01/02/2021 – Current Awareness

‘The conflict between the need for open spaces for recreation and the availability of land for residential development has resulted in another interesting Court of Appeal decision, writes Christopher Cant.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 29th January 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

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 tracey

‘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 tracey

‘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

Posted February 1st, 2021 in codes of practice, families, family courts, legal profession, Ministry of Justice, news by tracey

‘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 tracey

‘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

Posted February 1st, 2021 in barristers, bullying, disciplinary procedures, fines, harassment, news, professional conduct, sexual offences by tracey

‘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

Posted February 1st, 2021 in appeals, asylum, government departments, health & safety, housing, immigration, news, refugees by tracey

‘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

Posted February 1st, 2021 in bereavement, compensation, damages, families, hospitals, human rights, inquests, news, unlawful killing by tracey

‘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 tracey

‘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 tracey

‘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

Posted February 1st, 2021 in bills, genocide, government departments, human rights, news, parliament, political parties, select committees by tracey

‘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