Paralegal hopes to be first solicitor admitted through ‘equivalent means’ route – Legal Futures

‘Paralegal Shaun Lawler has said he hopes to be the first solicitor admitted to the profession through the ‘equivalent means’ route rather a traditional training contract.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 20th March 2015

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Technical Issues in Charity Law – Law Commission

Posted March 20th, 2015 in charities, consultations, news by sally

‘A consultation exploring whether aspects of charity law can be reformed to remove unnecessary regulation while safeguarding the public interest in ensuring that charities are properly run.’

Full press release

Law Commission, 20th March 2015

Source: www.justice.gov.uk/lawcommission

Final Report of the Vulnerable Witnesses and Children Working Group – Judiciary of England & Wales

‘Final Report of the Vulnerable Witnesses and Children Working Group.’

Full texts

Judiciary of England and Wales, 17th March 2015

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Court of Appeal rejects tobacco smugglers’ attempts to write off confiscation orders worth more than £2.7m – Crown Prosecution Service

Posted March 20th, 2015 in confiscation, Crown Prosecution Service, customs and excise, news by sally

‘On Tuesday 17 March 2015, The Court of Appeal rejected an attempt by Robert Doran and Patrick Gray to write off confiscation orders made against them for £1,456,325.00 and £1,244,982.44 respectively, finding in favour of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).’

Full story

Crown Prosecution Service, 18th March 2015

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Aster Communities Ltd (formerly Flourish Homes Ltd) v Akerman-Livingstone (Equality and Human Rights Commission intervening) – WLR Daily

Aster Communities Ltd (formerly Flourish Homes Ltd) v Akerman-Livingstone (Equality and Human Rights Commission intervening); [2015] UKSC 15; [2015] WLR (D) 121

‘The approach to be taken to a defence to a claim for possession of residential premises which alleged unlawful discrimination against a disabled person, contrary to the Equality Act 2010, was different from that which applied to a defence which alleged a breach of an individual’s rights under article 8 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. In particular, summary judgment would not normally be an appropriate procedure for dealing with a possession claim where a disability discrimination defence was raised.’

WLR Daily, 11th March 2015

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Dalton and others v British Telecommunications plc – WLR Daily

Posted March 20th, 2015 in costs, fees, law reports, news, noise, personal injuries by sally

Dalton and others v British Telecommunications plc; [2015] EWHC 616 (QB); [2015] WLR (D) 125

‘The term “disease” in section V of the former CPR Pt 45 included any illness (whether physical or physiological), disorder, ailment, affliction, complaint, malady or derangement other than a physical or physiological injury solely caused by an accident or other similar single event.’

WLR Daily, 13th March 2015

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Kandola v Generalstaatsanwaltschaft Frankfurt, Germany; Droma v State Prosecutor Nurnberg-Furth, Bavaria, Germany; Ijaz v The Court of Milan (An Italian Judicial Authority) – WLR Daily

Posted March 20th, 2015 in appeals, extradition, law reports by sally

Kandola v Generalstaatsanwaltschaft Frankfurt, Germany: Droma v State Prosecutor Nurnberg-Furth, Bavaria, Germany; Ijaz v The Court of Milan (An Italian Judicial Authority); [2015] EWHC 619 (Admin); [2015] WLR (D) 126

‘In the context of an extradition appeal the court set out the approach to be taken in applying section 12A of the Extradition Act 2003.’

WLR Daily, 13th March 2015

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Last minute adjournment in criminal legal aid appeal – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted March 20th, 2015 in adjournment, appeals, criminal justice, judicial review, legal aid, news by sally

‘The Court of Appeal has adjourned delivering judgment on the lord chancellor’s criminal legal aid reforms until Wednesday. The case had originally been listed for this morning.’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 19th March 2015

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Amina Agboola murder: Death ‘not preventable’, review concludes – BBC News

Posted March 20th, 2015 in child cruelty, domestic violence, murder, news, reports, social services by sally

‘The death of a toddler killed by a violent kick to her stomach by her mother’s boyfriend could not have been foreseen, a report has concluded.’

Full story

BBC News, 19th March 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Men allegedly tortured by UK troops plan to go to court over report – BBC News

Posted March 20th, 2015 in armed forces, detention, intelligence services, Iraq, news, torture by sally

‘Lawyers acting for two men who were jailed for 10 years without trial and say they were tortured after being seized by British troops in Iraq, plan to take the body responsible for investigating the case to court, claiming it is failing to seek potentially vital evidence from the US.’

Full story

The Guardian, 19th March 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Satanic cult claims dismissed by High Court judge – Daily Telegraph

Posted March 20th, 2015 in care orders, child abuse, news, witchcraft by sally

‘Claims that a “satanic cult” where children were abused by paedophiles has been operating in north London have been dismissed by a High Court judge.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 19th March 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Some CPS barristers ‘lack flair’, says inspection report – BBC News

‘Too many Crown Prosecution Service barristers lack “presence, self-confidence and flair” in Crown Court trials, a report has said. The CPS Inspectorate found that CPS barristers in England and Wales were in danger of “losing” the jury because of how they presented cases. Standards of CPS advocacy had taken a “step backwards” over the past three years, the report said.’

Full story

Full report

BBC News, 19th March 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Cyril Smith M1 arrest to be probed by Northamptonshire Police – BBC News

Posted March 20th, 2015 in child abuse, indecent photographs of children, news, police by sally

‘A cold case unit is to investigate claims police released MP Cyril Smith after images of child abuse were found in the boot of his car.’

Full story

BBC News, 19th March 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Disgraced former hedge fund manager Julian Rifat jailed for insider trading – The Independent

Posted March 20th, 2015 in guilty pleas, hedge funds, insider dealing, news, sentencing by sally

‘The disgraced former hedge fund manager Julian Rifat was yesterday sentenced to 19 months in jail for taking part in a £285,000 insider trading scandal.’

Full story

The Independent, 20th March 2015

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Companies aiding tax evaders will be criminally liable – The Guardian

Posted March 20th, 2015 in accountants, banking, news, strict liability, tax evasion by sally

‘Banks and accountants that aid tax evasion will face criminal penalties under plans unveiled by the government. A new offence of corporate failure to prevent evasion is being created to address those who assist dodging. Such offenders could also be “named and shamed” alongside the evaders themselves.’

Full story

The Guardian, 19th March 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

UK rights watchdog attacks Tory policy to quit European human rights court – The Guardian

Posted March 20th, 2015 in equality, human rights, news, political parties by sally

‘The government’s human rights watchdog has attacked Conservative party proposals to repeal the Human Rights Act and withdraw from the European court of human rights in Strasbourg.’

Full story

The Guardian, 20th March 2015

Soure: www.guardian.co.uk

Sex crime suspects deserve anonymity, MPs say – BBC News

Posted March 20th, 2015 in anonymity, bail, news, rape by sally

‘There should be a statutory ban on the identification of people who are arrested for sexual offences in England and Wales, a committee of MPs has said.’

Full story

BBC news, 20th March 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

EVENT: The Law Society – Public debate series: Human rights and the theatre of war

Posted March 20th, 2015 in Forthcoming events by sally

‘This debate will discuss questions such as:

Is there an increasing number of legal claims being brought against the MoD under human rights law?
Does the application of civilian norms to military conduct lead to a surge in claims?
Should rules of engagement be subject to the same laws as those applied to civilians in non-conflict situations?
Is there an appropriate balance between legal protections of those whose human rights have been violated and protecting the public?’

Date: 5th May 2015, 6.00-8.45pm

Location: The Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1PL

Charge: Free

More information can be found here.

The Care Act 2014: Overview – Thirty Nine Essex Street

Posted March 20th, 2015 in carers, community care, health, local government, news, social services by sally

‘The Care Act adopts and implements many of the recommendations of the Law Commission on Adult Social Care (published 11 May 2011). It is the largest single piece of community care legislation since the great Beveridge reforms of 1948, sweeping away and re-codifying more than 50 years worth of law and policy.’

Full story (PDF)

Thirty Nine Essex Street, February 2015

Source: www.39essex.com

Non-genetic parentage under the HFEA 2008 – Tanfield Chambers

Posted March 20th, 2015 in assisted reproduction, embryology, news, parental rights by sally

‘Where a child is conceived with donor sperm, parentage is normally determined under the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008. S.33 provides that the woman who bears the child will be the mother, regardless of whether the egg was hers or came from a donor. If she is married or in a civil partnership, her spouse or civil partner will be the other parent, unless it is shown that the spouse or civil partner did not consent to the treatment – s.35 and s.42. Otherwise, ss.36 and 37 provide that a man (who will normally be the mother’s partner) will be the child’s father if:

(i) the treatment is provided by a clinic in the UK under a licence from the HFE Authority; and

(ii) both parties give written notice to the clinic consenting to such parentage.’

Full story

Tanfield Chambers, 20th February 2015

Source: www.tanfieldchambers.co.uk