Lawyers face new duties to keep litigants in person informed – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Rule changes are on the way addressing concerns that lawyers may be keeping litigants in the dark about important court updates.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 26th February 2019

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Government announces plans to tackle illegal traveller sites – Home Office

‘The Home Secretary has today (Wednesday 6 February) announced plans to give police tough new powers to crackdown on illegal traveller sites.’

Full press release

Home Office, 6th February 2019

Source: www.gov.uk/home-office

Blog: Divorce and the Muslim community – Family Law

‘Solicitor advocate and law writer David Burrows writes that to define a valid marriage in English law is by no means obvious.’

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Family Law, 7th February 2019

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

BSB agrees new transparency rules for the Bar – Bar Standards Board

‘The Bar Standards Board (BSB) last night agreed new rules to improve transparency standards for barristers’ clients. Subject to Legal Services Board (LSB) approval, the new rules will come into force in May 2019, with compliance spot-checking by the regulator starting from 2020.’

Full press release

Bar Standards Board, 1st February 2019

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

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.’

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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.’

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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.’

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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 sally

‘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.’

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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.’

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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 sally

‘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 sally

‘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.’

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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 sally

‘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 sally

‘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

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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.’

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The Independent, 14th November 2018

Source: www.independent.co.uk