High Court: Gauke breached principle of judicial independence – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted August 13th, 2018 in judiciary, ministers' powers and duties, Ministry of Justice, news, parole by sally

‘The parole board’s tenure arrangements ‘continue to fail the test of objective independence’ – a High Court judge has said in a ruling that also critcised the actions of justice secretary David Gauke leading up to the departure of its former chair as ‘not acceptable’.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 10th August 2018

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Hunting conviction rates fall to all time low as campaigners say act is ‘in tatters’ – Daily Telegraph

Posted August 13th, 2018 in hunting, news, prosecutions, statistics by sally

‘Hunting conviction rates have fallen to all time low as a series of high profile cases have collapsed, it can be revealed.’

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Daily Telegraph, 10th August 2018

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Blockchain and AI “could underpin” future law firms – Legal Futures

‘A future where law firms are ‘distributed entities’ based on blockchain and smart contracts, and lawyers will add value by being “stronger” trusted advisers assisted by artificial intelligence, has been mapped out by futurologists.’

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Legal Futures, 13th August 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Dartford convicted killer jailed after paedophile hunter sting – BBC News

Posted August 13th, 2018 in child abuse, internet, news, sentencing, sexual grooming, sexual offences by sally

‘A convicted killer who was caught trying to meet a young girl for sex has been jailed.’

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BBC News, 10th August 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

QASA approaches black hole of no return – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted August 13th, 2018 in advocacy, criminal justice, news by sally

‘A divisive accreditation scheme for criminal advocates wishing to exercise rights of audience in the higher courts could be officially consigned to the history books as early as next week.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 10th August 2018

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Equality watchdog attacks Boris Johnson’s ‘inflammatory’ remarks – The Guardian

Posted August 13th, 2018 in complaints, disciplinary procedures, equality, Islam, news, political parties by sally

‘The equalities watchdog has branded Boris Johnson’s comments on the burqa “inflammatory and divisive”, but said it has no powers to launch an investigation.’

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The Guardian, 10th August 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Gambling operators can expect requests for data for research into harm – OUT-LAW.com

Posted August 13th, 2018 in consumer protection, gambling, news by sally

‘Gambling companies operating in Britain will be asked to disclose more data to help inform research into harmful play.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 10th August 2018

Source: www.out-law.com

The Intricacies of Proportionality – Katherine Barnes – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted August 13th, 2018 in criminal records, human rights, news, proportionality, Supreme Court by sally

‘The Supreme Court has given important guidance on the correct approach of the appellate courts to assessing proportionality under the ECHR. The main issue before the court was whether an Enhanced Criminal Record Certificate (“ECRC”) issued in respect of the appellant, AR, under s.113B of the Police Act 1997 is compatible with Article 8 of the Convention on Human Rights.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 12th August 2018

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Solicitors convicted of GBH and expenses fraud struck off – Legal Futures

Posted August 13th, 2018 in disciplinary procedures, expenses, fraud, grievous bodily harm, news, solicitors by sally

‘Solicitors convicted separately of head-butting another parent at a children’s rugby match and making fraudulent expenses claims to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) have both been struck off.’

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Legal Futures, 13th August 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Girl ‘locked away from the world’ and abused by her parents – BBC News

‘A couple who “systematically and regularly” abused their daughter while locking her away have been jailed.’

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BBC News, 10th August 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Campaigners await UK decision on abortion clinic buffer zones – The Guardian

Posted August 13th, 2018 in abortion, harassment, news by sally

‘Campaigners calling for buffer zones to prevent harassment and abuse of women accessing abortion centres are expecting a Home Office announcement within weeks.’

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The Guardian, 13th August 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Unconscious bias against women holding back ‘New Law’ – Legal Futures

Posted August 10th, 2018 in bias, legal profession, news, sex discrimination, women by sally

‘Unconscious bias in the legal profession against women is so deep-rooted that ‘New Law’ businesses trying to reshape legal services are just as affected, it has been claimed.’

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Legal Futures, 9th August 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Return of mutuals in the public sector? – New Law Journal

Posted August 10th, 2018 in local government, news by sally

‘Peter C. Young & Martin Fone discuss how risk mutuals can provide a cost-effective option for local authorities.’

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New Law Journal, 9th August 2018

Source: www.newlawjournal.co.uk

Vexatious ex-solicitor “said first thing that came into her head” – Legal Futures

Posted August 10th, 2018 in drafting, news, solicitors, vexatious litigants, wills, witnesses by sally

‘A struck-off solicitor called to give evidence over a will she drafted often said “the first thing that came into her without reflecting on whether it was correct”, the High Court has found.’

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Legal Futures, 9th August 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Government to trial citizens juries and mass online polls in local decision-making – Local Government Lawyer

Posted August 10th, 2018 in consultations, local government, news by sally

‘The government is to trial ways for people to take a more direct role in decisions that affect their local area, with proposals for “Citizens’ Juries” or mass participation in decision-making on community issues via an online poll or app.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 9th August 2018

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Service not included – Nearly Legal

Posted August 10th, 2018 in fees, houses in multiple occupation, housing, licensing, local government, news by sally

‘The issue was the level of fees charged by LB Richmond on Thames for an HMO licence. LB Richmond maintained that the fee level could be set at a level designed to cover not only the costs of processing his application but also to contribute towards the costs of LB Richmond running its HMO licensing scheme more generally, including enforcement. Mr G, the landlord, maintained that the fee could only be set at a level covering the costs of processing the application.’

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Nearly Legal, 9th August 2018

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Child abuse inquiry: School ‘reputations put before victims’ – BBC News

Posted August 10th, 2018 in child abuse, clergy, news, reports, school children, sexual offences by sally

‘Two leading Roman Catholic schools “prioritised monks and their own reputations over the protection of children”, a report says.’

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BBC News, 9th August 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

SRA outlines new concerns around holiday sickness claims – Legal Futures

‘More types of poor conduct by claimant solicitors in the holiday sickness market have been uncovered, their regulator has warned.’

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Legal Futures, 10th August 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Overheard pub talk “showed solicitor’s redundancy was bogus” – Legal Futures

‘A long-serving solicitor has been allowed to use a leaked internal email and overheard pub conversation as evidence for a discrimination claim against his former firm.’

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Legal Futures, 10th August 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Success of court disclosure reforms requires ‘cultural change’ – OUT-LAW.com

Posted August 10th, 2018 in civil procedure rules, disclosure, documents, news by sally

‘Plans to overhaul document disclosure in the courts in England and Wales have been approved by the Civil Procedure Rule Committee (CPRC).’

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OUT-LAW.com, 8th August 2018

Source: www.out-law.com