BSB chief aims to arrange exam resits as soon as possible – Legal Futures

Posted August 18th, 2020 in barristers, complaints, computer programs, examinations, legal education, news by sally

‘The Bar Standards Board (BSB) is looking to arrange another round of exams well before December, its chief executive has told Legal Futures, as complaints about the online system mount.’

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Legal Futures, 18th August 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Barristers step in to support beleaguered Bar students – Legal Futures

Posted August 13th, 2020 in barristers, complaints, computer programs, examinations, legal education, news by sally

‘Barristers have offered to support the dozens of Bar students who have so far reported major problems with taking their exams, including having to urinate into bottles and buckets in front of their computers.’

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Legal Futures, 13th August 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Bar students hit by technical failures in first online test – Legal Futures

Posted August 13th, 2020 in barristers, complaints, computer programs, examinations, legal education, news by sally

‘A “small number” of Bar students were affected by technical issues that prevented them from completing their first online exam, the Bar Standards Board (BSB) said yesterday amid a stream of complaints, along with calls from practitioners for the regulator to act.’

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Legal Futures, 12th August 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Students lodge formal complaint against BPP alleging City favouritism – Law Society’s Gazette

‘A multifaceted complaint against legal educator BPP from students on its postgraduate solicitor programmes was formally submitted today.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 11th August 2020

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Home Office drops ‘racist’ algorithm from visa decisions – BBC News

‘The Home Office has agreed to stop using a computer algorithm to help decide visa applications after allegations that it contained “entrenched racism”.’

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BBC News, 4th August 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

‘Deepfake’ warning over online courts – Legal Futures

‘Video manipulation software, including ‘deepfake’ technology, poses problems for remote courts in verifying evidence and that litigants or witnesses are who they say they are, a report has warned.’

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Legal Futures, 29th July 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Met uses software that can be deployed to see if ethnic groups ‘specialise’ in areas of crime – The Guardian

Posted July 28th, 2020 in computer programs, London, minorities, news, police by sally

‘Origins software produced by Trevor Phillips’s firm allows users to profile suspects, says company.

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The Guardian, 27th July 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Government admits breaking privacy law with NHS test and trace – The Guardian

‘The UK government broke the law in rolling out its test-and-trace programme without a full assessment of the privacy implications, the Department of Health and Social Care has admitted after a legal challenge.’

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The Guardian, 20th July 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

The Digitisation of Welfare and Irrationality Review: SSWP v Johnson – Oxford Human Rights Hub

‘In Secretary of State for Work and Pensions v Johnson & Ors [2020] EWCA Civ 778, the England & Wales Court of Appeal took the uncommon step of holding an executive decision unlawful for Wednesbury irrationality. Johnson highlights that irrationality is not merely a desperate ground of last resort for judicial review applicants. The case is also an important illustration of how substantive review may be relied upon by those affected by the digitisation of welfare.’

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Oxford Human Rights Hub, 30th June 2020

Source: ohrh.law.ox.ac.uk

Universal credit rules irrational and unlawful, judge says – The Guardian

‘Four single mothers have secured a victory over the government after the appeal court ruled that rigid universal credit payment rules that leave tens of thousands of working benefit claimants out of pocket were irrational and unlawful.’

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The Guardian, 22nd June 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Postmasters were prosecuted using unreliable evidence – BBC News

‘The Post Office prosecuted postmasters over missing money despite having evidence its own computer system could be to blame.’

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BBC News, 8th June 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Privacy group prepares legal challenge to NHS test-and-trace scheme – The Guardian

‘Privacy campaigners are preparing a legal challenge to the NHS’s coronavirus test-and-trace programme as concerns grow about the amount of contact data that will be collected and retained by government.’

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The Guardian, 31st May 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

General guidance on PDF bundles – St John’s Chambers

Posted May 29th, 2020 in case management, computer programs, documents, electronic filing, news by sally

‘Mr Justice Mann, Judge in charge of Live Services, has issued guidance to judges today about PDF bundles. The guidance applies to all courts, but not to tribunals.’

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St John's Chambers, 20th May 2020

Source: www.stjohnschambers.co.uk

COVID-19 Guidance Tracker – Six Pump Court

Posted May 29th, 2020 in computer programs, coronavirus, legal profession, news, regulations by sally

‘The “COVID-19 Guidance Tracker” is a new resource set up by the Regulatory team at Six Pump Court which is designed to enable businesses and legal professionals to more easily navigate to the applicable COVID-19 guidance that is most relevant to their area of work.’

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Six Pump Court, May 2020

Source: www.6pumpcourt.co.uk

An Act for the App? Is the NHS contact app bad for your privacy? – Doughty Street Chambers

‘Following the publication last week by the Joint Committee on Human Rights of its report on the proposed NHS App and the risk of adverse effects on privacy and human rights, the Committee has drafted a Bill – the Digital Contact Tracing (Data Protection Bill) – and sent it to the Health Secretary, Matt Hancock.’

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Doughty Street Chambers, 12th May 2020

Source: insights.doughtystreet.co.uk

Contact tracing – breach of data protection? – UK Human Rights Blog

‘In the rush to lift the lockdown with safeguards, the government has given a green light to “contact tracing” via bluetooth apps on our smartphones (provided we own them and are willling to take up the app).’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 15th May 20202

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

BSB approves online exams with “astonishing” anti-cheat rules – Legal Futures

‘The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has announced that Bar students will be able to take this year’s exams online – but barristers have expressed concern about the “astonishing” anti-cheating provisions.’

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Legal Futures, 14th May 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Digital Contact Tracing Updates from the Human Rights Committee – UK Human Rights Blog

‘The Human Rights Committee, reviewing NHSX’s current digital contact tracing app architecture, has recommended that the government’s current privacy assurances are not sufficient to protect data privacy and that legislation must be passed to ensure that. This echoes Professor Lilian Edwards’ call for primary legislation to ensure privacy rights are protected. These recommendations are given special significance NHSX’s choice to adopt the controversial and arguably less secure “centralised” model.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 11th May 2020

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Can I Trust The NHS’ Covid-19 Contact Tracing App? – Each Other

Posted May 12th, 2020 in computer programs, coronavirus, news, telecommunications by sally

‘Around 60 percent of the UK public will need to use the NHS’ Covid-19 contact tracing app for it to effectively quell the outbreak. But it has been warned that uptake will depend on whether the app “gives reason to be trusted”. EachOther asks experts their views on how trust is being earned and eroded.’

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Each Other, 7th May 2020

Source: eachother.org.uk

UK contact-tracing app could fall foul of privacy law, government told – The Guardian

‘The NHS contact-tracing app must not be rolled out across the UK until the government has increased privacy and data protections, an influential parliamentary committee has said, as rights groups warn that the current trial is unlawful under the Data Protection Act.’

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The Guardian, 7th May 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com