‘There has been a sharp rise in the number of people living in legal aid deserts for family and criminal law, while around 14.5m people overall are in deserts for at least one primary area of practice, according to new research.’

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Legal Futures, 18th August 2026

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

‘Andy Burnham is under pressure to intervene in a privately run prison that is seeking to recruit custody officers on zero-hours contracts for the first time across England and Wales’ prison estate.’

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The Guardian, 18th August 2026

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘In this episode of LawPod UK, Lucy McCann is joined by Professor Valena Beety, legal scholar, innocence litigator and former federal prosecutor, to discuss her new book Pink Crime.
Professor Beety explores her concept of ‘Pink Crime’ a distinctive category of wrongful convictions of women and queer people, often in cases where no crime actually occurred, by examining historic cases and contemporary prosecutions involving pregnancy loss, parenting decisions, and queer identity.’

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Law Pod UK, 17th August 2026

Source: audioboom.com

‘A man who was creating an illegal firearm at home using a 3D printer has been jailed for four years.’

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Crown Prosecution Service, 10th August 2026

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

‘Below is a consultation paper seeking views on proposals as to how the Senior President of Tribunals should exercise powers to amend the Practice Direction: Panel Composition in the First-tier Tribunal, Property Chamber. This consultation is only concerned with Residential Property. [The deadline for responses to this Consultation is Friday 25 September 2026].’

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Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 10th August 2026

Source: www.judiciary.uk

‘The Court of Appeal has continued to emphasise the strictness of the approach which should be applied by courts and tribunals when determining whether individuals challenging immigration decisions can properly demonstrate an existence of family life engaging Article 8 ECHR protection. The case is Entry Clearance Officer v FA [2026] EWCA Civ 1014 (30 July 2026).’

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Administrative Court Blog, 11th August 2026

Source: administrativecourtblog.wordpress.com

‘As the world becomes more digital, Barbara Vinagre Mota examines international research into the mental health consequences of judges’ exposure to graphic and immersive evidence, highlighting the importance of support systems’

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Counsel, 17th August 2026

Source: www.counselmagazine.co.uk

‘Ever spared a thought for the legal minds drafting our statutes and Bills, largely in obscurity? John F Wilson explores the craft, influence and enduring mystique of legislative drafting’

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Counsel, 17th August 2026

Source: www.counselmagazine.co.uk

‘A circuit judge’s ruling on costs penalties for unreasonable behaviour ‘would blow the scheme of the small claims track to bits’ if found to be correct, three Court of Appeal judges have ruled. In Steven Orton v Barclays Bank, the judges allowed an appeal against a ruling that the conduct of a party who discontinued a mis-selling claim shortly before trial amounted to ‘unreasonable behaviour’ under the Civil Procedure Rules.’

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Law Society Gazette, 14th August 2026

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

‘The High Court has agreed an application by the London Borough of Brent to withdraw a deprivation of liberty order (DOL), even though the child’s guardian opposed this.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 14th August 2026

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

‘The High Court has refused an application for judicial review of West Oxfordshire District Council’s decision not to become embroiled in a neighbour dispute.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 14th August 2026

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

‘The prime minister has been urged not to dash the hopes of thousands of prisoners trapped on indefinite jail terms after he pledged to find a resolution to the “long-running injustice”.’

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The Independent, 15th August 2026

Source: www.independent.co.uk

‘The possession of child-like sex dolls could be banned in England and Wales under proposed draft legislation.’

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The Independent, 17th August 2026

Source: www.independent.co.uk

‘More women will die if ministers include domestic abusers in the early prison release scheme, the parents of a woman murdered by her partner shortly after he was freed have warned.’

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The Guardian, 17th August 2026

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘A man who killed his wife and refuses to reveal where her body is cannot be freed from prison, after the High Court overturned the Parole Board’s decision to release him.’

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BBC News, 14th August 2026

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

‘Disabled and terminally ill campaigners have written to Prime Minister Andy Burnham urging him to reform social and palliative care before assisted dying legislation is introduced in England and Wales.

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BBC News, 14th August 2026

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

‘This paper examines decision making when very young children are at risk of interim removal from their mothers. It draws upon the legal framework and the threshold that should be upheld in cases involving removal into care. Statistics are presented indicating an increase in the number of cases involving babies and very young infants entering care, and the use of very short time scales from application to court hearings. National evidence is presented indicating the impact of poverty and deprivation in such cases. Stark regional differences highlight the disparity between care proceedings and removal of babies and infants in the North East of England. Resources remain overstretched and underfunded yet it is argued that the impact of is compounded by a workforce where social workers continue to report low job satisfaction, remain constrained by bureaucratic process and operate in a risk averse culture. In cases of removal of babies decisions are more likely to be based on poor evidence due to lack of time available to consider all possible options for children. Some examples of alternative approaches are considered and despite evidence of their success it is highlighted that initiatives are funded sporadically and inconsistently. Some recommendations are made in terms of ways forward and priorities if progress is to be made to decrease the numbers of babies entering care.’

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Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law, 12th August 2026

Source: www.tandfonline.com

‘A protester who attempted to force his way into a hotel accommodating asylum seekers while wearing a Union flag like a cloak has avoided a prison sentence.’

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The Independent, 13th August 2026

Source: www.independent.co.uk

‘A woman who posed as a sex worker and administered a deadly amount of sedative to two men has been jailed for 17 years, along with her accomplice.’

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The Guardian, 13th August 2026

Source: www.theguardian.com