BSB consults on changing the standard of proof used in professional misconduct proceedings for barristers – Bar Standards Board

‘The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has today launched a new consultation about the standard of proof applied when barristers and others regulated by the BSB face disciplinary proceedings for professional misconduct.’

Full story

Bar Standards Board, 2nd May 2017

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Blockchain technology will be “game changer” in conveyancing – Legal Futures

‘Blockchain-backed ‘smart contracts’ will be a “game changer” in property transactions, increasing certainty for buyers and sellers as well as speeding up the house-buying process, it has been claimed.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 26th April 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Campaigners to crowd fund judicial review of partial hospital closure – Local Government Lawyer

Posted April 27th, 2017 in consultations, costs, hospitals, judicial review, legal aid, news by sally

‘A crowdfunding campaign to judicially review a partial hospital closure in Devon has won backing from Honition Town Council’

Full story

Local Government Lawyer, 26th April 2017

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Doctors’ body urges government to aim high with fixed-fee cap for clinical negligence cases – Litigation Futures

Posted April 25th, 2017 in consultations, costs, doctors, fees, health, negligence, news by sally

‘The Medical Protection Society (MPS) has called on the government to be more “bold” with its proposals to introduced fixed costs for clinical negligence cases by including cases worth up to £250,000 – 10 times the proposed limit.’

Full story

Litigation Futures, 25th April 2017

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

SRA attacks “disproportionate and unnecessary” money laundering regulations – Legal Futures

‘New anti-money laundering (AML) regulations planned by the Treasury would impose “disproportionate and unnecessary” burdens on law firms, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has warned.’

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Legal Futures, 20th April 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Thousands of domestic violence victims withdrawing from legal action after Government cuts, figures reveal – The Independent

‘More than 160,000 victims of domestic violence in England withdrew their support for charges against their abusers in 2016, a number that rocketed by almost 40 per cent compared with the previous 12 months, exclusive figures reveal.’

Full story

The Independent, 9th April 2017

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Jeremy Lewis on NHS Applicant Whistleblowers: wider implications and mis-steps en route – Littleton Chambers

Posted April 6th, 2017 in consultations, disclosure, employment, health, news, regulations, whistleblowers by sally

‘On 20 March 2017 the Government published draft Regulations with a view to providing whistleblowing protection to applicants for NHS employment [1]. A consultation has been launched. Some two years after the publication of the report by Sir Robert Francis QC into whistleblowing in NHS, Freedom to Speak Up, the draft Regulations aim to implement the recommendation that consideration be given to outlawing discrimination against whistleblowers in recruitment by NHS employers. (Legislation giving power to make these regulations – s.49B of the Employment Rights Act 1996 – has been on the statute book since 6 May 2015).’

Full story

Littleton Chambers, 21st March 2017

Source: www.littletonchambers.com

New guideline published on sentence reduction for early plea – Henderson Chambers

Posted April 6th, 2017 in consultations, guilty pleas, news, sentencing by sally

‘After lengthy consultation last year the Sentencing Council has published its new guideline on the stages and levels of reduction for a guilty plea.’

Full story (PDF)

Henderson Chambers, 23rd March 2017

Source: www.hendersonchambers.co.uk

Cloisters column: Reforming the Soft Tissue Injury (whiplash) Claims Process – Government consultation and reform in the ‘post-truth’ age? – Cloisters

Posted April 6th, 2017 in compensation, consultations, news, personal injuries, small claims by sally

‘In the 2015 autumn statement the then Chancellor announced proposals for whiplash claims and an increase to the small claims limit in personal injury actions. The Government has now published its Consultation response.’

Full story

Cloisters, 30th March 2017

Source: www.cloisters.com

Former top judge sounds alarm over “flawed and rushed” discount rate consultation – Litigation Futures

Posted April 6th, 2017 in consultations, damages, judges, news, personal injuries by tracey

‘A former senior judge has expressed alarm at the way the government is rushing to “neutralise” the impact of the Lord Chancellor’s decision to cut the discount rate to -0.75%, based on what he says is a flawed consultation and without considering the effect on injured people.’

Full story

Litigation Futures, 6th April 2017

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Freedom of speech, the Prevent duty and higher education – Law & Religion UK

‘S 43 Education (No. 2) Act 1986 (Freedom of speech in universities, polytechnics and colleges) requires “Every individual and body of persons concerned in the government” of further and higher education institutions to “take such steps as are reasonably practicable to ensure that freedom of speech within the law is secured” for staff, students and visiting speakers. The institutions must ensure, “so far as is reasonably practicable”, that use of the premises is not denied to anyone on any ground connected with their beliefs, views, policy or objectives. On the other hand, the Prevent duty in s 26 Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 requires specified authorities – including relevant higher education bodies – to have due regard in the exercise of their functions to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism.’

Full story

Law & Religion UK, 5th April 2017

Source: www.lawandreligionuk.com

BSB to launch plans for ‘barrister apprenticeships’ – Legal Futures

‘The Bar Standards Board (BSB) is to launch a consultation this summer setting out the rule changes it needs to implement its fiercely contested training reforms, and among them will be a new route to qualification similar to solicitor apprenticeships.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 4th April 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

FCA considers shake-up of credit card market to help consumers struggling with persistent credit card debt – OUT-LAW.com

Posted April 5th, 2017 in banking, consultations, consumer credit, debts, financial regulation, news by sally

‘Credit card companies could be required to take more active measures to help customers struggling with persistent debts, under plans outlined by the UK’s City regulator.’

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 4th April 2017

Source: www.out-law.com

Intimidatory offences and domestic abuse – consultation launched on sentencing guideline – Sentencing Council

‘The Sentencing Council has launched a consultation on its proposed guidelines on sentencing intimidatory offences and domestic abuse.’

Full press release

Sentencing Council, 30th March 2017

Source: http://sentencingcouncil.judiciary.gov.uk

BSB announces decision on the future of Bar training – Bar Standards board

‘At its Board meeting last night, the Bar Standards Board (BSB) decided that it will authorise a limited number of future training routes for prospective students to qualify as barristers. One of these is likely to be a new training course, which has been proposed by the Council of the Inns of Court (COIC) and the Bar Council. The Board also agreed a Policy Statement setting out its vision for the future of Bar training.’

Full press release

Bar Standards Board, 24th March 2017

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Justice reformer condemns digital criminal courts plan – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Government plans for virtual court hearings and online guilty pleas for criminal offences are poorly costed, based on weak evidence and have not been subjected to proper consultation, a national justice charity says today.’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 15th March 2017

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

New crackdown to be launched on jobs for MPs’ wives and family for fear of Fillon-style scandal – Daily Telegraph

‘MPs are to be hit with tougher restrictions on employing their wives and children amid concern of a François Fillon-style scandal in Britain, The Sunday Telegraph understands.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 12th March 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Official secrets reform gets more time – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted March 10th, 2017 in consultations, news, official secrets act, time limits by sally

‘Interested parties have been given an extra month to comment on proposals for a new law to protect official secrets after an unexpected media furore. Citing a ‘large amount of interest’ the Law Commission said that its deadline for responding to the public consultation on Protection of Official Data had been extended to 3 May.’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 9th March 2017

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Jackson: solicitors tell me costs budgeting is working – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted March 10th, 2017 in budgets, consultations, costs, news, solicitors by sally

‘Lord Justice Jackson has said large numbers of respondents have answered his call for evidence on the extension of fixed recoverable costs.’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 7th March 2017

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

District urges neighbouring councils to clarify legal process for planned merger – Local Government Lawyer

Posted March 9th, 2017 in consultations, local government, mergers, news by sally

‘Sedgemoor District Council has urged its neighbours, Taunton Deane and West Somerset Councils, to clarify the legal process to be used for their proposed merger.’

Full story

Local Government Lawyer, 8th March 2017

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk