Barrister should not have been suspended for “robing room gossip” – Legal Futures

Posted August 17th, 2018 in barristers, disciplinary procedures, news, professional conduct by sally

‘An experienced barrister should not have been suspended for “mere gossip” in the robing rooms of Crown Courts, the High Court was told this week.’

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Legal Futures, 17th August 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Abuse victims increasingly denied right to stay in UK – The Guardian

‘The refusal rate for people applying to stay in the UK after suffering domestic violence more than doubled between 2012 and 2016 after the government pledged to make the UK a “hostile environment for illegal immigrants”.’

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The Guardian, 16th August 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Expert who sent first draft of evidence to solicitors “not a hired gun” – Litigation Futures

Posted August 17th, 2018 in drafting, evidence, expert witnesses, news, solicitors by sally

‘It was “a serious transgression” for an expert witness to make changes to his evidence after sending a first draft to his client’s solicitors, the High Court has ruled.’

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Litigation Futures, 16th August 2018

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Criminal prosecutions fall to record low despite crime reaching all-time high – Daily Telegraph

Posted August 17th, 2018 in crime, news, prosecutions, statistics by sally

‘Prosecutions have reached an all-time low despite crime soaring to a new record high, official Government figures reveal.’

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Daily Telegraph, 16th August 2018

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Prisoners face fresh crackdown on drugs, violence and phones – The Guardian

Posted August 17th, 2018 in drug abuse, news, prisons, telecommunications, violence by sally

‘Prisoners are to face a fresh crackdown on drugs, violence and smuggled mobile phones as part of a £10m drive to turn around 10 of the worst-performing jails in England.’

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The Guardian, 17th August 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘Child spies’ must have an appropriate adult present at meetings – The Guardian

Posted August 16th, 2018 in children, codes of practice, informers, news, police by sally

‘Children being used as informants must have an appropriate adult present in meetings with the authorities, revised official guidance says.’

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The Guardian, 15th August 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Town council rejects poll calling for funding of legal action where it is a defendant – Local Government Lawyer

Posted August 16th, 2018 in judicial review, local government, news, planning by sally

‘A Dorset town council has rejected the outcome of a parish poll that would see it take legal action against itself.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 15th August 2018

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Case Comment: R (Black) v Secretary of State for Justice [2017] UKSC 81 – UKSC Blog

‘Is the Crown is bound by the prohibition of smoking in most enclosed public places and workplaces, contained in Chapter 1 of Part 1 of the Health Act 2006?’

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UKSC Blog, 15th August 2018

Source: ukscblog.com

Tribunal allows capital allowances claim on hydro-electric scheme – OUT-LAW.com

Posted August 16th, 2018 in energy, news, taxation, tribunals by sally

‘Capital allowances were available on part of the expenditure incurred by energy company SSE on a hydro-electric scheme, the UK’s First-tier tax tribunal has decided.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 15th August 2018

Source: www.out-law.com

Businessman’s £3.5m estate challenged by infants – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted August 16th, 2018 in children, news, wills by sally

‘Solicitors have again warned on the importance of updating wills after a man’s estate was challenged by his young children – in an unusual case surrounding reasonable provision for infants.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 15th August 2018

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

High Court backs bankrupt barrister in fees battle – Legal Futures

Posted August 16th, 2018 in bankruptcy, barristers, disciplinary procedures, fees, fines, news by sally

‘Any fees not yet paid to a barrister at the time of his bankruptcy do not vest in his trustee in bankruptcy if they arise on a non-contractual basis, the High Court has ruled.’

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Legal Futures, 16th August 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

UK ‘Refusing Asylum To More Ex-Child Slaves Despite Safety Fears’ – Rights Info

Posted August 16th, 2018 in asylum, children, deportation, news, trafficking in human beings, young persons by sally

‘Many teenage survivors of modern slavery are being sent back to nations where they have no relatives and are again at risk of being targeted by traffickers, according to new data.’

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Rights Info, 15th August 2018

Source: rightsinfo.org

Upper Tribunal finds Equality Act exclusion discriminates against autistic children – Local Government Lawyer

Posted August 16th, 2018 in autism, children, disability discrimination, education, equality, news, tribunals by sally

‘The Upper Tribunal has held that regulations under the Equality Act 2010 excluding children who have a ‘tendency to physical abuse’ from its protection give rise to unlawful discrimination under Article 14 ECHR.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 15th August 2018

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Rashan Charles investigation finds officer’s failings were not deliberate – Independent Office for Police Conduct

‘An investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct into the incident in east London in July 2017 in which Rashan Charles died has found that the performance of the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) officer who restrained Mr Charles fell short of expected standards.’

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Independent Office for Police Conduct, 15th August 2018

Source: policeconduct.gov.uk

BBC calls on government to clarify privacy law – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted August 16th, 2018 in BBC, costs, freedom of expression, media, news, privacy, public interest by sally

‘The BBC today admitted that the way it reported the police raid on the home of Sir Cliff Richard will make it hard to persuade the Court of Appeal that the High Court was wrong to award the singer heavy damages last month for breach of privacy. Announcing that it will not seek leave to appeal the judgment in Sir Cliff Richard OBE v British Broadcasting Corporation the BBC called on the government to clarify the balance between the rights to privacy and free expression.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 15th August 2018

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Law firm closures up again after surge in rule breaches – Legal Futures

‘The number of law firms closed by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) rose by 35% last year to 50, it has emerged.’

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Legal Futures, 15th August 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Councils pay out more than £2m in compensation for pavement trips – Local Government Lawyer

Posted August 16th, 2018 in compensation, local government, news, personal injuries by sally

‘Councils last year paid £2.1m in compensation to pedestrians who tripped on pavements, according to freedom of information requests from motoring organisation the AA.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 15th August 2018

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Court of Appeal awards security for costs against Russian national – OUT-LAW.com

Posted August 16th, 2018 in appeals, costs, enforcement, news by sally

‘The Court of Appeal has ordered a Russian national to provide full security for the legal costs of a former business partner.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 15th August 2018

Source: www.out-law.com

Barrister permanently banned from direct access work – Legal Futures

Posted August 16th, 2018 in barristers, disciplinary procedures, disqualification, fines, news, recidivists by sally

‘A barrister already suspended multiple times by Bar disciplinary tribunals has been fined a total of £4,000 and permanently banned from direct access work.’

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Legal Futures, 16th August 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Lancashire man pleads guilty to infecting two women with HIV – The Guardian

Posted August 16th, 2018 in bail, grievous bodily harm, HIV, news by sally

‘A Lancashire man has pleaded guilty to infecting two women with HIV.’

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The Guardian, 15th August 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com