Lord chancellor ‘failing’ on statutory legal aid duty, MPs warn – Law Society Gazette
‘The lord chancellor is failing in his statutory duty on legal aid, MPs have concluded in a damning report that paints the bleakest picture to date of the sector which also warns of an ‘unacceptably high risk’ of miscarriages of justice.’
Law Society Gazette, 17th July 2026
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Discipline lawyers through one channel, says consumer watchdog – Law Society Gazette
‘In a damning report into the regulatory framework, the Legal Services Consumer Panel says the current way of prosecuting misconduct, with separate pathways for solicitors and barristers, “defies coherent governance”.’
Law Society Gazette, 16th July 2026
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Snap consultation on JR curbs for infrastructure projects – Law Society Gazette
‘Judicial reviews could be curbed for major homes and infrastructure projects to ‘get Britain building’, the government announced today – embarking on a snap consultation.’
Law Society Gazette, 16th July 2026
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Judge condemns CAFCASS reporter for failing to follow family court directions – Law Society Gazette
‘A family court judge has described the approach taken by a reporter for the Children and Family Court Advisory Service (CAFCASS) as ‘entirely inappropriate’ after she ‘unilaterally chose to depart from the clear court direction’ in her welfare assessment.’
Law Society Gazette, 17th July 2026
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Odulate v Odulate [2026] EWFC 159 – Financial Remedies Journal
‘HHJ Hess (sitting as a deputy High Court judge). Committal proceedings following husband’s non-compliance with a financial remedy order made almost four years ago. Six months immediate term of imprisonment.’
Financial Remedies Journal, 15th July 2026
Source: financialremediesjournal.com
MPs issue legal aid warning as restrictions create ‘unacceptably high’ risk of wrongful convictions – The Independent
‘MPs have warned that tough access to legal aid is creating an “unacceptably high risk of miscarriages of justice”, with as many as half of defendants facing prison in magistrates’ court cases forced to appear without legal representation.’
The Independent, 17th July 2026
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Inquest reopened into death of 14-year-old boy after ‘TikTok blackout challenge’ – The Guardian
‘The inquest into the death of a 14-year-old boy, whose mother believes he died after a TikTok challenge gone wrong, is to be reopened in a landmark ruling by the high court.’
The Guardian, 16th July 2026
Source: www.theguardian.com
MI5 reprimanded for lying about ties with neo-Nazi informant who attacked girlfriend with machete – The Guardian
‘The Investigatory Powers Commissioner’s Office (Ipco) criticised MI5’s handling of a man known only as agent X, and said some of its officers had initially misled the public about his true status.’
The Guardian, 16th July 2026
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘Keys to the kingdom’: hackers who gained access to heart of London transport network jailed – The Guardian
‘Thalha Jubair, 20, and Owen Flowers, 19, sentenced to five and a half years each for cyber-attack that cost Transport for London £39m.’
The Guardian, 16th July 2026
Source: www.theguardian.com
BAILII: Recent Decisions
Court of Appeal (Civil Division)
Nash, R (On the Application Of) v Brighton County Court [2026] EWCA Civ 914 (14 July 2026)
Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)
Monro, R. v [2026] EWCA Crim 906 (30 June 2026)
Winkless & Anor, R. v [2026] EWCA Crim 904 (30 June 2026)
Farooq, R. v [2026] EWCA Crim 901 (26 June 2026)
Rawle, R. v [2026] EWCA Crim 912 (26 June 2026)
Kerari, R. v [2026] EWCA Crim 908 (25 June 2026)
High Court (Administrative Court)
High Court (Chancery Division)
Chin v The Estate of George Edward Chin & Anor [2026] EWHC 1791 (Ch) (16 July 2026)
High Court (Commercial Court)
High Court (Family Division)
TR v ST (Letters of Request) [2026] EWHC 1785 (Fam) (09 July 2026)
High Court (King’s Bench Division)
Ideasoft Solutions LLC & Ors v Kolomiets [2026] EWHC 1775 (KB) (16 July 2026)
Beckett v Graham & Anor [2026] EWHC 1794 (KB) (16 July 2026)
Kingsley v Macaskill [2026] EWHC 1799 (KB) (15 July 2026)
French v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis [2026] EWHC 1774 (KB) (14 July 2026)
High Court (Technology and Construction Court)
BDP Construction Ltd v Cygnet Behavioural Health Ltd [2026] EWHC 1796 (TCC) (16 July 2026)
Source: www.bailii.org
Social landlord loses appeal over charges for services leaseholders were unable to access – Local Government Lawyer
‘A group of shared ownership residents cannot be charged for services on their estate that they cannot access, the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) has ruled.’
Local Government Lawyer, 16th July 2026
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
Is clients’ use of AI destroying legal privilege? – Legal Futures
‘Much has been written about the risks of lawyers misusing AI for legal research and drafting. Recent cases involving fabricated authorities and inaccurate legal analysis have rightly attracted attention.
‘However, in my view, the greater and more immediate challenge lies elsewhere: the routine use of AI by clients themselves.’
Legal Futures, 16th July 2026
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
Future of the Undercover Policing Inquiry – Home Office
‘This consultation seeks views on the future structure, scope and format of the Undercover Policing Inquiry.’
home Office, 16th July 2026
Source: www.gov.uk
Local investment and fiduciary duty: where the new line is drawn – Pensions Barrister
‘In the second of two articles on the recent LGPS governance guidance, Paul Newman KC looks at one of its more controversial aspects: the use of LGPS assets to pursue local investment objectives.’
Pensions Barrister, 16th July 2026
Source: www.pensionsbarrister.com
UK social media restrictions for under-18s confirmed – OUT-LAW.com
‘Social media companies will be required to apply default settings for teenagers aged 16 or 17 in the UK that place “overnight curfews” on use of their apps and prevent infinite scrolling, under new regulations the government has confirmed will be introduced next year.’
OUT-LAW.com, 15th July 2026
Source: www.pinsentmasons.com
CAT can decide copyright issues in competition claims, court confirms – OUT-LAW.com
‘A recent ruling by the Court of Appeal clarifies that the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) can make decisions on copyright and jurisdiction issues in competition claims in certain instances.’
OUT-LAW.com, 15th July 2026
Source: www.pinsentmasons.com
Positive obligation under the ECHR to investigate religiously-motivated violence: Barsuk and Gyl – Law & Religion UK
‘In Barsuk and Gyl v Ukraine [2026] ECHR 145, the applicants, two female Jehovah’s Witnesses, had been attacked and beaten up by one S when they were preaching door-to-door and distributing religious literature in 2017. S was subsequently arrested and charged with “infliction of minor injuries which caused short-term damage to health” and “infliction of injuries of medium severity” under the Criminal Code.’
Law & Religion UK, 16th July 2026
Source: lawandreligionuk.com
