South Wales police lose landmark facial recognition case – The Guardian

‘Campaigners are calling for South Wales police and other forces to stop using facial recognition technology after the court of appeal ruled that its use breached privacy rights and broke equalities law.’

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The Guardian, 11th August 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Discrimination and ‘No DSS’ – Nearly Legal

‘As we have seen before, Shelter have been supporting discrimination claims under the Equality Act 2010 against letting agents who operate a ‘No DSS’ policy (meaning a refusal to even consider people claiming housing related benefits – who are often employed – as applicants for tenancies. The DSS ceased to exist in 2001, which suggests how longstanding this issue is). These claims all settled out of court. Now a claim has gone to judgment.’

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Nearly Legal, 14th July 2020

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

‘No DSS’ letting bans ‘ruled unlawful’ by court – BBC News

‘A judge has ruled that blanket bans on renting properties to people on housing benefit are unlawful and discriminatory. The “momentous” court ruling found a single mother-of-two had experienced indirect discrimination when a letting agent refused to rent to her.’

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BBC News, 14th July 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Denial of women’s concerns contributed to decades of medical scandals, says inquiry – The Guardian

Posted July 8th, 2020 in equality, inquiries, medical treatment, news, sex discrimination, women by sally

‘An arrogant culture in which serious medical complications were dismissed as “women’s problems” contributed to a string of healthcare scandals over several decades, an inquiry ordered by the government has found.’

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The Guardian, 8th July 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Top female lawyers’ careers squeezed by bias and harassment – Legal Futures

‘The role of discrimination on the part of both general counsel and clients in disadvantaging female lawyers was revealed yesterday by a survey on improving diversity at partner level in law firms.’

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Legal Futures, 1st July 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Solicitor claimant backtracks on request for male judge – Legal Futures

‘An employment tribunal has rejected claims of bias by a solicitor claimant who asked and then retracted a request to replace a female judge with a male one.’

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Legal Futures, 23rd June 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

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.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 19th June 2020

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Where are my black sisters? The intersection of religion, race and gender in the AAP legal community – Garden Court North Chambers

‘I am a hijabi (head-scarf wearing Muslim) Palestinian-British lawyer who has worked in the progressive Inquests/Actions Against the Police (AAP) field for the past 7 years. I started out as a paralegal, became a solicitor and am now a pupil barrister. I have met, or know of, many of the lawyers whose talent and (often unpaid) hard work props up this niche but vital corner of the legal system. Working as an AAP lawyer is beyond rewarding and the people you get to meet, clients and colleagues, are inspiring. As a hijabi AAP lawyer, this area can also be isolating and unwelcoming at times.’

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Garden Court North Chambers, 15th June 2020

Source: gcnchambers.co.uk

Bar students urge online exams rethink – Legal Futures

‘Bar professional training course (BPTC) students have told the Bar Standards Board (BSB) that its plans for online examinations risk discriminating against women, carers and the disabled.’

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Legal Futures, 2nd June 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Equal Pay Act: Why Are Women And Minorities Still Paid Unfairly 50 Years On? – Each Other

‘“Whether it’s being denied flexible working and having to work fewer hours as a result, or finding out you’re paid £3,000 less than a white man with the same job title and fewer responsibilities; it’s always crushing being treated worse than your peers.”

Those are the words of Sophia Moreau, who has experienced unequal pay repeatedly throughout her late teens and early 20s. The journalist and campaigner said that she has come to a “sad realisation” that, as a black woman, she cannot expect fair treatment.’

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Each Other, 29th May 2020

Source: eachother.org.uk

29,000 claims a year despite 50 years since Equal Pay Act – The Guardian

‘A consistently high number of workers are alleging that their employers are illegally paying them less than colleagues in similar roles, according to research released to mark the 50th anniversary of the Equal Pay Act.’

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The Guardian, 25th May 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Female barristers warn of “disproportionate attrition” during Covid-19 – Legal Futures

‘Female barristers have urged the courts and chambers to take action to avoid the coronavirus crisis leading to “further and disproportionate attrition of women from the Bar”.’

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Legal Futures, 20th May 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

PPE & sex discrimination claims – Cloisters

‘The media is currently saturated with reports concerning the absence of adequate Personal Protective Equipment (‘PPE’) in clinical settings. To date, commentators have understandably focused on the extent to which employers may be breaching health and safety legislation by failing to provide staff with PPE and whether staff are protected under whistleblowing legislation if they speak out. Moreover, this month two doctors launched an urgent legal challenge to guidance by NHS England on PPE. In this blog, Dee Masters and Jen Danvers look at a different aspect to the PPE debate, namely whether there is scope for sex discrimination claims arising from equipment which has been designed to fit the average man rather than their female colleagues.’

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Cloisters, 29th April 2020

Source: www.cloisters.com

Leading forensic scientist wins sex discrimination case – Daily Telegraph

‘One of Britain’s leading forensic scientists was a victim of sexual discrimination after she was asked by her boss whether she disliked him because she was gay, an employment tribunal has ruled.’

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Daily Telegraph, 23rd April 2020

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

One in seven female solicitors suffer bullying or discrimination – Legal Futures

‘One in seven female solicitors have experienced bullying, discrimination and harassment in the workplace over the past year, Law Society research has revealed.’

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Legal Futures, 16th April 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

McNeil v HMRC- Old Square Chambers

‘This case concerned an equal pay claim brought by several women employed by HMRC. The pay system implemented by HMRC in respect of the claimants was one which employees moved through the pay band for their grade, from a fixed minimum up to a fixed maximum, by different amounts each year, without any fixed increments but with the amount of any increase depending on the pay award for the particular year. As a result of the way this system operated, one factor relevant to where an employee was within the band, was length of service: the longer an employee had been employed in the band, the more opportunities s/he would have had to move up towards the maximum.’

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Old Square Chambers, 12th March 2020

Source: www.oldsquare.co.uk

Barrister fails in appeal over “seriously offensive” tweet – Legal Futures

‘The High Court has upheld the reprimand and fine issued to a barrister who sent a “seriously offensive” tweet in a private capacity that was “racially charged and derogatory to women”.’

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Legal Futures, 2nd March 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Legal victories over ‘No DSS’ letting agents – BBC News

Posted February 27th, 2020 in benefits, landlord & tenant, news, sex discrimination by tracey

‘The battle against the discriminatory practice of landlords not renting to benefit claimants has intensified after legal victories by two single mothers.’

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BBC News, 26th February 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Samira Ahmed and BBC reach equal pay settlement – Daily Telegraph

‘Samira Ahmed and the BBC have reached a settlement after the presenter won her equal pay claim against the corporation.’

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Daily Telegraph, 24th February 2020

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Equitable briefing – Counsel

Posted February 19th, 2020 in barristers, diversity, equality, news, sex discrimination, statistics, women by sally

‘Talent is everywhere, opportunity is not: why equitable briefing is the most pressing practice issue for the Bar in 2020 – writes Lucy Barbet.’

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Counsel, February 2020

Source: www.counselmagazine.co.uk