Gove announces review of Legal Services Act – Legal Futures

‘There will a review of the Legal Services Act 2007 during this Parliament, the Lord Chancellor Michael Gove announced today.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 15th July 2015

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Criminal record checks: guidance for employers – Home Office

‘How employers or organisations can request DBS checks for potential employees.’

Full guidance

Home Office, 14th July 2015

Source: www.gov.uk/home-office

Company and its senior management sentenced following death of 16 year old apprentice – Crown Prosecution Service

Posted July 15th, 2015 in corporate manslaughter, fines, health & safety, news, sentencing by sally

‘Huntley Mount Engineering Ltd has today been sentenced for the corporate manslaughter of apprentice Cameron Minshull. In addition, Company Director Zaffar Hussain has been sentenced for an offence under section 2 and 37 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, and company Supervisor Akbar Hussain has also been sentenced for an offence under section 7 of the same act.’

Full story

Crown Prosecution Service, 14th July 2015

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

No damage caused by civil legal aid reforms, says defiant MoJ – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Cuts to civil legal aid have reduced the amount of “unnecessary and adversarial” litigation while ensuring funding is targeted at those who need it most, the government has said in response to a devastating report on changes to civil legal aid.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 14th July 2015

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Triennial Reviews of the Civil Justice Council and Family Justice Council Report – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted July 15th, 2015 in civil justice, Civil Justice Council, families, family courts, reports by sally

‘Triennial Reviews of the Civil Justice Council and Family Justice Council were launched on the 4th November 2013.The Ministry of Justice have today (14th July 2015) published the final report of the review.’

Full report

Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 14th July 2015

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Max Clifford fails to block Paul Burrell privacy claim – BBC News

Posted July 15th, 2015 in damages, news, privacy, time limits by sally

‘Former celebrity publicist Max Clifford has failed to block a damages claim brought against him by ex-royal butler Paul Burrell at London’s High Court.’

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BBC News, 14th July 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Where is the diversity in law recruitment? – The Guardian

‘Despite recent initiatives, the legal profession remains a bastion of white, middle-class, privately educated males. So what can be done to make it more inclusive? Harriet Swain reports on a roundtable debate.’

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The Guardian, 14th July 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

GPS tracking of offenders delayed by further 12 months – The Guardian

‘The introduction of the next generation of GPS tracking of offenders, including convicted paedophiles, has been delayed for at least another 12 months, the Ministry of Justice has announced.’

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The Guardian, 14th July 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

If you encourage someone to kill, are you guilty of murder? – The Guardian

Posted July 15th, 2015 in appeals, homicide, joint enterprise, murder, news, sentencing, Supreme Court by sally

‘Does the law of joint enterprise cause injustice? That’s the question the supreme court will confront in October. If its answer is yes, the UK’s most senior judges will have the chance to put things right.’

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The Guardian, 14th July 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Court of Appeal backs secret hearings as Government faces IRA and Iran cases – The Independent

Posted July 15th, 2015 in appeals, closed material, damages, human rights, Iran, Ireland, negligence, news by sally

‘The Court of Appeal has cleared the way for the Government to apply for controversial secret court hearings as it faces being sued for damages by an IRA informant and Iranians subjected to asset freezing orders.’

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The Independent, 14th July 2015

Source: www.independent.co.uk

David Cameron ‘must strengthen Evel plans to stop SNP maintaining ban on hunting in England’ – Daily Telegraph

Posted July 15th, 2015 in devolution issues, hunting, news, parliament, political parties, Scotland by sally

‘David Cameron must strengthen his plans for “English votes for English laws”, senior Tories have said, after the SNP’s Nicola Sturgeon forced him to shelve a vote on relaxing the fox hunting ban in England.’

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Daily Telegraph, 14th July 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Met police to face tribunal over decision to access Plebgate phone records – The Guardian

‘The Metropolitan police is being taken to court in a landmark case over its decision to secretly obtain journalists’ phone records in an attempt to identify the mole behind the Plebgate saga involving the then cabinet minister Andrew Mitchell.’

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The Guardian, 14th July 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Poltergeist posters cleared despite more than 70 complaints over clown image – The Guardian

Posted July 15th, 2015 in advertising, complaints, news, ombudsmen by sally

‘People afraid of clowns have failed in a bid to get “distressing” posters for the film Poltergeist banned. More than 70 coulrophobics and parents complained about posters and bus ads featuring the head of a scruffy, smiling clown doll with the tagline “They know what scares you”.’

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The Guardian, 15th July 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Trade Union Bill: Ministers unveil strike law reforms – BBC News

Posted July 15th, 2015 in bills, consultations, industrial action, news, statistics, trade unions by sally

‘Legislation designed to toughen up the laws on strike action is to be unveiled by the government later. The Trade Union Bill proposes minimum turnouts in strike ballots, time limits on mandates for industrial action and changes to political levies.’

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BBC News, 15th July 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

SAS selection deaths: Coroner delivers neglect conclusion – BBC News

Posted July 14th, 2015 in armed forces, inquests, negligence, news by sally

‘Three reservists who died on an SAS selection march would have survived if the hike had been stopped when other soldiers fell ill, a coroner has said.’

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BBC News, 14th July 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Ownership of Sculpture – Local Government Law

Posted July 14th, 2015 in artistic works, local government, news by sally

‘In Tower Hamlets LBC v Bromley LBC [2015] EWHC 1954 (Ch) the Chancery Division of the High Court was asked to determine the ownership of a Henry Moore sculpture. Tower Hamlets LBC (“TH”) as the successor to the Stepney Borough Council (“SB”), pursuant to the London Government Act 1963 (“the 1963 Act”). Bromley LBC (“Br”) was the successor to the London Residuary Body (“the LRB”). The LRB was the successor to the Greater London Council (“the GLC”) pursuant to the Local Government Act 1985. The GLC was successor to the London County Council (“the LCC”) pursuant to the 1963 Act.’

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Local Government Law, 13th July 2015

Source: www.11kbw.com/blogs/local-government-law

How mad must you be, not to be responsible for your actions? – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted July 14th, 2015 in appeals, crime, mental health, negligence, news, personal injuries by sally

‘Dunnage v. Randall & UK Insurance Ltd [2015] EWCA Civ 673, 2 July 2015
This is an extraordinary case, and one which goes deep down into why the law of wrongs (or torts) makes people compensate others for injury and losses, whereas the criminal law may decide that a crime has not been committed.’

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 14th July 2015

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Time for law firms to go back to school, says BPP chief – Legal Futures

Posted July 14th, 2015 in law firms, legal education, news, solicitors by sally

‘Legal apprenticeships “are going to be massive” and law firms will have to respond by recruiting A-Level students straight from school, the dean of BPP Law School has predicted.’

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Legal Futures, 14th July 2015

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

The law in Wales – making it clearer, more modern and easier to use – Law Commission

Posted July 14th, 2015 in consultations, Law Commission, press releases, Wales by sally

‘Throughout the UK the law can be difficult for professionals and the public to find and understand. The volume of legislation in England and Wales, the number of amendments and the way in which legislation is presented, make it increasingly difficult to find out what the law is and what it means. In Wales, the process of devolution has made matters even more complicated. In a consultation opening on 9 July the Law Commission is asking what can be done to simplify legislation relating to Wales and make it more accessible.’

Full press release

Law Commission, 9th July 2015

Source: www.lawcom.gov.uk

Second annual report of the National Crime Agency (NCA) – Home Office

Posted July 14th, 2015 in national crime agency, reports by sally

‘This is the second annual report of the National Crime Agency (NCA). It reports on the exercise of the NCA’s statutory functions for 2014 to 2015, its first full operational year.’

Full report

Home Office, 13th July 2015

Source: www.gov.uk/home-office