Offences against the person – modernising the law on violence – Law Commission

Posted November 6th, 2015 in assault, Law Commission, press releases, violence by tracey

‘New rules are needed to tackle violent offences and make better use of court time, according to the Law Commission.’

Full press release

Law Commission, 3rd November 2015

Source: www.justice.gov.uk/lawcommission

Let magistrates deal with more assault cases, says law reform body – The Guardian

Posted November 3rd, 2015 in assault, courts, Law Commission, legislation, magistrates, news, reports, violence by sally

‘Magistrates courts should be empowered to deal with thousands more assault charges every year rather than sending too many cases for expensive trial in the crown court, the Law Commission has said.’

Full story

The Guardian, 3rd November 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Reform violent crime laws and re-name GBH and ABH offences, say experts – Daily Telegraph

Posted November 3rd, 2015 in assault, crime, Law Commission, legislation, news, reports, violence by sally

”Archaic’ language on violent crime dating back more than 150 years must be updated, says Law Commission.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 3rd November 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Reforming intellectual property law – Government consultation – Law Commission

Posted October 29th, 2015 in bills, consultations, intellectual property, Law Commission, news by sally

‘The Intellectual Property Office has opened a consultation to assess whether there would be sufficient stakeholder support to introduce our Intellectual Property (Unjustified Threats) Bill into Parliament using the special procedure reserved for uncontroversial Law Commission Bills.’

Full story

Law Commission, 23rd October 2015

Source: www.lawcom.gov.uk

Protecting retirement flat owners from hidden fees – a consultation – Law Commission

Posted October 29th, 2015 in consultations, fees, housing, Law Commission, leases, news, retirement by sally

‘In a consultation opening today we look at what can be done to protect owners of retirement flats and their families from unexpected charges hidden in leases.’

Full story

Law Commission, 29th October 2015

Source: www.lawcom.gov.uk

Finance & Divorce Update October 2015 – Family Law Week

‘Edward Heaton, Principal Associate and Jane Booth, Associate, both of Mills & Reeve LLP analyse the news and case law relating to financial remedies and divorce during September 2015.’

Full story

Family Law Week, 11th October 2015

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Tightening the payout rules for business insurance – Law Commission

Posted September 18th, 2015 in bills, damages, delay, insurance, Law Commission, press releases by tracey

‘Businesses can suffer serious loss if insurance companies delay paying claims. But under Law Commission reforms introduced into Parliament today, insurers would be obliged to make prompt payment or face a claim for damages.’

Full press release

Law Commission, 16th September 2015

Source: www.justice.gov.uk/lawcommission

Unfair law fails to protect logbook loan consumers – Law Commission

‘Logbook loan borrowers have too little protection – and those who unwittingly buy cars subject to logbook loans have none at all. Today the Law Commission opens a consultation to reform the archaic law underlying logbook loans – the “Bills of Sale Acts” – which remains unchanged since Victorian times.’

Full story

Law Commission, 9th Spetember 2015

Source: www.justice.gov.uk/lawcommission

Enforce family court orders but don’t jail debtors – Society – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted August 13th, 2015 in debts, enforcement, family courts, imprisonment, Law Commission, Law Society, news by sally

‘The Law Society has called for simpler procedures to enforce family financial orders and said creditors should be armed with more information.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 12th August 2015

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

The law in Wales – making it clearer, more modern and easier to use – Law Commission

Posted July 14th, 2015 in consultations, Law Commission, press releases, Wales by tracey

‘Throughout the UK the law can be difficult for professionals and the public to find and understand. The volume of legislation in England and Wales, the number of amendments and the way in which legislation is presented, make it increasingly difficult to find out what the law is and what it means. In Wales, the process of devolution has made matters even more complicated. In a consultation opening on 9 July the Law Commission is asking what can be done to simplify legislation relating to Wales and make it more accessible.’

Full press release

Law Commission, 9th July 2015

Source: www.lawcom.gov.uk

Providing protective care to people unable to consent to treatment – Law Commission

‘The Mental Capacity Act aims to protect people who lack mental capacity but need to be deprived of liberty in order to receive appropriate care and treatment in hospitals and care homes. But the safeguards are not meaningful for disabled and older people and their families, local councils and the NHS are struggling to meet their obligations under the law, and people who live in other settings – such as supported living – are being left unprotected.’

Full story

Law Commission, 7th July 2015

Source: www.lawcom.gov.uk

Patel v Mirza: Illegal Cats and a Place of Repentance – Family Law Week

‘John Wilson QC of 1 Hare Court analyses a Court of Appeal judgment on the illegality defence which may prove very pertinent to cohabitation and financial remedy cases.’

Full story

Family Law Week, 15th April 2015

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Government accepts case to exempt lawyers from ‘groundless threats’ laws – Legal Futures

‘Lawyers who act on instructions in threatening potential intellectual property infringers with action are to be exempt from being sued when the threat turns out to be groundless, after the government recently gave the go-ahead for law reforms.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 13th April 2015

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Are too few convictions overturned? – BBC News

‘There is room for argument over whether the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) is too cautious in referring suspected miscarriages of justice to the Court of Appeal, as the Commons Justice Committee has said.’

Full story

BBC News, 27th March 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

The Insurance Act 2015: practical changes for insurers to consider – OUT-LAW.com

Posted March 25th, 2015 in contracts, disclosure, fraud, insurance, Law Commission, legislation, news, Scotland by sally

‘The 2015 Insurance Act will, subject to an 18-month transition period, introduce what the UK government has described as “the biggest reform to insurance contract law in more than a century”.’

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, March 2015

Source: www.out-law.com

Enforcing family financial orders – Law Commission

Posted March 19th, 2015 in consultations, enforcement, financial provision, Law Commission, news by sally

‘Every year, thousands of separating couples apply to the courts for financial orders, either because they cannot agree or to turn an agreement into an order so as to make it enforceable. The courts can order a person to make financial provision for a former spouse or civil partner. Sometimes the courts also make orders for the benefit of the children. The orders are made to help make sure that the needs of both partners and their children are met and, where possible, to maintain their living standards.’

Full story

Law Commission, 11th March 2015

Source: www.lawcommission.justice.gov.uk

Juliet Wells: Reforming Electoral Law: a Comment on the Law Commission’s Joint Consultation Paper – UK Constitutional Law Association

Posted February 25th, 2015 in constitutional law, elections, Law Commission, news, reports by sally

‘Electoral policy is constantly on the march. Given that the rules prescribing the voting systems to be used in different elections, the extent of the franchise, constituency boundaries, and eligibility to stand play a major part in shaping government and the broader exercise of public power by those within it, it is hardly surprising that macro-electoral policy regularly appears as the subject of vigorous political debates. There are, indeed, no less than seven Bills (including Private Members’ Bills) currently before Parliament relating to significant aspects of the voting system in the UK – including the Recall of MPs Bill, the Voting Age (Comprehensive Reduction) Bill, the Voting (Civic Obligation) Bill, and the Overseas Voters Bill. Other key issues at the forefront of public discussion include proposed changes to the voting system itself, especially in an era of party proliferation, and the suggested inclusion of ‘None of the Above’ as an option on ballot papers, as one response to entrenched (and seemingly increasing) popular disengagement from politics.’

Full story

UK Constitutional Law Association, 25th February 2015

Source: www.ukconstitutionallaw.org

Reforming Electoral Law – UCL Constitution Unit

Posted February 23rd, 2015 in consultations, elections, Law Commission, news, referendums by sally

‘Electoral law in the UK has grown complex, voluminous, and fragmented, with many statutes and secondary legislation governing a long list of elections and referendums. The twin aims of the project are to ensure, first, that electoral laws are presented within a rational, modern legislative framework, governing all elections and referendums under statute; and second, that the law governing the conduct of elections and referendums is modern, simple, and fit for purpose. The Law Commission have recently published the Electoral Law Consultation Paper, which sets out provisional proposals and consultation questions for reform of electoral law.’

Henni Ouahes – Reforming Electoral Law

Nicholas Paines QC – Reforming Electoral Law

UCL Constitution Unit, 28th February 2015

Source: www.ucl.ac.uk/constitution-unit

Law Commission to codify sentencing procedure – Law Commission

Posted January 27th, 2015 in consultations, Law Commission, news, sentencing by sally

‘Modern sentencing procedure is complex, and the law that governs it is unclear and difficult to understand.’

Full story

Law Commission, 26th January 2015

Source: www.lawcommission.justice.gov.uk

Reforming electoral law across the UK – UK Constitutional Law Association

Posted December 12th, 2014 in consultations, elections, Law Commission, news, referendums by sally

‘In a consultation opening today the Law Commissions of England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland set out provisional proposals for reforming the law that governs the conduct of elections and referendums across the UK.’

Full story

UK Constitutional Law Association, 12th December 2014

Source: www.ukconstitutionallaw.org