You don’t have to have a one-track mind to study law – The Guardian
‘Opting for a joint honours law degree can make you view the subject in a whole new light.’
The Guardian, 29th May 2015
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Woman left housebound after having legs amputated receives compensation following blunder that led to benefit money being withheld – The Independent
‘A woman who was left housebound following the amputation of both legs has received £27,000 in compensation after watchdogs found financial support was withheld due to an administrative battle between a council and the NHS.’
The Independent, 28th May 2015
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Laughing gas sales to be outlawed in government’s legal highs clampdown – The Guardian
‘The sale of laughing gas, or nitrous oxide, the second most popular recreational drug in Britain, is to be banned in the government’s clampdown on legal highs, Home Office ministers have announced.’
The Guardian, 29th May 2015
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
European Court of Human Rights: Lawyers do not have same freedom to speak out as journalists – Legal Futures
‘Lawyers do not have the same rights to speak out on sensitive and high-profile cases as journalists, the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has ruled.’
Legal Futures, 29th May 2015
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
Relatives of dementia sufferers who die in care homes having to wait months to bury loved ones thanks to new Government rules – The Independent
‘Relatives of dementia sufferers who pass away in care homes are being forced to wait months to bury loved ones because of new rules.’
The Independent, 28th May 2015
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Swansea golf club ram-raid burglar Paul Newcombe jailed – BBC News
‘A burglar who used a car to smash his way into a golf club before leading police on a “dangerous” car chase has been jailed for two years.’
BBC News, 28th May 2015
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Keir Starmer defends Human Rights Act in maiden Commons speech – The Guardian
‘The “put upon and the bullied” in society will suffer if the Tories press ahead with their manifesto pledge to scrap the Human Rights Act, former director of public prosecutions Sir Keir Starmer has said.’
The Guardian, 28th May 2015
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
The UNCRC in the Supreme Court – the impact of SG v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions – Family Law Week
‘Deirdre Fotttrell QC of 1 Garden Court Family Law Chambers considers the Supreme Court’s latest deliberations on when and how the provisions of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child are directly enforceable in English law.’
Full story
Family Law Week, 21st May 2015
Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk
Decision to switch from legal aid to CFA on eve of LASPO ruled reasonable – Litigation Futures
‘A claimant who switched from legal aid funding to a conditional fee agreement (CFA) on the eve of the introduction of the Jackson reforms acted reasonably, a costs judge has decided.’
Litigation Futures, 27th May 2015
Source: www.litigationfutures.com
UK competition authority gains power to make recommendations on how proposed laws would affect competition – OUT-LAW.com
‘The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) now has the power to make written recommendations to UK government ministers on how legislative plans before the UK parliament could impact on competition in UK markets.’
OUT-LAW.com, 27th May 2015
Source: www.out-law.com
High Court rules faith school transport scheme unlawful – Local Government Lawyer
The High Court has struck down a council’s school transport policy following complaints from parents at six faith schools that the City and County of Swansea’s new scheme was discriminatory.
Local Government Lawyer, 27th May 2015
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
Ban on legal highs would technically cover alcohol, cigarettes and coffee – The Guardian
‘A new blanket ban on legal highs is to be so widely drawn that its provisions could be used to outlaw alcohol, tobacco, coffee and many other widely-used items, ministers have acknowledged.’
The Guardian, 27th May 2015
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Surveillance and privacies – OUP Blog
‘In its recent report, Privacy and Security: A modern and transparent legal framework, the Parliamentary Intelligence and Security Committee pondered on the scale of public concern about digital surveillance:
“It is worth noting that this debate does not seem to arise in the context of the Agencies intercepting letters, or listening to people’s home or office landline calls. So what is it about the internet that makes it different? For many, the free and open nature of the internet represents liberty and democracy, and they consider that these values should not be compromised for the sake of detecting a minority who wish to use it for harmful purposes.”’
OUP Blog, 28th May 2015
Source: http://blog.oup.com
How to stop your business leaving the building… – Technology Law Update
‘The nightmare scenario. Your co-directors leave and set up a competing business. They lure employees to join them and use your systems and processes to create a copycat product or service. What can you do?’
Technology Law Update, 27th May 2015
Source: www.technology-law-blog.co.uk
CPS delays take police off frontline, says report – Daily Telegraph
‘Official study by watchdog finds series of failings with the way police and prosecutors deal with charging criminals.’
Daily Telegraph, 28th May 2015
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
EVENT: The Alternative Magna Carta Festival
‘On Saturday 13 June, in the centre of Clerkenwell, 500 people will gather to celebrate the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta. This Alternative Celebration will recognise the importance of Magna Carta in curtailing the powers of the executive, and challenge and appraise modern Britain’s attitude to civil liberties. There will be poets, writers, artists, social activists, MPs, human rights lawyers and dissidents – for the Magna Carta celebration with teeth – and where better than Clerkenwell, London’s historic centre of dissent?’
Date: 13th June 2015
Location: Clerkenwell, London
Charge: See website for details
More information can be found here.
The government’s data law – an attack on encryption? – BBC News
‘Overdue modernisation of the way the authorities monitor criminals and terrorists – or a Snooper’s Charter eroding our basic liberties? The proposal outlined in the Queen’s Speech to “modernise the law on communications data” will divide opinion. But prepare for another long battle over the way that law is framed and the balance it strikes between privacy and public safety.’
BBC News, 27th May 2015
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Court fines and council tax turning into problem debt, says Citizens Advice – The Guardian
‘Magistrates’ fines and council tax bills are driving increasing numbers of people into problem debt, an advice charity said on Tuesday, as low wages and the increased cost of living squeeze household finances.’
The Guardian, 26th May 2015
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Queen’s Speech: ‘English votes for English laws’ plan – BBC News
‘Plans to give MPs from English constituencies an effective veto on laws affecting only England are included in the Queen’s Speech.’
BBC News, 27th May 2015
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
