28/09/2023 – Current Awareness

English court reminds construction contract payment provisions to be ‘compliant’ – OUT-LAW.com

Posted September 28th, 2023 in construction industry, contracts, news, time limits by tracey

‘An English court has reminded the construction sector of the importance of complying with the mandatory payment provisions in the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 (1996 Act) in payment provisions, in a case in which it found that a contract which requires the submission of VAT invoice to fix the final date for payment is not compliant.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 27th September 2023

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Sentencing guidelines coming into effect on 1 October 2023 – Sentencing Council

Posted September 28th, 2023 in intimidation, news, perverting the course of justice, sentencing, witnesses by tracey

‘On 1 October 2023, two new guidelines from the Sentencing Council for sentencing offenders convicted of interfering with the administration of justice will come into effect. The guidelines cover two offences: perverting the course of justice contrary to common law; and witness intimidation under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994.’

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Sentencing Council, 27th September 2023

Source: www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk

Lessons learnt: Handling a vexatious complaint – Local Government Lawyer

Posted September 28th, 2023 in complaints, education, electronic mail, families, news by tracey

‘Victoria Hatton provides a case study on how a school dealt with a vexatious complaint by a parent.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 27th September 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Navigating unadmitted allegations: the cart before the horse – Local Government Lawyer

Posted September 28th, 2023 in children, contact orders, domestic violence, evidence, expert witnesses, families, news by tracey

‘Kristine Lidgerwood provides a self-check for a situation which many practitioners will be familiar with and which applies equally to public law and private law proceedings. The unadmitted allegation.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 28th September 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

High Court judge: Counsel’s fees should be subject to guideline rates – Legal Futures

Posted September 28th, 2023 in barristers, fees, news, remuneration, solicitors by tracey

‘It is “difficult to see the justification for treating counsel’s fees differently from solicitors’ fees” when it comes to applying guideline hourly rates (GHR), a High Court judge said yesterday.’

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Legal Futures, 28th September 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

DNA tests for court: when to use the most powerful test available? – Family Law

Posted September 28th, 2023 in DNA, family courts, news, paternity by tracey

‘Casey Randall, Head of DNA at AlphaBiolabs, explains what family law professionals need to know about court-approved DNA testing, what the options are, and how its market-leading 45-marker test significantly increases the chance of obtaining a conclusive result in complex relationship testing cases.’

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Family Law, 25th September 2023

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

Speech by Rupika Madhura BSB Director of Standards (Interim) at the Westminster Legal Policy Forum on 20 September 2023 – Bar Standards Board

Posted September 28th, 2023 in barristers, diversity, equality, news, speeches by tracey

‘Topic: The role of regulation in promoting equality, diversity and inclusion in the legal sector – regulatory requirements and priorities, initiatives and next steps, sector responsibilities, and future areas of focus.’

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Bar Standards Board, 26th September 2023

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Tribunal deals pensions blow to judges – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted September 28th, 2023 in employment tribunals, judiciary, news, pensions by tracey

‘An employment tribunal has ruled in favour of the government in the latest judicial pensions dispute.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 27th September 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Stradey Park: Man made sexist video about police officer – BBC News

Posted September 28th, 2023 in community service, compensation, malicious communications, news, police, sentencing, suspended sentences, video recordings, Wales by tracey

‘A man who made sexist and ageist comments about a female police officer has been given a suspended sentence.’

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BBC News, 27th September 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

CPS declined to charge undercover police officer who deceived woman into 19-year relationship – The Guardian

Posted September 28th, 2023 in Crown Prosecution Service, misfeasance in public office, news, police, prosecutions by tracey

‘The Crown Prosecution Service decided not to pursue charges against an undercover police officer who deceived a woman into a 19-year relationship without even hearing evidence from the victim in the case.’

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The Guardian, 27th September 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Tory peer cleared for second time of breaking lobbying rules over PPE contracts – The Guardian

Posted September 28th, 2023 in contracts, coronavirus, lobbying, news, parliament, standards by tracey

‘A Conservative peer has been cleared of breaking lobbying rules for a second time by the House of Lords watchdog over introducing a company that was awarded government PPE contracts worth £50m.’

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The Guardian, 27th September 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com