Watchdog updates technical guidance for schools regarding pupils with protected characteristics – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has updated its technical guidance for schools in England and Scotland, outlining the obligations the Equality Act places upon schools regarding pupils with protected characteristics and the provision of their education.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 26th September 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Sheffield council faces mass equal pay claim over ‘scandalous’ pay grades – The Guardian

‘Sheffield city council is to become the latest local authority to face a mass equal pay claim from women who have been underpaid by up to £11,000 a year, the GMB union has said.’

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The Guardian, 25th September 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Offers of accommodation and the public sector equality duty – Local Government Lawyer

Posted September 22nd, 2023 in appeals, benefits, equality, housing, local government, news by tracey

‘Michael Mullin and Scarlet Taylor-Waller analyse an important Court of Appeal ruling in a case where a council offered accommodation in Walsall to an appellant who had lived all her life in London.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 21st September 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Speech by Judge Barry Clarke: Discrimination in Employment/Industrial Courts – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted September 22nd, 2023 in courts, employment, equality, judges, news, tribunals, unfair dismissal by tracey

‘Speech by Judge Barry Clarke: Discrimination in Employment/Industrial Courts.’

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Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 18th September 2023

Source: www.judiciary.uk

Bar Council announces new contextual recruitment tool to boost social mobility at the Bar – The Bar Council

Posted September 15th, 2023 in barristers, diversity, equality, news, pupillage, statistics by tracey

‘The Bar Council is boosting its commitment to social mobility at the Bar with the introduction of a contextual recruitment tool to the Pupillage Gateway system from 2024/25. The announcement was made in a speech on the future of the Bar by Nick Vineall KC, Chair of the Bar of England and Wales, last night (Wednesday 13 September). Contextual recruitment tools look at the context in which students receive their grades, so that recruiters can identify candidates from disadvantaged backgrounds who outperformed their immediate peers and who can demonstrate the qualities needed to succeed at the Bar, but who might otherwise be missed in a recruitment process.’

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The Bar Council, 14th September 2023

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Met police admit overusing powers to strip-search children after IOPC inquiry – The Guardian

‘Scotland Yard has admitted overusing its power to strip-search children after four of its officers were told they would face disciplinary proceedings over allegations that their search of a 15-year-old black schoolgirl known as Child Q was inappropriate and amounted to discrimination owing to her race and sex.’

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The Guardian, 14th September 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

MPs to investigate sexual harassment of female surgeons – BBC News

‘MPs will investigate the sexual harassment and sexual assault of female surgeons taking place within the NHS.’

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BBC News, 13th September 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Hundreds of thousands face exclusion over voter ID laws, UK watchdog says – The Guardian

Posted September 13th, 2023 in elections, equality, government departments, identification, news by tracey

‘Warning policy could disproportionately effect poorer people, those with disabilities and those from minority ethnic backgrounds.’

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The Guardian, 13th September 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘Less transparent and democratic’: damning verdict on rule of law – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Law-making has become less transparent, less accountable, less inclusive and less democratic, legal thinktank Justice has said in a damning report published today on the government’s approach to the rule of law.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 11th September 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Law Commission drops plan to ban discrimination in appointing arbitrators – Legal Futures

Posted September 6th, 2023 in arbitration, bills, consultations, equality, Law Commission, news, sex discrimination by sally

‘The Law Commission has “reluctantly concluded” that banning discrimination in the appointment of arbitrators “could cause more problems than it solves”, particularly in triggering “unwarranted satellite litigation”.’

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Legal Futures, 6th September 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Man with Traveller heritage compensated after Conservative club refused to host christening party – The Guardian

Posted September 1st, 2023 in compensation, equality, news, race discrimination, travellers by sally

‘A man barred from booking a christening party for his baby daughter at a Conservative club because of his Irish Traveller heritage has been awarded compensation after bringing a claim for racial discrimination.’

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The Guardian, 1st September 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Employment status of Church of England curates: Green v Lichfield DBF – Law & Religion UK

‘In Reverend D Green v Lichfield Diocesan Board of Finance [2023] UKET 2409635/2022, the primary issue was the extent to which a stipendiary curate had standing to bring a claim before an Employment Tribunal.’

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Law & Religion UK, 25th August 2023

Source: lawandreligionuk.com

Distance, affordability, suitability – Nearly Legal

Posted August 29th, 2023 in benefits, equality, homelessness, housing, local government, news, statutory duty by sally

‘This was the second appeal from a review decision upholding the suitability of an offer of a private sector tenancy in Walsall in discharge of Waltham Forest’s s.193 duty to Ms Webb-Harden. Ms Webb-Harden is a single mother with three children, who had lived in London all her life. She had become homeless from the termination of a private sector tenancy.’

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Nearly Legal, 28th August 2023

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Court of Appeal finds council had “due regard” to s149 Equality Act when offering accommodation in Walsall to single mother who had lived in London all her life – Local Government Lawyer

Posted August 25th, 2023 in appeals, children, equality, families, homelessness, housing, local government, London, news by sally

‘The Court of Appeal has dismissed a single mother’s appeal against a decision of a reviewing officer of the London Borough of Waltham Forest, finding that the accommodation offered to her was “reasonable and suitable”.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 24th August 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

UK failing to protect disabled people, says equalities watchdog – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has warned of the consequences of “continuing inaction” from governments in addressing problems faced by disabled people.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 22nd August 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

High Court rejects challenge over SEND, transgender needs and Public Sector Equality Duty – Local Government Lawyer

‘The High Court has rejected a claim brought by a transgender young person that the defendant council failed to comply with the Public Sector Equality Duty regarding his needs as a transgender person with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).’

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Local Government Lawyer, 21st August 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

South Asian Heritage Month 2023: HHJ Usha Karu shares her story – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted August 21st, 2023 in barristers, diversity, equality, judges, news by tracey

‘Today marks the end of South Asian Heritage Month, an annual celebration which commemorates South Asian cultures, histories and communities. It began in 2020 and runs from 18 July to 17 August each year. We spoke to HHJ Usha Karu about her background and journey into law.’

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Courts and Tribunals Judiciary , 17th August 2023

Source: www.judiciary.uk

Fordham’s Ten Principles of the Duty of Candour in Judicial Review – Essex CAJI

Posted August 17th, 2023 in disclosure, equality, judicial review, news, police, remuneration by sally

‘The duty of candour is the pre-eminent procedural duty that governs the evidence base in judicial reviews. It requires all parties to assist the court with full and accurate explanations of all the facts relevant to the issue under review. The duty of candour is a common law duty. It has been helpfully summarised in several guides, including the Treasury Solicitor Guidance on Discharging the Duty of Candour and Disclosure in Judicial Review Proceedings (2010), which acts as practical guidance to government departments and lawyers, and the Administrative Court Judicial Review Guide 2022. What will be required of parties to meet their duty of candour is highly context sensitive. Public law litigants must, at each stage of proceedings, be aware of the information and documents which might be relevant. In many judicial reviews, say those that involve a challenge to an administrative decision made against an individual claimant, for which there is a clear and concise paper trail, compliance with the duty of candour will usually be straightforward. Candid disclosure is, however, a thornier task in complex judicial reviews, such as policy or systemic challenges, where there might be extensive and sensitive documents to potentially consider, sometimes stretching across multiple government departments.’

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Essex CAJI, 16th August 2023

Source: essexcaji.org

Research Briefing: Artificial intelligence and employment law – House of Commons Library

‘Employers are increasingly using AI in recruitment and management. This briefing explores the employment law implications and proposals for regulatory reform.’

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House of Commons Library , 11th August 2023

Source: commonslibrary.parliament.uk

What makes a responsible chambers? – Counsel Magazine

Posted August 10th, 2023 in barristers, diversity, environmental protection, equality, news by tracey

‘Know where to start on ESG? Rachel Holmes – CEO of the chambers named “Responsible Business of the Year 2023” – shares its blueprint.’

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Counsel Magazine, August 2023

Source: www.counselmagazine.co.uk