City giant self-reports to SRA after trial streamed live on Zoom – Law Society’s Gazette

‘A City firm which disobeyed a court order and allowed a libel trial to be live streamed to clients abroad has reported itself to the regulator.’

Full Story

Law Society's Gazette, 7th August 2020

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Top judge slates firm over trial live-stream breach – Legal Futures

‘The president of the Queen’s Bench Division has strongly criticised lawyers in the London office of US firm McDermott Will & Emery (MWE) after they allowed a trial to be live-streamed to observers outside the UK without the court’s permission.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 7th August 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

TV personalities withdraw libel claim against barrister – Legal Futures

Posted July 30th, 2020 in barristers, defamation, internet, media, news by sally

‘TV personalities Rachel Riley and Tracy-Ann Oberman have withdrawn their defamation claim against a London barrister who retweeted an article about them.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 30th July 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Supreme Court rules there is no right to privacy against “paedophile hunters” – an extended look – UK Human Rights Blog

‘In Sutherland v Her Majesty’s Advocate, the Supreme Court ruled unanimously that it was compatible with the accused person’s rights under ECHR article 8 to use evidence obtained by “paedophile hunter” (“PH”) groups in a criminal trial.’

Full Story

UK Human Rights Blog, 21st July 2020

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Call for impartial websites on quality of lawyers’ services – Legal Futures

Posted July 20th, 2020 in internet, legal profession, legal services, news, standards by sally

‘Independent websites providing impartial information on the quality of legal services providers are needed to guide people looking for a lawyer, the Legal Services Consumer Panel has argued.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 20th July 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

‘Paedophile hunters’ do not violate right to privacy, Supreme Court rules as convict’s appeal dismissed – The Independent

Posted July 15th, 2020 in appeals, child abuse, deceit, internet, news, privacy, sexual offences, Supreme Court by tracey

‘”Paedophile hunters” do not violate the right to privacy, the Supreme Court has ruled while dismissing a convict’s appeal.
Mark Sutherland was convicted after communicating with a member of an activist group, who he believed to be a 13-year-old boy. He appealed his conviction, arguing that his right to a private life and correspondence, enshrined in Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. Delivering the Supreme Court’s ruling on Wednesday, Lord Sales said the appeal had been “unanimously dismissed”.’

Full Story

The Independent, 15th July 2020

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Inquest into Stephen Port’s victims set to begin in new year – The Guardian

‘Families of the victims of serial killer Stephen Port have been assured that everything possible will be done to ensure the long-awaited inquests into their deaths go ahead in the new year despite the coronavirus pandemic.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 10th July 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Plenty of Fish conman jailed for defrauding women – BBC News

Posted July 7th, 2020 in assault, fraud, guilty pleas, internet, intimidation, marriage, news, sentencing by sally

‘A fraudster who cheated women he had asked to marry him out of tens of thousands of pounds has been jailed for 10 years.’

Full Story

BBC News, 6th July 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Employment law: Dealing with race discrimination complaints following the Black Lives Matter movement – Parklane Plowden Chambers

‘The recent tragic death of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement has highlighted the need to tackle race discrimination in the workplace. Many businesses both in the UK and worldwide have made public statements reinforcing their commitment to equality and the BLM movement. Just as the #MeToo movement raised awareness of sexual harassment and discrimination in the workplace, recent events should be the catalyst for a renewed emphasis on preventing and tackling race discrimination and ensuring that BAME employees are supported in the workplace.’

Full Story

Parklane Plowden Chambers, 19th June 2020

Source: www.parklaneplowden.co.uk

Peers call for tougher regulation of digital and social media in UK – The Guardian

‘Ministers are being urged to toughen up the regulation of digital and social media because “a pandemic of misinformation and disinformation” is eroding trust in politics and public institutions.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 29th June 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Bra advert banned for claiming to ‘reduce risk of breast cancer’ – Daily Telegraph

Posted June 25th, 2020 in advertising, cancer, consumer protection, internet, news by sally

‘An advert for a bra has been banned for claiming it reduces the risk of breast cancer.’

Full Story

Daily Telegraph, 24th June 2020

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Solicitor fined after conviction for abusive Facebook messages – Legal Futures

‘A junior solicitor diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome who was convicted after sending a woman he briefly dated a series of abusive Facebook messages has been fined £10,000 by a disciplinary tribunal.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 24th June 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Rebekah Vardy sues Coleen Rooney over ‘Wagatha Christie’ claims – The Guardian

Posted June 24th, 2020 in defamation, internet, media, news by sally

‘Rebekah Vardy has launched defamation proceedings against Coleen Rooney at the high court in London, in what could be an extraordinary legal case detailing the feud between the two women and their relationships with the British tabloid media.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 23rd June 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Suspension suffices for doctor’s online sexual misconduct – UK Human Rights Blog

‘GMC v Awan concerns a GP’s sexually motivated online chat with someone posing as 13 year old child. The GMC’s appeal under section 40A of the Medical Act 1983 was dismissed by Mostyn J and the 9-month suspension imposed by the Tribunal was upheld.’

Full Story

UK Human Rights Blog, 19th June 2020

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

BSB defends online exams after students raise discrimination concerns – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The Bar Standards Board has defended its decision to move exams online, saying “there was simply not enough time” to consult widely about the change. Students have claimed the computer-based assessments will discriminate against women, carers and disabled candidates.’

Full Story

Law Society's Gazette, 19th June 2020

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

YouTuber jailed for Birmingham hospital bomb threat – BBC News

‘A YouTuber who filmed himself phoning a “truly despicable” bomb threat to a hospital dealing with Covid-19 patients has been jailed for 12 weeks.’

Full Story

BBC News, 18th June 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Home Office to face legal challenge over ‘digital hostile environment’ – The Guardian

‘Immigrants’ rights campaigners are to bring the first court case of its kind in British legal history in an attempt to turn off what they claim is a decision-making algorithm that creates a “hostile environment” for people applying for UK visas online.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 18th June 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

90% of law firms “breaching transparency rules” – Legal Futures

‘The news comes with the regulator planning to step up its checks.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 15th June 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Ellie Mitten and Sophie Phillips discuss whether schools and universities are offering ‘reasonable’ alternatives and the meaning of the recent guidance. – Park Square Barristers

‘As the lockdown has progressed, it has become evident that the remote learning services being offered are of differing standards between institutions, with some offering services which are far superior to others. This is particularly so in the case of independent schools. Some independent schools are effectively offering pupils a full timetable, with plenty of contact time with teachers and opportunities to review work and consolidate learning. In contrast, other schools are offering little to no contact time with teachers – disseminating worksheets or PowerPoint presentations, but expecting parents to supervise and effectively teach topics, or for the child to be able to learn independently.’

Full Story

Park Square Barristers, 4th June 2020

Source: www.parksquarebarristers.co.uk

Fake casting agent Daniel Berry groomed young girls on Facebook – BBC News

‘A “cunning” paedophile who posed as a casting agent on Facebook to lure young girls into sending indecent videos of themselves has been jailed.’

Full Story

BBC News, 10th June 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk