Council was entitled to refuse disclosure of planning documents, tribunal rules – OUT-LAW.com

‘The First-Tier Tribunal has dismissed an appeal and held that following a freedom of information request Aylesbury Vale District Council was entitled to refuse disclosure of correspondence between its solicitor and the planning department.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 9th July 2015

Source: www.out-law.com

Supreme Court overturns key Court of Appeal decision on ordinary residence – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Supreme Court has rejected a Court of Appeal ruling on who has financial responsibility for the care of an adult with physical and learning disabilities, instead ruling that the local authority initially responsible for meeting his needs as a child should be responsible for his care after the age of 18.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 9th July 2015

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Judge was wrong to accuse solicitors of exaggerating bill, Court of Appeal rules – Litigation Futures

‘The High Court was wrong to strike out a claim over unpaid fees brought by a firm of solicitors on the basis of alleged exaggeration and inaccurate sums, without hearing any witnesses, the Court of Appeal has ruled.’

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Litigation Futures, 9th July 2015

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Jackson issues costs penalty for bundle that proved an “obstacle course” – Litigation Futures

Posted July 10th, 2015 in appeals, civil procedure rules, construction industry, costs, judges, news by sally

‘The bundle prepared for the Court of Appeal should be an aid, “not an obstacle course”, Lord Justice Jackson has said in ruling that no party in a case before him would be entitled to recover the costs of preparing it.’

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Litigation Futures, 10the July 2015

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Family Law Week’s Budget Briefing, July 2015 – Family Law Week

‘Richard Holme, Chartered Accountant of Creaseys, a firm which specialises in advising family lawyers on tax related family law issues, explains the Budget changes of most relevance to family lawyers.’

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Family Law Week, 8th July 2015

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Greater Transparency in Children Proceedings: A Note of Caution – Family Law week

‘Tom Wilson, pupil barrister at 1 Garden Court Family Law Chambers, examines the arguments in favour of greater transparency in the family justice system but sounds a note of caution.’

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Family Law Week, 9th July 2015

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Gove promises action on criminal referral fees – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The lord chancellor is to crack down on the banned practice of referral fees in criminal proceedings.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 9th July 2015

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Safety of Tasers to be investigated after death of man in Manchester – The Guardian

Posted July 10th, 2015 in firearms, health & safety, inquests, inquiries, news, police, statistics by sally

‘An independent inquiry is to look into the continued use of Taser stun guns by police in England and Wales after an inquest verdict earlier this week linking their use to the death of a factory worker in Manchester.’

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The Guardian, 9th July 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Disney wins starwars.co.uk net domain battle – BBC News

‘A Berkshire-based fancy-dress retailer is being made to surrender the starwars.co.uk web address after feeling the force of Disney’s wrath.’

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BBC News, 9th July 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Royal Household will fall in sights of £100m child sex abuse inquiry – Daily Telegraph

‘The child sex abuse inquiry is set to last five years and cost up to £100 million, it has been confirmed, as it emerged the Royal Household will not be exempt from scrutiny over paedophile allegations.’

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Daily Telegraph, 9th July 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Suspended chief constable found guilty of eight misconduct charges – The Guardian

‘A chief constable suspended for a more than a year after being accused of “inappropriate advances” to women has been found guilty of eight charges of misconduct but is to be allowed to return to work.’

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The Guardian, 9th July 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Sainsbury’s faces equal pay battle with female shop floor workers – The Guardian

‘Sainsbury’s is facing legal action from four female shopfloor workers who claim they are paid less than men to do equally valuable jobs at the supermarket chain.
The case, which will be the subject of a preliminary hearing at a Birmingham employment tribunal on Friday, comes as a similar legal action involving 6,000 female Asda employees remains to be settled.’

Full story

The Guardian, 9th July 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Legal aid restrictions for domestic abuse loosened – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted July 9th, 2015 in domestic violence, evidence, legal aid, news, regulations, trials, victims by sally

‘The government has loosened a controversial restriction preventing some victims of domestic abuse from accessing legal aid.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 8th July 2015

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Baby ashes consultation to go ahead, minister confirms – BBC News

‘A consultation about baby cremations in England and Wales will take place later this year, Justice Minister Caroline Dinenage has said.’

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BBC News, 8th July 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

The innovation game – Legal Futures

Posted July 9th, 2015 in alternative business structures, law firms, legal services, news by sally

‘Innovation is a word much bandied around in the law – on this website more than most – without always a crystal clear idea of what it means.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 7th July 2015

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Bar student who failed single module loses JR over having to retake entire BPTC – Legal Futures

Posted July 9th, 2015 in barristers, examinations, legal education, news, proportionality by sally

‘A mature Bar student has lost a judicial review against the Bar Standards Board (BSB) after a two-time failure to pass a single module on opinion writing meant he in turn failed the Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC) and would have to take entire course again before moving onto pupillage.’
Full story

Legal Futures, 8th July 2015

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Do Young Thugs have Human Rights? The Supreme Court has a Riot – Panopticon

‘Following a period of considered reflection, or laziness depending on one’s view, it is worth noting the decision of the Supreme Court in In the matter of an application by JR38 for Judicial Review [2015] UKSC 42. The case is all about Article 8 ECHR, and is of particular interest because of the dispute about the breadth of the correct test for the engagement of Article 8. The context is also one which will be familiar to English data protection and privacy lawyers: the publication by the police of photographs seeking to identify a suspect. If anyone remembers that famous picture of a youth in a hoodie pointing his fingers like a gun behind an awkward looking David Cameron, JR38 is basically that, but with Molotov cocktails and a sprinkling of sectarian hatred.’

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Panopticon, 9th July 2015

Source: www.panopticonblog.com

English votes for English laws plan ‘to be rewritten’ – BBC News

Posted July 9th, 2015 in bills, devolution, news, parliament by sally

‘Commons leader Chris Grayling says the government is rewriting its plans to give England’s MPs a veto over English laws, with a vote delayed to September.’

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BBC News, 9th July 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

10 quirks of Sunday opening – BBC News

Posted July 9th, 2015 in news, Sunday trading by sally

‘Chancellor George Osborne is planning to relax a 21-year-old law about shopping on a Sunday. Here are 10 quirks of Sunday trading.’

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BBC News, 8th July 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Legal Aid boycott ‘causing chaos’ – BBC News

‘Lawyers who are boycotting legal aid work in protest against cuts say their action is causing “chaos” in some courts and police custody suites.’

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BBC News, 8th July 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk