Covid hits numbers at the Bar and starting pupillages – Legal Futures

Posted February 1st, 2021 in barristers, coronavirus, diversity, equality, news, pilot schemes, pupillage, racism, statistics by sally

‘Covid has flattened the number of new practising barristers and hit pupillages hard, but there was a sharp rise in the proportion of pupils from minority ethnic backgrounds, new figures have shown.’

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Legal Futures, 1st February 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

An introduction to the Hong Kong British National (Overseas) visa – Home Office

Posted February 1st, 2021 in China, colonies, government departments, Hong Kong, immigration, press releases, visas by sally

‘This leaflet provides the key points of the Hong Kong BN(O) visa, including who can apply, how to apply, costs and eligibility requirements.’

Full leaflet

Home Office, 31st January 2021

Source: www.gov.uk/home-office

New rules for legal practice: guidance for legal professionals – Family Law

‘The Ministry of Justice has published a page on the gov.uk website bringing together guidance for legal professionals on the new rules for various areas of legal practice.’

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Family Law, 28th January 2021

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

Over 30 years of the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme – Attorney General’s Office

Posted February 1st, 2021 in appeals, criminal justice, press releases, sentencing, victims by sally

‘For over 30 years the Unduly Lenient Sentence (ULS) scheme has helped victims of crime get justice. The scheme was launched in 1989 following public outcry over a series of controversial sentencing decisions, including the 1986 “Ealing vicarage rape” case where 21-year-old Jill Saward was raped by burglars at her father’s vicarage.’

Attorney General’s Office, 1st February 2021

Source: www.gov.uk/ago

Bar misconduct sanctions under review – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The Bar Standards Board said it is reviewing its sanction guidance amid claims that barristers found to have committed sexual misconduct are treated too leniently. At a media briefing, the regulator said guidance is currently under review and it is considering the “whole range of sanctions” for professional misconduct, alongside the Bar Tribunal and Adjudication Services (BTAS).’

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Law Society's Gazette, 29th January 2021

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Home Office put refugees in barracks after fears better housing would ‘undermine confidence’ in system – The Independent

‘The Home Office placed hundreds of asylum seekers in controversial military barracks following fears that better accommodation would “undermine confidence” in the system, internal documents reveal.’

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The Independent, 31st January 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Family wins lawsuit against NHS trust over woman’s decomposed body – The Guardian

‘The family of a woman whom they suspect was killed has won a lawsuit against a health trust that allowed her body to decompose to the point that experts were unable to rule out third-party involvement in the death in a first-of-its kind ruling.’

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The Independent, 29th January 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

UK government use of Henry VIII clauses to be challenged in court – The Guardian

Posted February 1st, 2021 in brexit, EC law, judicial review, news, parliament, state aids, statute law revision by sally

‘A government move to change state aid rules after Brexit without a vote in parliament is being challenged in court, with a legal campaign group warning the manoeuvre could lead to a similar lack of scrutiny in areas such as workers’ rights and environmental protections.’

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The Guardian, 1st February 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Stansted 15: Activists who stopped migrant deportation flight have convictions overturned – The Independent

Posted February 1st, 2021 in airports, appeals, demonstrations, deportation, human rights, immigration, news, trespass by sally

‘A group of activists who stopped a deportation flight leaving Stansted airport have had their convictions overturned by the Court of Appeal.’

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The Independent, 30th January 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Ministers move to stop backbench revolt over UK courts’ role in genocide rulings – The Guardian

‘The government is seeking to fend off a backbench revolt over China by giving the foreign affairs select committee new powers to investigate whether a country is so clearly breaching human rights that the UK should not agree to a free trade deal with it.’

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The Guardian, 31st January 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Radicalisation and retention: how long can the police hold data about a person allegedly vulnerable to radicalisation? – UK Police Law Blog

Posted January 29th, 2021 in data protection, equality, human rights, Islam, news, police, privacy, proportionality, terrorism by sally

‘If concerns are raised that a person might be vulnerable to radicalisation, how long can a police force hold data about that person? This was the question facing the High Court in the case of R (II) v Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis [2020] EWHC 2528 (Admin), which held that the police’s continued retention of data a sixteen year old was contrary to the Data Protection Act 2018 and article 8. In finding this, the court held that a force’s retention of data must be proportionate, what is proportionate in any given situation is fact-specific and that when the police cease to be able to identify a policing purpose for continued retention of personal data, it should be deleted.’

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UK Police Law Blog, 28th January 2021

Source: ukpolicelawblog.com

Government publishes strategy to tackle child sexual abuse – Family Law

‘The Home Secretary has published a new strategy to protect children from child sexual abuse.’

Full report

Full Story

Family Law, 28th January 2021

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

Speech by the Master of the Rolls: Reliable data and technology – the direction of travel for Civil Justice – Courts & Tribunals Judiciary

Posted January 29th, 2021 in computer programs, courts, electronic filing, speeches by sally

‘Speech by the Master of the Rolls: Reliable data and technology – the direction of travel for Civil Justice.’

Full speech

Courts & Tribunals Judiciary, 28th January 2021

Source: www.judiciary.uk

Diversity at the Bar is gradually improving but more progress is needed, says BSB report – Bar Standards Board

Posted January 29th, 2021 in barristers, diversity, equality, press releases, statistics by sally

‘The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has today published its annual report on Diversity at the Bar. The report shows that the profession became increasingly diverse in 2020 and that a greater proportion of barristers disclosed their demographic data.’

Press release

Full report

Bar Standards Board, 29th January 2021

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Notification of Fathers and Wider Family Members in Relinquishment Cases: A Recap – Family Law Week

‘Olivia Kirkbride, a pupil barrister at Coram Chambers, considers two recent, contrasting cases in which mothers sought to relinquish newly born children without notifying the fathers and family members.’

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Family Law Week, 27th January 2021

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

UK opens formal investigation of Facebook’s Giphy takeover – The Independent

Posted January 29th, 2021 in artistic works, competition, internet, news, ombudsmen by sally

‘The U.K. s competition watchdog launched a formal investigation on Thursday into Facebook s purchase of Giphy over concerns it will stifle competition for animated images.’

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The Independent, 28th January 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Couple jailed for trafficking teens to sell drugs – BBC

‘A drug dealer and his care worker girlfriend have been jailed for trafficking teenagers to sell drugs for a county lines operation.’

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BBC News, 28th January 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

RSPCA plans to stop taking animal abusers to court privately – The Guardian

‘For nearly two centuries, the RSPCA has pursued private prosecutions against people it suspects of cruelty to animals. Now, under pressure from MPs, it has said it plans to end that practice and turn over its files to the Crown Prosecution Service instead.’

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The Guardian, 28th January 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

UN court rules UK has no sovereignty over Chagos islands – BBC News

Posted January 29th, 2021 in Chagos Islands, colonies, international law, news, United Nations by sally

‘The maritime law tribunal of the United Nations has ruled that Britain has no sovereignty over the Chagos Islands.’

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BBC News, 28th January 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Special UK visa for Hong Kong residents from Sunday – BBC News

Posted January 29th, 2021 in China, colonies, Hong Kong, immigration, news, visas by sally

‘About 300,000 people are expected to leave Hong Kong for Britain using a new visa route which opens on Sunday. Hong Kong’s British National (Overseas) passport holders and their immediate dependants will be able to apply for the visa using a smartphone app.’

Full Story

BBC News, 29th January 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk