Court denies relief for costs default during first lockdown – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted January 5th, 2021 in coronavirus, costs, law firms, negligence, news, personal injuries, time limits by sally

‘A litigant in a personal injury claim has been penalised for not contesting a costs bill within the allotted time, despite his representatives pleading that their work was affected by the first lockdown.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 5th January 2021

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Courts stay open as England plunged back into lockdown – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted January 5th, 2021 in coronavirus, courts, juries, legal profession, news, regulations by sally

‘Courts will remain open during the new Covid-19 restrictions applying across England, the government confirmed last night. Guidelines state that reasonable excuses for leaving home during lockdown include fulfilment of legal obligations, such as attending court as a lawyer or jury member, or to carry out activities relating to buying, selling or letting a home.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 5th January 2021

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Boy guilty over Oxford Street racist coronavirus attack – BBC News

Posted January 5th, 2021 in coronavirus, grievous bodily harm, hate crime, news, racism, young offenders by sally

‘A 15-year-old boy has been found guilty of racially attacking a Singaporean student who was told “I don’t want your coronavirus in our country”.’

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BBC News, 4th January 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Coronavirus: Twelve fined for playing dominoes in Tier 4 breach – BBC News

Posted January 4th, 2021 in coronavirus, fines, freedom of movement, news by sally

‘Twelve people have been fined after they were caught playing dominoes in a restaurant in east London.’

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BBC News, 3rd January 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Tough new domestic abuse tsar prepares to shape laws to protect threatened women – The Guardian

‘As violence soars in locked-down homes, Nicole Jacobs explains how, as commissioner, she can make a difference.’

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The Guardian, 3rd January 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Covid-related PI claims “gaining momentum”, warns defendant firm – Litigation Futures

‘Claims for compensation after being infected with Covid-19 “appear to be gathering some momentum” amid a significant increase in claims farming activity, a leading defendant law firm has warned.’

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Litigation Futures, 17th December 2020

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Female advocates “will lose work” if court hours are extended – Legal Futures

Posted December 17th, 2020 in barristers, carers, coronavirus, courts, news, women, working time by tracey

‘Advocates unable to cover extended operating hours in the courts will likely lose work and could be driven out of the profession as a result, a high-profile group of women barristers has told the government.’

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Legal Futures, 17th December 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Bar instructs lawyers to fight Covid-19 operating hours plan – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The criminal bar has instructed heavyweight law firm Mishcon de Reya to help it fight controversial proposals to extend Covid-19 operating hours to more courts. HM Courts & Tribunals Service is considering rolling out the model from January. A rapid consultation on the proposals closed yesterday.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 15th December 2020

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

No business interruption decision from Supreme Court until next year – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Judgment in an urgent test case to determine whether businesses hit by Covid-19 will receive insurance pay-outs will not be handed down by the Supreme Court until January at the earliest. Five Supreme Court justices heard a case between the Financial Conduct Authority and six insurance companies in November. The dispute concerned business interruption insurance (BII) and the court was asked to rule on provisions in insurance policies relating to disease clauses, prevention of access clauses and hybrid clauses.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 15th December 2020

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Ofcom investigating row over Emily Maitlis’ Newsnight monologue about Dominic Cummings – The Independent

‘The UK’s broadcasting watchdog is investigating the row over BBC host Emily Maitlis’ monologue about Dominic Cummings’ infamous trip to Barnard Castle.’

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The Independent, 15th December 2020

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Commercial sets back scheme to fund criminal law pupillages – Legal Futures

Posted December 15th, 2020 in barristers, coronavirus, criminal justice, news, pupillage by tracey

‘Eight commercial chambers have signed up to a Bar Council scheme to fund criminal law pupillages that would otherwise not be available because of the Covid-19 pandemic.’

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Legal Futures, 15th December 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Law conversion course applications jump by nearly a quarter since pandemic – The Guardian

Posted December 15th, 2020 in coronavirus, legal education, news, statistics, universities by tracey

‘According to the Central Applications Board (CAB), applications for the GDL increased by 22.5% from 2019 to 2020. Numbers are rising and providers say it’s down to Covid. “We have had a bumper GDL intake this year, which I reckon is our highest intake for years,” says Tony Storey, programme leader at Northumbria University.

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The Guardian, 15th December 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

LoveHolidays to refund £18m for cancelled holidays – BBC News

Posted December 15th, 2020 in coronavirus, holidays, news, regulations, repayment by tracey

‘LoveHolidays, one of the UK’s biggest online travel agents, has been ordered to refund £18m to more than 40,000 customers after their trips were cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak.’

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BBC News, 15th December 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Coronavirus: Greenwich Council told ‘keep schools open’ – BBC News

Posted December 15th, 2020 in coronavirus, local government, London, news, regulations, school children by tracey

‘The government has told a London council it must keep schools open or face legal action.’

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BBC News, 15th December 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Financial Remedy Update, December 2020 – Family Law Week

‘Sue Brookes Principal Associate, Family Lawyer, Collaborative Lawyer and Mediator for Mills & Reeve LLP considers the important news and case law relating to financial remedies and divorce during November 2020.’

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Family Law Week, 10th December 2020

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

UK youth jail rebuked for keeping new inmates in solitary for two weeks – The Independent

Posted December 10th, 2020 in children, coronavirus, news, prisons, young offenders by tracey

‘A children’s prison has been criticised by inspectors after they found that new arrivals as young as 15 were being locked in solitary confinement in their rooms for a fortnight and allowed out for just 30 minutes a day because of concerns about coronavirus.’

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The Independent, 9th December 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Challenge upheld to Covid-19 changes to care regime for children – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted December 8th, 2020 in adoption, care orders, children, coronavirus, ministers' powers and duties, news by sally

‘The issue before the Court of Appeal was whether the Secretary of State for Education had acted unlawfully in failing to consult certain bodies representing children in care, including the Children’s Commissioner for England, before introducing the Adoption and Children (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (“the Amendment Regulations”) following the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 7th December 2020

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Small claims worst hit so far by Covid as trial delays lengthen – Litigation Futures

Posted December 8th, 2020 in coronavirus, criminal justice, delay, news, small claims by sally

‘Small claims have been disproportionally impacted by Covid-19 in terms of timeliness, official figures have shown.’

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Litigation Futures, 8th December 2020

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

3,000 law firms “could be forced to close or merge” – Legal Futures

Posted December 8th, 2020 in conveyancing, coronavirus, insurance, law firms, legal services, loans, mergers, news by sally

‘As many as 3,000 law firms could be forced to close or merge over the next few years after the conveyancing bubble bursts and the recession really kicks in, a leading law firm consultant has warned.’

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Legal Futures, 8th December 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Remote Witnessing of Wills During the COVID-19 Pandemic – Parklane Plowden

Posted December 7th, 2020 in chambers articles, coronavirus, fraud, news, probate, undue influence, wills by sally

‘There has unsurprisingly been an uprise in the number of people making wills since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, though social distancing measures have created problems for people in terms of complying with the witnessing requirements of section 9 of the Wills Act 1837 (“the Wills Act”).’

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Parklane Plowden, 10th November 2020

Source: www.parklaneplowden.co.uk