Pornography of adult consensual sex no longer taboo, says CPS – The Guardian

‘Pornography produced by consenting adults engaging in legal acts will no longer be prosecuted under Britain’s historic obscenity laws, the Crown Prosecution Service has said.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 31st January 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

UK consulting on overhaul of allergen labelling laws – OUT-LAW.com

Posted January 29th, 2019 in allergies, consultations, consumer protection, food, labelling, news by sally

‘The UK government has announced a consultation into the rules governing allergen information on food which is prepacked and ready to eat.’

Full Story

OUT-LAW.com, 28th January 2019

Source: www.out-law.com

Family courts next to test video hearings – Legal Futures

Posted January 28th, 2019 in consultations, family courts, judiciary, live link evidence, news, pilot schemes by sally

‘A test in the family courts will be the next step in exploring fully video hearings, against a backdrop of widespread concern about the technology among judges, it has emerged.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 28th January 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Tougher food labelling proposed to prevent allergy deaths – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 25th, 2019 in allergies, consultations, consumer protection, food, labelling, news by tracey

‘The Government has set out new proposals to toughen food labelling laws and protect the two million food allergy suffers across the country. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has launched a consultation into food labelling laws focusing on overhauling the labelling of pre-prepared foods such as sandwiches and salads which are made, packaged and sold in the same stores.’

Full Story

Daily Telegraph, 25th January 2019

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

LSB rules “could stop Law Society from criticising SRA” – Legal Futures

‘The Law Society has said it is “deeply concerned” that new rules proposed by the Legal Services Board (LSB) could largely prevent it from either lobbying or criticising the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).’

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Legal Futures, 24th January 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Scam victims whose losses are not ‘life changing’ will receive no redress, under bank plans – Daily Telegraph

‘Scam victims whose losses are not considered to be “life changing” could be excluded from a new compensation scheme under proposals by one of Britain’s biggest banks.’

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Daily Telegraph, 24th January 2019

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Plan to simplify UK’s 1,100 pages of immigration rules – The Guardian

Posted January 22nd, 2019 in consultations, immigration, Law Commission, news by sally

‘People would be able to more easily understand the UK’s immigration rules under a proposed shakeup of the regulations by the government’s law advisers that would simplify the current 1,100 pages of regulations.’

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The Guardian, 21st January 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Government to hand police new powers to tackle illegal use of drones – Local Government Lawyer

Posted January 10th, 2019 in aircraft, airports, consultations, fines, investigatory powers, news, police by sally

‘The Government has announced plans to hand police new powers to deal with the illegal use of drones.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 8th January 2019

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

QC appointment reforms aim to help women apply – Legal Futures

Posted December 17th, 2018 in barristers, consultations, diversity, equality, news, queen's counsel, women by sally

‘Changes to the QC appointment regime aimed to help women apply for silk are to be introduced for the 2019 round, the body in charge of the scheme has announced.’

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Legal Futures, 17th December 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Restore legal aid for separating couples, MoJ urged – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted December 11th, 2018 in budgets, consultations, divorce, families, legal aid, news by sally

‘Digitising the divorce application process and hoping for the best isn’t enough to reform the legal requirements for splitting up, the Law Society has warned, telling the government to restore legal aid so that separating couples can receive early advice.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 11th December 2018

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

High court rejects challenge to ‘hostile environment’ NHS charge – The Guardian

‘A judge has rejected a challenge by a member of the Windrush generation to the government requirement for the NHS to charge overseas patients for treatment.’

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The Guardian, 10th December 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

BSB seeks views on how to recover costs for overseeing new Bar training rules – Bar Standards Board

Posted December 7th, 2018 in barristers, consultations, costs, fees, legal education, press releases, pupillage by tracey

‘The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has today launched a consultation seeking views on the charging model it proposes to introduce for organisations providing Bar training. These organisations are known as Authorised Education and Training Organisations (AETOs).’

Full press release

Bar Standards Board, 6th December 2018

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org

Some 125 barristers earned more than £1m last year – Legal Futures

Posted November 27th, 2018 in barristers, budgets, consultations, fees, licensing, news, remuneration, statistics by tracey

‘There were around 125 barristers reporting fees of more than £1m last year, and another 200 who brought in more than £500,000, new figures from the Bar Council have suggested.
The Bar Council, including the Bar Standards Board, is set to raise an extra £900,000 by imposing higher practising certificate fees (PCFs) on barristers earning more than £500,000 for the first time.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 27th November 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Bar Council reaction to Lord Chancellor’s AGFS announcement – The Bar Council

Posted November 27th, 2018 in barristers, consultations, criminal justice, fees, pilot schemes, press releases by tracey

‘Responding to the Lord Chancellor’s announcement during Saturday’s Bar Council Annual Conference of more funding for the Advocates’ Graduated Fee Scheme (AGFS) Andrew Walker QC, Chair of the Bar, said: “The Lord Chancellor’s announcement that there will be further funding for the Advocates’ Graduated Fee Scheme (AGFS), following the recent consultation, is welcome. So too are his comments about the future – about the scope to improve the way in which criminal defence advocates are paid, and his commitment to working together with the professions to make criminal advocacy sustainable.”

Full press release

The Bar Council, 26th November 2018

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Doctors and teachers could face criminal charges for failing to report forced marriage – The Independent

Posted November 16th, 2018 in consultations, doctors, forced marriages, news, notification, prosecutions, teachers by tracey

‘Doctors, nurses and teachers could face criminal charges for failing to report forced marriage cases under plans being considered by the government. Ministers are weighing up the possibility of introducing a mandatory reporting duty to boost efforts to tackle the “hidden crime”. A Home Office consultation paper published this week seeks views on whether such a measure should be introduced, and if so, who it should apply to.’

Full consultation

Full Story

The Independent, 16th November 2018

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Ministers unveil ‘housing court’ proposals to speed up disputes between landlords and tenants – The Independent

Posted November 14th, 2018 in consultations, courts, housing, landlord & tenant, news by sally

‘Ministers have unveiled plans for a specialist “housing court” to speed up the settlement of property disputes between landlords and tenants.’

Full Story

The Independent, 14th November 2018

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Give victims right to challenge police and parole decisions, say MPs and Lords – Daily Telegraph

Posted November 13th, 2018 in compensation, consultations, criminal justice, disclosure, news, parole, police, victims by sally

‘Crime victims must get new legal rights to challenge parole and police decisions, a new all party group of MPs and Lords will demand today (Tues).’

Full Story

Daily Telegraph, 13th November 2018

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Law Commissions open consultation into new rules for UK’s self-driving future – Law Commission

‘The Law Commission of England and Wales and the Scottish Law Commission are launching the first of a series of public consultations about crucial legal reforms which will ensure the country is prepared for the introduction of automated vehicles.’

Full press release

Law Commission, 8th November 2018

Source: www.lawcom.gov.uk

Valuation under evaluation: proposals for reform – Tanfield Chambers

‘Nicola Muir considers the Law Commission’s options for reforming the valuation of residential lease extensions.’

Full Story

Tanfield Chambers, 18th October 2018

Source: www.tanfieldchambers.co.uk

Environmental Law News Update – Six Pump Court

‘In this latest Environmental Law News Update, Christopher Badger and Mark Davies consider the environmental implications of yesterday’s Budget, a consultation between the FCA and the PRA on climate change and finance, and a recent case holding that an EIR request was “manifestly unreasonable”.’

Full Story

Six Pump Court, 30th October 2018

Source: www.6pumpcourt.co.uk