ECHR dismisses discrimation claim against council housing policy for Orthodox Jewish community – Local Government Lawyer

‘A legal challenge claiming the London Borough of Hackney’s decision not to refer a mother to a housing association on the basis of her not being part of the Orthodox Jewish Community (OJC) has been unanimously dismissed by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).’

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Local Government Lawyer, 1st July 2022

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Article 2 inquest determination concerning Community Mental Health Services quashed – Local Government Lawyer

‘Dominic Ruck Keene outlines a case in which an article 2 inquest determination concerning Community Mental Health Services was quashed.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 1st July 2022

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Law firm overturns costs bill misconduct ruling – Legal Futures

‘The rules on misconduct in the CPR do not apply to solicitor/client costs assessments, the High Court has decided in overturning a finding against a Manchester law firm.’

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Legal Futures, 4th July 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Civil Justice Council kicks off ‘holistic’ review of costs – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted July 4th, 2022 in civil justice, consultations, costs, news by sally

‘The Civil Justice Council has set in motion a possible shake-up of the civil costs regime with the start of a wide-ranging consultation. The judicial-led group will look at the key areas of costs budgeting, guideline hourly rates, the impact of digitisation and portals, and the consequences of the extension of fixed recoverable costs.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 1st July 2022

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Claimant loses £49k damages as High Court overturns ‘injustice’ finding – Law society’s Gazette

‘An injured person who claimed more than £500,000 for lost earnings – while hiding the fact he was still in paid work – has lost his entire damages award because of fundamental dishonesty.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 1st July 2022

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Women accused of illegal abortions in England and Wales after miscarriages and stillbirths – The Guardian

Posted July 4th, 2022 in abortion, criminal justice, news, pregnancy by sally

‘Women in England and Wales who have suffered miscarriages or stillbirths are being investigated by police on suspicion of having illegal abortions, with some forced to hand over their phones and laptops for invasive “digital strip searches”.’

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The Guardian, 2nd July 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

West Sussex council ordered to pay £2,000 to mother of child with special needs – BBC News

‘A mother of a child with special needs has been paid £2,000 by a council for failures involving his education, health and care plan. The mother – known as Ms C – turned to the Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman after making a complaint to West Sussex County Council. The ombudsman has upheld her complaint, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.’

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BBC News, 4th July 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Courts ‘in limbo’ as barristers strike for second week – BBC News

‘Criminal cases in courts across England and Wales face further disruption as barristers enter a second week of strike action. The walkouts began last week in a long-running dispute over pay and conditions.’

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BBC News, 4th July 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

New regulations solve cross-border hybrid hearing issues – OUT-LAW.com

Posted July 1st, 2022 in foreign jurisdictions, news, remote hearings, video recordings by sally

‘New regulations issued this week give courts in England and Wales new powers to permit individuals overseas to watch transmissions of ‘hybrid’ court hearings combining both in-person and remote participants.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 1st July 2022

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

FTH v Varis Developments – adjudication and insolvency meet head on again – Practical Law: Construction Blog

‘In its decision in Bresco v Lonsdale, the Supreme Court confirmed that insolvent companies have the statutory and contractual right to adjudicate construction disputes, even if that claim is affected by insolvency set-off.’

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Practical Law: Construction Blog , 29th June 2022

Source: constructionblog.practicallaw.com

Extra powers for regulators to clamp down on rule-breaking solicitors – Ministry of Justice

‘The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) will be given new powers to fine rule-breakers up to £25,000, under measures introduced today (29 June 2022).’

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Ministry of Justice, 29th June 2022

Source: www.gov.uk

Parole hearings to be heard in public for the first time – Ministry of Justice

Posted July 1st, 2022 in Ministry of Justice, news, parole, victims by sally

‘Victims, members of the public and the media will be able to ask for a parole hearing to be heard in public for the first time, following law changes being made today (30 June 2022).’

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Ministry of Justice, 30th June 2022

Source: www.gov.uk

Defendant fined £26k after failing to comply with planning enforcement notices – Local Government Lawyer

Posted July 1st, 2022 in enforcement notices, fines, local government, news, planning by sally

‘A Wiltshire man has been ordered to pay more than £26,000 after Wiltshire Council prosecuted him for non-compliance with planning enforcement notices at a site in Bromham.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 29th June 2022

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Draft Mental Health Bill now published – Local Government Lawyer

Posted July 1st, 2022 in bills, detention, learning difficulties, mental health, news by sally

‘Following a commitment given in the Queen’s Speech in May 2022, a draft Mental Health Bill has been brought forward this week (27 June 2022). Alex Ruck Keene sets out the main elements and highlights some key points.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 1st July 2022

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

CJC begins process for major reform of costs regime – Legal Futures

Posted July 1st, 2022 in civil justice, consultations, costs, news by sally

‘A rethought costs system that puts digitisation, vulnerable court users and a properly functioning civil justice system at its heart is the goal of a Civil Justice Council (CJC) working party, which yesterday began consulting on four key areas for possible reform.’

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Legal Futures, 1st July 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

New Law Commission project to review the law on contempt of court – Law Commission

Posted July 1st, 2022 in contempt of court, Law Commission, news by sally

‘The Law Commission of England and Wales has been asked by the Government to review the law on contempt of court and consider reform to improve its effectiveness, consistency, and coherence.’

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Law Commission, 28th June 2022

Source: www.lawcom.gov.uk

Football hate crime: CPS vows to use new banning orders – Crown Prosecution Service

‘The CPS today vows to use football banning orders to those convicted of online hate crime connected to the game and prevent them from attending matches.’

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Crown Prosecution Service, 29th June 2022

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Criminal legal aid fee increases a welcome first step, but next stages critical to rebuilding justice system, says Bar Council – The Bar Council

Posted July 1st, 2022 in barristers, budgets, criminal justice, fees, legal aid, news by sally

‘The Government has announced the next steps in the criminal legal aid review including a Statutory Instrument to be laid in Parliament by 21 July to bring in a fee increase of 15% for the Advocates’ Graduated Fee Scheme (AGFS – i.e. the fees paid to barristers) from 30 September 2022.’

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The Bar Council, 30th June 2022

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Home Office ‘undermining immigration watchdog’s legitimacy’ by failing to implement recommendations – The Independent

Posted July 1st, 2022 in asylum, government departments, immigration, news, ombudsmen, refugees by sally

‘The Home Office risks undermining the immigration watchdog’s legitimacy by failing to implement its recommendations, an official has said.’

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The Independent, 30th June 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

NewsUKHome News Home Office dragged to High Court by Brexit deal watchdog over ‘unlawful’ treatment of EU citizens – The Independent

‘The Home Office is being taken to court by a government-sponsored Brexit watchdog over the “unlawful” treatment of 2.5 million EU citizens in the UK. The High Court has confirmed that the Independent Monitoring Authority for the Citizens’ Rights Agreements (IMA), designed to protect the rights of EU nationals in the UK, has been granted permission to proceed with a judicial review claim against the department.’

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The Independent, 30th June 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk