Bar delays ‘anti-abuse’ written contracts for pupils – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted September 17th, 2019 in barristers, codes of practice, contracts, delay, news, pupillage, standards by tracey

‘The bar regulator has delayed the introduction of compulsory written pupillage agreements which could tackle the “abusive” treatment of pupils.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 16th September 2019

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

BSB passes regulatory test on advocacy quality – Legal Futures

‘The Legal Services Board (LSB) has said the Bar Standards Board (BSB) now meets the standard it set for improving the quality of advocacy – unlike the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and CILEx Regulation (CR), whose work is ongoing.’

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Legal Futures, 3rd September 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

County to pay mother £24k after Ombudsman report into overcrowding and failure to comply with care order – Local Government Lawyer

Posted September 3rd, 2019 in care orders, compensation, delay, families, housing, local government, news, ombudsmen, standards by sally

‘A county council has agreed to pay £24,000 after a Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman investigation into a case where a mother of three, who also took on the care of her two grandchildren, had to sleep on a mattress in her living room for more than 10 years because the local authority did not deliver the support it had agreed to.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 29th August 2019

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

High Court refers law firm to SRA over “bogus claims” – Legal Futures

Posted September 3rd, 2019 in immigration, law firms, news, Solicitors Regulation Authority, standards by sally

‘The High Court has referred an immigration law firm to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) after complaining about “wholly bogus claims are advanced by firms of solicitors who are either inexpert or incompetent, or where the staff are not properly supervised”.’

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Legal Futures, 3rd September 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

CBA chief criticises senior judiciary over wellbeing failure – Legal Futures

‘The outgoing chair of the Criminal Bar Association (CBA) has criticised senior judges for failing to follow their Family Division colleagues in adopting email and sitting hours protocols to aid wellbeing.’

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Legal Futures, 29th August 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Investigation prompts rapid upgrades to asylum seekers’ homes – The Guardian

‘Hundreds of asylum seekers crammed into a network of “guest houses” provided by a Home Office contractor that are overrun by cockroaches, rats and mice have seen a raft of improvements in the past few days after the Guardian exposed their dire living conditions.’

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The Guardian, 27th August 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Inspectors play down CPS correspondence failings – Crown Prosecution Service

Posted August 13th, 2019 in case management, Crown Prosecution Service, delay, news, solicitors, standards by tracey

‘The Crown Prosecution Service deals with defence correspondence quickly, according to inspectors in a report published today which, they say, “somewhat undermines” solicitors’ claims that letters go unanswered.’

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Crown Prosecution Service, 13th August 2019

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Written pupillage agreements may help counter “shocking abuse” – Legal Futures

Posted August 5th, 2019 in barristers, legal education, news, pupillage, quality assurance, standards by tracey

‘Requiring chambers to enter into written agreements with pupils may help to counter “shocking” instances of abusive treatment, the Bar Council has said.’

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Legal Futures, 5th August 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Junior doctors win “significant victory” in rest breaks appeal – Local Government Lawyer

Posted August 1st, 2019 in appeals, doctors, health & safety, news, precedent, standards, trade unions by tracey

‘Junior doctors in Derby have won a ‘precedent setting’ Court of Appeal case over the monitoring of rest breaks.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 31st July 2019

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

CQC places two Priory Group hospitals in special measures – The Guardian

Posted July 30th, 2019 in hospitals, mental health, news, quality assurance, standards by sally

Two hospitals run by the Priory Group have been placed in special measures in a fresh controversy over state-funded private contractors’ treatment of people with mental illness or learning disabilities.

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The Guardian, 30th July 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Army criticised for ‘organisational failings’ over death of soldier – The Guardian

Posted July 26th, 2019 in armed forces, bereavement, families, health & safety, inquests, news, standards by tracey

‘The father of a soldier who collapsed and died during a fitness test on a hot summer’s day has said there were organisational failings in the way the exercise was run.’

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The Guardian, 25th July 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

UK Heatwave: What Are Your Rights At Work? – Rights Info

‘With temperatures soaring in the UK, workplaces can become uncomfortable and, some argue, downright dangerous. While some may sit smugly in air-conditioned offices, others are not so lucky. What are your workplace rights when the mercury rises?’

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Rights Info, 24th July 2019

Source: rightsinfo.org

Minister urged to intervene over Feltham youth jail violence – The Guardian

‘Urgent intervention is needed at Feltham young offender institution, the chief inspector of prisons has warned, after a review uncovered rocketing levels of violence and self-harm.’

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The Guardian, 24th July 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Report calls for better regulation of criminal defence work – Legal Futures

Posted July 23rd, 2019 in advocacy, criminal justice, fees, news, standards by sally

‘An “effective system” is needed for monitoring the quality of criminal defence lawyers, a report by charity Transform Justice has found.’

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Legal Futures, 23rd July 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Body-worn cameras to be compulsory for bailiffs – BBC News

Body-worn cameras are to be compulsory for bailiffs under government plans to improve the treatment of people in debt.

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BBC News, 22nd July 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Tenants will be given access to rogue landlord database – The Guardian

‘Campaigners have welcomed government plans to open up its rogue landlord database to prospective tenants, as part of proposals to give greater protection to renters.’

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The Guardian, 21st July 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Code aims to improve standard of private prosecutions – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted July 18th, 2019 in codes of practice, news, private prosecutions, solicitors, standards by tracey

‘Lawyers advising clients in the controversial area of private prosecutions have published a code that aims to improve the standard of prosecutions and increase judicial understanding of the process.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 18th July 2019

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Prisoner release checks ‘put public at risk’ – chief inspector – BBC News

Posted July 10th, 2019 in health & safety, mental health, news, prisons, standards, statistics, suicide by sally

‘The safety of the public is being put at risk by thousands of prisoners being released without proper assessments, the government has been told.’

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BBC News, 9th July 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Jury returns damning conclusion at inquest of Andrew Brown at HMP Nottingham – Garden Court Chambers

Posted July 4th, 2019 in health & safety, inquests, juries, mental health, news, prisons, standards, suicide by sally

‘The inquest into the death of Andrew Brown has concluded on 26 June with the jury finding that a series of damning failings by HMP Nottingham contributed to his death.’

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Garden Court Chambers, 27th June 2019

Source: www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk

Critical conclusion at inquest of Leroy Junior Medford – Garden Court Chambers

‘After two weeks of evidence, the inquest into the death of Junior Medford, who died whilst in the care of Thames Valley police officers at London Valley Police Station on 2 April 2017, concluded yesterday afternoon (27 June 2019) with the jury returning a highly critical narrative conclusion identifying individual and systemic failures.’

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Garden Court Chambers, 28th June 2019

Source: www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk