SRA relaxes assessment rules for students and trainees – Legal Futures

‘The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has today outlined a significant relaxation of its rules for law students and trainees to allow their assessment to go online.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 25th March 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Coronavirus: Police get new powers to enforce protection – BBC News

Posted March 27th, 2020 in coronavirus, enforcement, fines, freedom of movement, news, police by sally

‘Anyone continuing to break coronavirus lockdown rules will be breaking the law and faces arrest.’

Full Story

BBC News, 26th March 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Number of outstanding crown court cases reaches two-year high – The Guardian

Posted March 27th, 2020 in coronavirus, criminal justice, Crown Court, delay, news, statistics by sally

‘The number of outstanding crown court cases in England and Wales has reached the highest level for two years, figures show, amid growing concerns about pressures on the criminal justice system caused by the Covid-19 crisis.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 26th March 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

“Grossly negligent” partner suspended over missing $2.2m – Legal Futures

‘A “grossly negligent” salaried partner has been suspended for a year after $2.2m in escrow monies belonging to the other party in a deal was “dissipated in a series of unauthorised transactions”.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 27th March 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Covid-19 Sample Couriers ‘Denied Face Masks’ Take Legal Action – Each Other

‘Couriers transporting Covid-19 samples across London are taking legal action against their employer over claims they are being denied hand sanitiser and face masks.’

Full Story

Each Other, 26th March 2020

Source: eachother.org.uk

Coronavirus cough attacks a crime, says prosecution chief – BBC News

Posted March 27th, 2020 in assault, coronavirus, criminal justice, health, news by sally

‘Anyone who coughs on key workers as a threat amid the coronavirus crisis will face serious criminal charges.’

Full Story

BBC News, 26th March 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Watchdog approves use of UK phone data if it helps fight coronavirus – The Guardian

‘The UK’s privacy watchdog has said the government can use personal data from people’s mobile phones to track and monitor behaviour if it helps fight the spread of coronavirus.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 27th March 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

MPs no longer to get automatic vote on constituency boundary plans – The Guardian

Posted March 27th, 2020 in boundaries, brexit, elections, news, parliament by sally

‘MPs will no longer automatically get a vote on any future plans to redraw constituency boundaries.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 26th March 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Upper Tribunal cuts £572k civil penalties in housing case by 70% – Local Government Lawyer

Posted March 27th, 2020 in appeals, housing, local government, news, notification, penalties, tribunals by sally

‘The Upper Tribunal has allowed in part an appeal over civil penalties of £236,000 imposed on each of two defendants for housing offences, reducing the total amount to be paid to £174,000.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 25th March 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

High Court judge highlights clash between diplomatic immunity and child protection – Local Government Lawyer

‘A Family Court case has highlighted a “virtually insoluble dilemma” between diplomatic immunity and child protection, leading Mr Justice Mostyn to call for an amendment to the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 26th March 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Warning over rise in UK domestic abuse cases linked to coronavirus – The Guardian

Posted March 27th, 2020 in coronavirus, domestic violence, families, news, police, statistics by sally

‘There has been a rise in domestic abuse incidents directly related to the coronavirus outbreak, according to a police leader.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 26th March 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Virtual case begins as court rejects trial on papers – Litigation Futures

‘The High Court yesterday adjourned an upcoming trial, saying that the guidance on the coronavirus pandemic did not allow it to take place on the papers.’

Full Story

Litigation Futures, 26th March 2020

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Conveyancing: Government urges home movers to delay – Legal Futures

Posted March 27th, 2020 in conveyancing, coronavirus, delay, health, housing, news by sally

‘The government has urged home buyers and renters to delay moving to a new house if possible during the coronavirus lockdown and said there must be social distancing if they cannot.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 26th March 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

UK police use drones and roadblocks to enforce lockdown – The Guardian

‘A police force has defended using a drone camera to shame people into not driving into a national park during the lockdown, while another force said it was introducing roadblocks to stop drivers heading to tourist hotspots.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 26th March 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Upper Tribunal rules on burden of proof when statutory defence to HMO offence is pleaded – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Upper Tribunal has ruled on where the burden of proof lies when it is said that the manager of a house in multiple occupation had a reasonable excuse for conduct which, but for that defence, would amount to a relevant housing offence under section 249A, Housing Act 2004.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 25th March 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

New Judgment: Elgizouli (AP) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2020] UKSC 10 – UKSC Blog

‘The appellant’s son is alleged to have been one of a group of terrorists operating in Syria, involved in the murder of US and British citizens. The US made a mutual legal assistance request to the UK in relation to an investigation into the activities of that group. The Home Secretary requested an assurance that the information would not be used directly or indirectly in a prosecution that could lead to the imposition of the death penalty. The US refused to provide a full death penalty assurance and the Home Secretary agreed to provide information to the US without requiring any assurance. The appellant challenged the Home Secretary’s decision by way of judicial review. The questions for the Supreme Court were firstly whether it is unlawful for the Secretary of State to exercise his power to provide MLA so as to supply evidence to a foreign state that will facilitate the imposition of the death penalty in that state on the individual and secondly whether it is lawful under the Data Protection Act 2018, Part 3 for law enforcement authorities in the UK to transfer personal data to law enforcement authorities abroad for use in capital criminal proceedings.’

Full Story

UKSC Blog, 25th March 2020

Source: ukscblog.com

Article 8: Test for Family Life arising out of Foster Care is no different to that of “Birth Families” – UK Human Rights Blog

‘On 12 March 2020 a unanimous Court of Appeal led by Sir Ernest Ryder (Senior President of the Tribunals), together with Lord Justice Bean and Lady Justice King, allowed the Appellant’s appeal against the First tier Tribunal (“FtT”) and Upper Tribunal (“UT”)’s decisions upholding the refusal of his application for leave to remain.’

Full Story

UK Human Rights Blog, 24th March 2020

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

The Coronavirus Act and the Care Act: The Key Points – Coronavirus: Guidance for Lawyers and Businesses

‘The former Coronavirus Bill is now the Coronavirus Act 2020. The bill was not significantly amended in relation to the proposed changes to the Care Act – however, per s.87(2) of the Coronavirus Act, the changes relating to the Care Act will not come into force until further regulations are made to that effect. Arianna Kelly outlines the key points.’

Full Story

Coronavirus: Guidance for Lawyers and Businesses, 26th March 2020

Source: lawinthetimeofcorona.wordpress.com

Judge gives guidance on application to Court of Appeal for interim relief – Local Government Lawyer

Posted March 26th, 2020 in appeals, civil procedure rules, homelessness, housing, local government, news by sally

‘Lord Justice Hickinbottom has given guidance on making applications to the Court of Appeal for interim relief, in a housing case he declined to conclude because it had become academic.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 25th March 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

The Maya Forstater case and so-called ‘gender critical’ feminism: what was actually decided and what does it reveal about UK discrimination law? – Oxford Human Rights Hub

‘In Forstater v CGD (2019), a think tank did not renew its contract for consultancy services with the claimant, Maya Forstater, allegedly because of Forstater expressing so-called ‘gender critical’ beliefs. Forstater claimed that she had suffered direct discrimination for having a protected belief under section 10 of the Equality Act 2010. In a preliminary decision, the employment tribunal considered whether the claimant’s belief was indeed protected. Tayler J identified the core of the claimant’s belief to be that sex is biologically immutable and, in no circumstances, is a trans woman ‘a woman’ or a trans man ‘a man’, even when the person in question has a Gender Recognition Certificate under the Gender Recognition Act 2004 (paragraph [77]). Due to the belief’s ‘no circumstances’ aspect, the judge labelled it ‘absolutist’ ([84]).’

Full Story

Oxford Human Rights Hub, 22nd March 2020

Source: ohrh.law.ox.ac.uk