Compulsory purchase review to ensure laws are fit for future development projects – Law Commission

Posted February 13th, 2023 in compulsory purchase, Law Commission, local government, news by tracey

‘The Law Commission of England and Wales has announced that it will begin a review of the legislation governing compulsory purchase, in order to make the law simpler, consistent and more accessible.’

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Law Commission, 6th February 2022

Source: www.lawcom.gov.uk

People smuggling gang jailed for 26 years – Home Office

‘Members of an organised crime group which smuggled more than a dozen Middle Eastern nationals into the UK have been jailed for a combined 26 years.’

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Home Office, 10th February 2023

Source: www.gov.uk

The recognition of polyamorous marriages in England and Wales – Family Law

Posted February 13th, 2023 in benefits, immigration, Law Commission, marriage, news, parliament, pensions by tracey

‘The House of Commons Library has published a briefing paper considering when polygamous marriages might be legally recognised.’

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Family Law, 10th February 2023

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

Bar Council launches a plan of action to improve ‘Life at the employed Bar’ – The Bar Council

Posted February 13th, 2023 in barristers, bullying, diversity, employment, harassment, news, statistics by tracey

‘Greater visibility, better career progression, and stamping out bullying and harassment are key recommendations in a new report on ‘Life at the employed Bar’ published by the Bar Council today. The employed Bar is more diverse, reports higher levels of wellbeing, and experiences greater flexibility and work/life balance than the self-employed Bar. However, the employed Bar also experiences bullying and harassment at similar levels to the whole Bar, has a far lower rate of taking Silk, and expresses some concern about perceptions of careers at the employed Bar.’

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The Bar Council, 8th February 2023

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Beneficiary allowed to challenge firm’s fees after fourfold rise – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted February 13th, 2023 in costs, fees, law firms, news, solicitors, wills by tracey

‘The High Court has allowed a will beneficiary to challenge a costs bill which rose significantly from its original estimate.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 10th February 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Domestic abuse victims ‘still being cross-examined by alleged perpetrator’ – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Victims of domestic abuse are still being cross-examined by alleged perpetrators in the family courts despite the “appalling practice” being banned by the Domestic Abuse Act, women’s charities and solicitors have told the lord chancellor.

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Law Society's Gazette, 12th February 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

International Children Law Update: January 2023 – Family Law Week

Posted February 13th, 2023 in asylum, children, families, family courts, immigration, news by tracey

‘Jacqueline Renton and Mani Singh Basi, both barristers of 4 Paper Buildings, review the latest key decisions in international children law.’

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Family Law Week, 3rd February 2023

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

‘They haven’t the foggiest who we are’: the watchdog fighting to protect Britain’s exploited workers – The Guardian

Posted February 13th, 2023 in employment, forced labour, news by tracey

‘Margaret Beels, the UK’s labour market tsar, is frustrated at the pace of legislative change in the face of egregious exploitation.’

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The Guardian, 11th February 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

NHS trust pays woman damages after son’s body left to decompose – The Guardian

Posted February 13th, 2023 in bereavement, damages, families, hospitals, mental health, news, psychiatric damage by tracey

‘A woman has been paid damages by an NHS trust after developing post-traumatic stress disorder when a mortuary allowed her son’s body to decompose to such an extent that relatives were advised not to view it, the Guardian can reveal.’

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The Guardian, 12th February 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

College lecturer Zoe Griffith dishonest over grades, hearing told – BBC News

‘A lecturer who gave students grades without fully assessing their work has been banned from the profession.’

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BBC News, 12th February 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Case Preview: Commissioners for His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs v Vermilion Holdings Limited – UKSC Blog

‘In this post, Jack Prytherch, Of Counsel in the Tax team at CMS, previews the decision awaited from the Supreme Court in Commissioners for His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs v Vermilion Holdings Limited. The appeal was heard by the Supreme Court on 7 February 2023.’

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UKSC Blog, 9th February 2023

Source: ukscblog.com

Expert witness duties in construction disputes – OUT-LAW.com

Posted February 10th, 2023 in construction industry, dispute resolution, expert witnesses, news by sally

‘The growing complexity of construction and engineering disputes has led to an increased demand for the services of experts regarding various aspects of a typical legal proceeding.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 9th February 2023

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Court of Protection issues guidance on ‘closed hearings’ and ‘closed material’ – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Vice President of the Court of Protection has issued guidance on Court of Protection ‘closed hearings’ and ‘closed material’.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 9th February 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Mobile and broadband prices: UK watchdog reviews inflation-busting rises – The Guardian

Posted February 10th, 2023 in consumer protection, inflation, news, ombudsmen, telecommunications by sally

‘The UK telecoms regulator has launched an investigation into the industry-wide practice of hitting broadband and mobile customers with inflation-busting price rises of up to 17% and could bring in tougher protections against hefty mid-contract increases.’

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The Guardian, 9th February 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Church of England General Synod approves same-sex blessings – Law & Religion UK

‘The Church of England’s General Synod has today voted in favour of a motion to offer blessings to same-sex couples in civil partnerships and marriages after an eight-hour debate over two days.’

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Law & Religion UK, 9th February 2023

Source: lawandreligionuk.com

Father of boy killed by mould in flat welcomes law to prevent repeat – The Guardian

‘The father of two-year-old Awaab Ishak, who was killed by mould in a social housing flat, has welcomed a new law to prevent a repeat tragedy, saying: “We are finally starting to feel like we are being treated fairly.”’

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The Guardian, 9th February 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Archie Battersbee’s death was an accident, coroner concludes – The Guardian

Posted February 9th, 2023 in accidents, children, inquests, mental health, news, self-harm by sally

‘Archie Battersbee, whose parents fought a lengthy battle to prevent his life support being switched off, died as a result of a prank or experiment gone wrong, a coroner has concluded.’

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The Guardian, 8th February 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Just Stop Oil activists fined for damaging Last Supper – BBC News

‘Five environmental protesters who glued themselves to the frame of Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper have been fined for causing criminal damage.’

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BBC News, 8th February 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Progress Pride flag as altar frontal – Law & Religion UK

Posted February 9th, 2023 in Church of England, faculties, homosexuality, news, transgender persons by sally

‘At the end of January 2023, the Daily Telegraph carried the headline Pride flag on altar of ‘church of woke’ triggers almighty court battle. In September 2022, it had been announced that the Pride flags which were hung from the altar at weekend services at St Nicholas, Leicester, would be replaced with “something a little more permanent” – “a huge Progress Pride flag made of fabric”. This is reported to have raised objections from in “hundreds of churchgoers within and beyond the diocese of Leicester” “as well as clergy” all of whom were attempting to block its use. Although the article suggests that a judgment from the consistory court was expected “imminently”, the issue has proved to be somewhat more nuanced.’

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Law & Religion UK, 8th February 2023

Source: lawandreligionuk.com

Jared O’Mara: ex-Labour MP found guilty of six counts of expenses fraud – The Guardian

Posted February 9th, 2023 in drug abuse, expenses, fraud, news, parliament by sally

‘The former Labour MP Jared O’Mara has been found guilty of making fraudulent expense claims to fund a “galloping” cocaine habit.’

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The Guardian, 8th February 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com