Wellbeing a “global problem” with severe effects on some lawyers – Legal Futures

Posted April 8th, 2021 in coronavirus, health, legal profession, mental health, news by sally

‘Lawyer wellbeing is “a cause for global concern”, with levels of wellbeing below the average in every part of the globe, the first survey of its kind has found.’

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Legal Futures, 8th April 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

UK’s ‘headlong rush into abandoning human rights’ rebuked by Amnesty – The Guardian

‘Amnesty International has published a stark rebuke of the UK government’s stance on human rights, saying that it is “speeding towards the cliff edge” in its policies on housing and immigration, and criticising its seeming determination to end the legal right for the public to challenge government decisions in court.’

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The Guardian, 7th April 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Belly Mujinga: family still seeking justice one year after Covid death – The Guardian

Posted April 6th, 2021 in anonymity, assault, coronavirus, data protection, news, private prosecutions by sally

‘The family of Belly Mujinga, a London transport worker who died with Covid-19 after allegedly being spat and coughed at while on duty, have called for police to disclose the suspect’s name.’

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The Guardian, 5th April 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Housing case law update – March 2021 – Local Government Lawyer

‘Paul Lloyd, Helen Gascoigne and Catherine Craven analyse the latest court rulings and Ombudsman investigations of interest to housing associations and local authorities.’

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Local Government Lawyers, 30th March 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Mary Agyapong inquest: Public Covid inquiry needed as soon as ‘practicable’, coroner says – The Independent

Posted March 31st, 2021 in coronavirus, coroners, inquests, inquiries, news by tracey

‘The coroner in charge of the inquest into the death of a 28-year-old senior nurse last year has urged the government to hold an inquiry into the pandemic “as soon as practicable”. Emma Whitting made the plea at the end of the inquest at Bedfordshire and Luton Coroner’s Court, after ruling that Mary Agyeiwaa Agyapong had died of multiple organ failure and coronavirus.’

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The Independent, 30th March 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Remote hearing “did not stop witness admitting he had lied” – Litigation Futures

Posted March 30th, 2021 in coronavirus, deceit, news, probate, remote hearings, wills, witnesses by tracey

‘Holding a trial over the validity of a will remotely may have helped a witness admit that the contents of his affidavit were not true, the High Court has suggested.’

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Litigation Futures, 30th March 2021

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Crown court backlog has reached ‘crisis levels’, report warns – The Guardian

‘The backlog of crown court cases in England and Wales has reached “crisis levels”, with the increased remand population likely to disproportionately impact children and young people from black and minority ethnic backgrounds, a parliamentary committee has warned.’

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The Guardian, 30th March 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Our treatment of the vulnerable – Local Government Lawyer

‘The pandemic has shone a powerful searchlight on to the unnecessarily damaged lives of too many of our most vulnerable people and children. In a paper given at a Royal Holloway University of London Symposium, Sir James Munby, former President of the Family Division, looks at the challenges facing the family justice system.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 26th March 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Extreme lockdown laws extended for a further six months despite major Tory revolt – The Independent

‘Draconian lockdown laws imposed one year ago have been extended for a further six months, despite a major Tory revolt.
The Coronavirus Act – granting powers over everything from school closures and public gatherings to the detention of infected people – was renewed by MPs, by 484 votes to 76.’

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The Independent, 25th March 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Public Accounts Committee warns of “huge backlogs” in courts, justice system under “unprecedented pressure” – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Ministry of Justice “faces significant risks across the full range of its services, without a clear sense of prioritisation” and huge backlogs that have built up are causing “unacceptably long waiting times for people to access justice”, the Public Accounts Committee has said.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 24th March 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Fiona de Londras: Six-Monthly Votes on the Coronavirus Act 2020: A Meaningful Mode of Review? – UK Constitutional Law Association

Posted March 25th, 2021 in coronavirus, emergency powers, news, parliament, regulations, reports, time limits by sally

‘A year since the Coronavirus Act 2020 received Royal Assent, Parliament will today (25 March 2021) once more debate the Coronavirus Act 2020 and its effects, effectiveness, and continuation. The Coronavirus Act 2020 is a touchpoint in the legal and regulatory response to the pandemic.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 25th March 2021

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

Stalking victims ‘sitting ducks’ in lockdown, say Suzy Lamplugh Trust – BBC News

Posted March 25th, 2021 in charities, coronavirus, news, stalking, victims by sally

‘Stalking victims say they feel like “sitting ducks” in lockdown, according to a charity which has seen a surge in calls for help.’

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BBC News, 25th March 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Patient safety watchdog launches investigation into NHS 111 advice to Covid patients – The Guardian

Posted March 25th, 2021 in bereavement, coronavirus, health, news, reports, telecommunications by sally

‘The NHS patient safety watchdog has launched an investigation into failings by the NHS 111 telephone advice service which may have cost the lives of people with Covid-19.’

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The Guardian, 25th March 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

HMCTS rolls out on-site rapid testing at four more courts – Local Government Lawyer

Posted March 24th, 2021 in coronavirus, courts, HM Courts Service, news by sally

‘HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) will from this week offer voluntary on-site rapid testing at four courts to people who attend scheduled hearings and are not showing symptoms of COVID-19.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 23rd March 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Trial delays continue to lengthen across civil courts – Litigation Futures

‘Delays in cases going through the civil court continue to spiral upwards, with the whiplash reforms set to increase pressure on the small claims court even further in the coming months.’

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Litigation Futures, 23rd March 2021

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Prosecution sees pub and landlord fined for “sewer abuse” – Local Government Lawyer

Posted March 23rd, 2021 in coronavirus, fines, licensed premises, news, sewerage, waste by sally

‘A pub and its landlord have been fined more than £16,000 for allowing cooking fat and oil to enter a town’s sewer network, in a landmark case brought by Thames Water.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 22nd March 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Covid: £5,000 fine for people going on holiday abroad – BBC News

Posted March 23rd, 2021 in coronavirus, fines, holidays, news, regulations by sally

‘A £5,000 fine for anyone in England trying to travel abroad without good reason is due to come into force next week as part of new coronavirus laws.’

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BBC News, 23rd March 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Bar regulator “struggling to keep pace” with rising volume of work – Legal Futures

Posted March 19th, 2021 in barristers, budgets, coronavirus, disciplinary procedures, news, statistics by sally

‘The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has admitted it is struggling to keep pace with a rising volume of incoming reports, authorisations and disciplinary cases.’

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Legal Futures, 19th March 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Covid: Blind woman forces government action in shielding case – BBC News

‘A blind woman who was sent a shielding letter she could not read has won “promising” commitments from the government after a legal challenge.’

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BBC News, 19th March 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Pandemic NHS workers should be granted indefinite leave to remain — Aaron Gates-Lincoln – UK Human Rights Blog

‘Migrant workers have been essential to the operations of the NHS ever since its inception in 1948. Over the decades, many programmes have been used to encourage and find overseas workers and help them migrate to the UK to be employed in the healthcare system, demonstrating our governments acknowledgment of how important they are. As early as 1949, campaigns were made by the UK government in the Caribbean to recruit NHS staff, through advertisements in local newspapers.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 17th March 2021

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com