solicitor was rejected for a job at a law firm despite being the only person interviewed because of age discrimination, an employment tribunal has ruled.’

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Legal Futures, 29th January 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

White men still dominate judiciary, says Justice report – The Guardian

Posted January 29th, 2020 in diversity, equality, gender, judiciary, Ministry of Justice, news, statistics by sally

‘Progress to improve diversity in the judiciary is too slow and there has been stagnation in the appointment of BAME judges, according to a damning report by an influential law reform group whose head warns that senior roles are still “dominated by white men”.’

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The Guardian, 29th January 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Guidance on the court’s approach to challenges to planning permissions for quarrying in green belt (Haden v Shropshire Council) – No. 5 Chambers

Posted January 28th, 2020 in equality, health, local government, news, planning, pollution by sally

‘Planning analysis: In Haden v Shropshire Council, the High Court rejected a legal challenge to a local planning authority’s (LPA’s) decision to grant planning permission for development of a sand and gravel quarry in the green belt. Nina Pindham, a barrister at No5 Barristers’ Chambers and counsel for the defendant, considers the case and its implications.’

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No. 5 Chambers, 23rd January 2020

Source: www.no5.com