Devolved powers and the internal market post-Brexit – UK Human Rights Blog

‘R (on the Application of the Counsel General for Wales) v Secretary of State for business, Energy and Industrial Strategy [2022] EWCA Civ 118. The Court of Appeal decision handed down on 9th February 2022 is an important case concerning devolved powers.’

Full Story

UK Human Rights Blog, 3rd March 2022

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Scottish law firm can be sued for negligence in England – Legal Futures

‘A Scottish law firm, which has no offices south of the border, has failed in a jurisdiction challenge to halt a negligence claim over advice a solicitor gave over a Cornish wind farm project.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 4th March 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Financial Remedy Update, February 2022 – Family Law Week

Posted March 4th, 2022 in divorce, families, family courts, financial provision, news, pensions by sally

‘Sue Brookes, Principle Associate and Nicola Rowlings, Professional Support Lawyer, at Mills & Reeve LLP consider the most important news and case law relating to financial remedies and divorce during January 2022.’

Full Story

Family Law Week, 3rd March 2022

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

‘No fault’ divorce is great, but it’s time to move the conversation on – Family Law

Posted March 4th, 2022 in dispute resolution, divorce, families, family courts, news by sally

‘With the dawn of “no fault” divorce almost upon us there is a sense of post-election frivolity reverberating throughout the sector, with the Government proudly patting itself on the back for delivering on the most significant shake up of family law in almost five decades.

To a certain extent, one could argue rightly so.

Indeed, National Family Mediation was one of the many organisations campaigning for change to what is widely accepted to be a stale and outdated area of law, with already heartbroken families kickstarting divorce proceedings by blaming their former spouse for the irretrievable breakdown of the relationship.

And so let me start this article by stressing that I, and my mediation colleagues, are most certainly in favour of the reforms which will aid the ability to separate on a less acrimonious footing, regardless of who has done what and to whom.

However, as the April 6th deadline rapidly approaches it feels prudent to caution that this major legislative change is not, in isolation, the end to all of our problems.’

Full Story

Family Law, 3rd March 2022

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

Draft guidelines published to help improve practice when the state acts to safeguard a baby at birth – Family Law

Posted March 4th, 2022 in birth, care orders, children, families, local government, news by sally

‘Draft guidelines to help improve practice when the state acts to safeguard a baby at birth have been published by Nuffield Family Justice Observatory (Nuffield FJO) and are being tested for feasibility in sites across England and Wales.’

Full Story

Family Law, 3rd March 2022

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

Competition watchdog probes Mitie over immigration centre contracts – The Independent

‘The UK competition regulator has launched an investigation into whether outsourcing firm Mitie Group has broken competition law in relation to a procurement process for immigration removal centre contracts run by the Home Office.’

Full Story

The Independent, 4th March 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Senior judge recommends scaling back of Commons standards tsar’s dual role – The Independent

Posted March 4th, 2022 in codes of practice, disciplinary procedures, news, parliament by sally

‘Parliamentary Standards Commissioner Kathryn Stone should have her decision-making powers stripped back and the Commons be banned from amending reports into MPs’ rule breaches, a review of the standards system has recommended.’

Full Story

The Independent, 4th March 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Justice system in England and Wales ‘risks causing fresh trauma to girls’ – The Guardian

‘The vast majority of vulnerable young women and girls in the criminal justice system in England and Wales have previously suffered abuse and violence and are in danger of being retraumatised by the experience, charities say.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 4th March 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Greater Manchester Police pays £8,000 damages to rape complainant – BBC News

‘A woman who said “dismissive” police told her “nothing would come” out of reporting being raped after her drink was spiked has received £8,000 damages.’

Full Story

BBC News, 4th March 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Equal pay litigation in retail – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted March 3rd, 2022 in employment tribunals, equal pay, equality, news, women by sally

‘It was back in the 1970s when equal pay legislation was introduced, and it is 12 years since the regulations were rebranded within the Equality Act 2010. So how far have we come in the quest for equal pay? If you are a female store-based supermarket worker, not far, it would seem.’

Full Story

Law Society's Gazette, 25th February 2022

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

County fires gun on procurement of £369k legal case management system amid mini-flurry of contract awards by local authorities – Local Government Lawyer

‘Gloucestershire County Council has started the procurement of a fully developed, off the shelf, cloud-based Legal Case Management System with Court Bundling System.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 2nd March 2022

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Happy Birthday: Unfair Dismissal at 50 – by Hugh Collins – UK Labour Law

Posted March 3rd, 2022 in employment, employment tribunals, news, trade unions, unfair dismissal by sally

‘Half a century ago, on the 28th of February 1972, the provisions of the Industrial Relations Act 1971 that established an employee’s statutory right not to be unfairly dismissed came into force. To mark this anniversary, I offer some reflections on the significance and impact of this major legal innovation.’

Full Story

UK Labour Law, 3rd March 2022

Source: uklabourlawblog.com

Being gay as a judge “no longer an issue”, says CA vice-president – Legal Futures

Posted March 3rd, 2022 in barristers, homosexuality, judges, judiciary, news by sally

‘Being a judge who “happens to be gay” has “completely disappeared as an issue”, the vice-president of the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) has said.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 3rd March 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Covid: Half of Nightingale Courts to close within weeks – BBC News

Posted March 3rd, 2022 in coronavirus, courts, criminal justice, delay, news by sally

‘Almost half of the temporary Nightingale Courts set up at the start of the pandemic are to close, the Ministry of Justice has announced.’

Full Story

BBC News, 3rd March 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Bid by Kazakh mining company to sue journalist is dismissed by judge – The Guardian

Posted March 3rd, 2022 in defamation, fraud, media, murder, news, witnesses by sally

‘An attempt by a Kazakh mining giant to sue a British journalist for allegedly claiming it ordered the murders of three men has been thrown out by a judge.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 2nd March 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

LSB warns Bar Council over objections to “unreasonable” PCF rise – Legal Futures

Posted March 2nd, 2022 in barristers, budgets, consultations, fees, Legal Services Board, news, statistics by sally

‘The Legal Services Board (LSB) has approved a 4.5% increase in the practising certificate fee (PCF) for barristers, while warning the Bar Council that the exercise of its regulatory functions, such as setting the fee, “should not be prejudiced” by its representative role.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 2nd March 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Pair jailed for ‘disrespect’ revenge stabbing in Bristol – BBC News

‘Two men who stabbed two teenagers in a premeditated revenge attack after claiming one had been disrespectful have been jailed.’

Full Story

BBC News, 1st March 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

English appeal court rules on assessment of indirect emissions in consent applications – OUT-LAW.com

‘Applications for planning permission for projects in England and Wales will need to provide “utmost clarity” on their potential indirect environmental impacts in the wake of a new court judgment.’

Full Story

OUT-LAW.com, 1st March 2022

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Disabled people ‘given 12 days’ to respond to human rights consultation – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Disability and human rights groups have called for a consultation on controversial human rights reforms to be extended, telling the lord chancellor that disabled people have been given less than a fortnight to respond. The Ministry of Justice has apologised for the long wait for a ‘fully accessible’ document.’

Full Story

Law Society's Gazette, 2nd March 2022

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Mental capacity, end of life care and religion: MR & Ors – Law & Religion UK

Posted March 2nd, 2022 in care homes, Court of Protection, Judaism, local government, news by sally

‘In London Borough of X v MR & Ors [2022] EWCOP 1, MR, aged 86, was living with dementia and was expected to die at some time between the spring of 2022 and the spring of 2024. He had been discharged from hospital to CC Nursing Home during the first COVID emergency, where he was held under a standard Deprivation of Liberty issued by the local authority. The sole issue before the Court was not whether it was in MR’s best interests to return home but whether he should remain at CC Nursing Home or move to a Jewish care home.’

Full Story

Law & Religion UK, 2nd March 2022

Source: lawandreligionuk.com