Tighter regulation of cryptoassets coming in the UK – OUT-LAW.com

‘The regulation of cryptoassets is likely to get tighter in the UK, starting from next year, according to a new report by a body tasked with exploring whether new rules are needed to address their growing popularity.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 31st October 2018

Source: www.out-law.com

Inspectors warn of worsening conditions for mentally ill inmates – The Guardian

Posted November 1st, 2018 in delay, hospitals, mental health, news, prisons by sally

‘Mentally ill prisoners in the largest high-security jail in the UK face “totally unacceptable” delays in being transferred to a secure hospital, leading to a further deterioration in their conditions, inspectors have said.’

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The Guardian, 1st November 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

BREXIT: UK employers must check EU citizens’ right to work in UK – OUT-LAW.com

Posted November 1st, 2018 in brexit, EC law, employment, freedom of movement, immigration, news, pilot schemes by sally

‘A UK government minister has said the onus will be on employers to ensure that EU citizens have the right to work in the UK after the withdrawal from the EU in March next year.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 1st November 2018

Source: www.out-law.com

Council rejects claims it used wrong boundary over planning application – Local Government Lawyer

‘City and County of Swansea Council has rejected an allegation that it used the wrong boundary to appraise a planning application that affects the Gower area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB).’

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Local Government Lawyer, 31st October 2018

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Barristers becoming as vulnerable to cyber-attacks as solicitors – Legal Futures

‘Increased use of technology at the Bar and in the court system has left barristers as vulnerable to cyber-attacks as solicitors, the Bar Standards Board (BSB) has warned.’

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Legal Futures, 1st November 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

New Judgment: Dooneen Ltd (t/a McGinness Associates) & Anor v Mond [2018] UKSC 54 – UKSC Blog

Posted November 1st, 2018 in appeals, compensation, debts, insurance, news, Supreme Court, trustees in bankruptcy by sally

‘This appeal considered the construction of the expression ‘final distribution’ in a voluntary trust deed for creditors, and whether this includes a distribution made when the creditors receive less than 100 pence in the pound and there remain (following that distribution) assets vested in the trustee, albeit the trustee is unaware of their existence.’

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UKSC Blog, 31st October 2018

Source: ukscblog.com

You ain’t the boss of me (yet) – Nearly Legal

‘When a section 21 notice is served, does the party serving it (or on whose behalf it is served) have to be the tenant’s landlord at that time?’

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Nearly Legal, 31st October 2018

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Criminal law not keeping pace with digital world – report – The Guardian

‘Online communications law is incoherent and fails to protect victims of abuse from harassment such as “deepfake” pornography, according to a report by the Law Commission.’

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The Guardian, 1st November 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Fears over pre-teens being exposed to inappropriate adverts online, as regulators step up controls – Daily Telegraph

Posted November 1st, 2018 in advertising, alcohol abuse, children, food, gambling, health, internet, news, ombudsmen by sally

‘Pre-teens are being targeted with adverts for inappropriate alcohol and gambling, the chief executive of the advertising regulator has warned, as he called on social media firms to do more to protect children.’

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Daily Telegraph, 1st November 2018

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

AI will prompt new contract law, says Supreme Court judge – OUT-LAW.com

‘Contract law will need to be updated, and new civil liability rules considered, to account for the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in financial services, a senior UK judge has said.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 30th October 2018

Source: www.out-law.com

Acid attacks: offenders face jail for possession without licence – The Guardian

Posted November 1st, 2018 in assault, hazardous substances, licensing, news, sentencing by sally

‘Possessing potentially lethal acid without a licence is now a criminal offence, with offenders facing a two-year prison sentence.’

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The Guardian, 1st November 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Firm terminated retainer “without notice or good reason” – Litigation Futures

Posted October 31st, 2018 in fees, indemnities, insurance, law firms, news, notification, winding up by sally

‘A law firm’s decision to terminate its retainer without notice to the client – because it was closing down – was unreasonable and it could not claim the fees due before then, the High Court has ruled.’

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Litigation Futures, 31st October 2018

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Ombudsman criticises council for housing 17 year old on campsite – Local Government Lawyer

Posted October 31st, 2018 in homelessness, housing, local government, news, ombudsmen, young persons by sally

‘Cornwall Council has admitted that accommodating a homeless youth on a campsite “went on for too long”, after criticism from the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 31st October 2018

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

‘Controlling bully’ gets 23 years for Haringey wife murder – BBC News

Posted October 31st, 2018 in domestic violence, murder, news, sentencing by sally

‘A “controlling bully” who strangled his wife and then stabbed her 49 times in front of her young son has been jailed for a minimum of 23 years for her murder.’

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BBC News, 29th October 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Stephen Tierney: Governing Northern Ireland without an Executive: Quick Fix or Constitutional Minefield? – UK Constitutional Law Association

Posted October 31st, 2018 in bills, civil servants, constitutional law, news, Northern Ireland, public interest by sally

‘The Northern Ireland (Executive Formation and Exercise of Functions) Bill, which arrives in the House of Lords today, is set to be enacted by way of fast-track legislative procedure this week. The Bill intends to facilitate the formation of an Executive in Northern Ireland while providing for the exercise of executive functions by civil servants in the interim. In effect, the Bill suspends the statutory duty on the Secretary of State to call a Northern Ireland Assembly election. This is little more than a continuation of the present situation in which the UK Government has kept administration in Northern Ireland ticking over since March 2017. Much more controversially, the Bill gives civil servants within Northern Ireland departments general powers for the administration of Northern Ireland, introducing a public interest test for the exercise of these powers.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 30th October 2018

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

Removing blame from divorce will make it easier for separating couples to achieve a settlement – Family Law

Posted October 31st, 2018 in dispute resolution, divorce, news by sally

‘There is a sense of irony, perhaps even comedy, in a situation that sees government Ministers looking to make the process of divorce simpler – at the very time they’re struggling to come to terms with Brexit: the most complex divorce that UK policy makers have ever faced.’

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Family Law, 31st October 2018

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

Guidance issued to court staff on supporting media access – Transparency Project

Posted October 31st, 2018 in courts, media, news, reporting restrictions by sally

‘This week the Ministry of Justice issued Guidance to staff on supporting media access to courts and tribunals as “part of a wider effort to build stronger working relationships between courts and the press and maintain the principle of open justice as we increasingly digitise court services.”’

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Transparency Project, 28th October 2018

Source: www.transparencyproject.org.uk

MPs and peers demand changes to Mental Capacity (Amendment) Bill – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Mental Capacity (Amendment) Bill requires further changes to protect the human rights of vulnerable people, MPs and peers have warned.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 31st October 2018

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Repairing patented equipment – what is allowed? – Technology Law Update

Posted October 31st, 2018 in news, patents, repairs by sally

‘The owner of an item embodying patented technology is allowed to have the item repaired, but if the repairing goes too far it can stray into “making” the item and infringe the patent. A recent ruling explores the boundary between making and repairing, providing some helpful pointers in relation to complex products.’

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Technology Law Update, 30th October 2018

Source: www.technology-law-blog.co.uk

Solicitor paid B&B and caravan park income into client account – Legal Futures

Posted October 31st, 2018 in client accounts, disciplinary procedures, fines, news, solicitors by sally

‘A solicitor who paid over £100,000 in income from her bed and breakfast and caravan park businesses into her firm’s client account has been fined £15,000 by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT).’

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Legal Futures, 30th October 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk