Elections and compulsory photo ID – what effect will it have on Gypsies and Irish Travellers? – Each Other

Posted May 21st, 2021 in bills, elections, equality, human rights, identification, news, travellers by tracey

‘At the annual Queen’s Speech last week, the controversial Electoral Integrity Bill was announced. If passed, it means that voters will need to produce a valid form of photo ID when they cast their vote. The government rationale behind the legislation is to secure trust and prevent fraud in UK voting systems. It is thought the legislation will be in place by next year. Despite being routinely practiced in many countries, including Northern Ireland and the United States, this type of legislation has been criticised for deterring voters and, more problematically, disenfranchising poorer, minority and elderly voters. This is due to the fact that procuring approved forms of identification can be expensive and time consuming.’

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Each Other, 20th May 2021

Source: eachother.org.uk

Nur v Birmingham (Part 2): some on the allocation scheme are more equal than others – Nearly Legal

‘Mrs Nur lives with her 3 adult daughters, including her daughter Zakiya Abudlahi, who has cerebral palsy and learning difficulties and for whom Mrs Nur is a full time carer. Mrs Nur and Zakiya were living in the PRS when they registered on Birmingham Council’s Housing List in August 2011. In late 2018 Mrs Nur’s landlord sought possession and an order for possession was made on 12 November 2018. The Council accepted they had a homelessness duty towards the family on 22 November and they were granted a tenancy of a house owned by the Council at 89 Jervoise Road. Mrs Nur received that property following a homelessness offer, rather than as an allocation under the scheme.’

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Nearly Legal, 16th May 2021

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Blanket bans on camping by Gypsies and Travellers ruled illegal at high court – The Guardian

Posted May 13th, 2021 in equality, injunctions, local government, news, travellers by sally

‘The high court has ruled that local authorities can no longer issue blanket bans on Gypsies and Travellers stopping on parcels of land, in a landmark case which campaigners have hailed a “victory for equality”.’

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The Guardian, 12th May 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Government’s Photo ID Plans Put Voters’ Rights At Risk – Each Other

‘Requiring voters to prove their identity by presenting photo ID at polling stations risks infringing electors’ right to vote freely and fairly.’

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Each Other, 11th May 2021

Source: eachother.org.uk

Part Four: The Future of Human Rights in the UK – Each Other

‘As has become apparent amid the tumult of COVID-19, our understanding of human rights is constantly developing. We have published a mini-series of explainers reviewing the history of our rights and where these leave us standing today. Part 1 looked at the modern history of human rights themselves. Part 2 asked what is the link between social justice and human rights? Part 3 looked at how COVID-19 has affected our human rights. This fourth and final part of our human rights explainer series touches upon the future of human rights in the UK.’

Part one
Part two
Part three

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Each Other, 5th May 2021

Source: eachother.org.uk

Tribunal throws out employment lawyer’s disability discrimination claim – Legal Futures

‘An employment lawyer who appeared at tribunals during a time he said he was “pretty constantly bed bound” due to a back injury has had his disability discrimination claim rejected.’

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Legal Futures, 10th May 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Review of Bar exam chaos points finger at BSB and Pearson VUE – Legal Futures

‘The Bar Standards Board (BSB) and electronic testing company Pearson VUE have both come under fire from the independent review of last year’s Bar professional training course (BPTC) exams.’

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Legal Futures, 7th May 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Bar Council backs Charter for Black Talent – The Bar Council

Posted May 4th, 2021 in barristers, diversity, equality, minorities, news by tracey

‘The Bar Council, the barristers profession’s representative body, has today become the latest organisation to give its backing to the Charter for Black Talent in Finance and the Professions, an initiative aimed at increasing the number of talented Black professionals in senior positions in the financial and professional services sectors in the UK.’

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The Bar Council, 30th April 2021

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

I suffered faith-based conversion therapy – Boris Johnson’s religious loophole is deeply worrying – The Independent

‘By creating exemptions in legislation to ban conversion therapies, we leave thousands of young people vulnerable to abuse. I can no more cure my sexuality than I can scrub the brown from my skin.’

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The Independent, 28th April 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

DPP: CPS ‘briefing principles’ to aid under-represented advocates – Legal Futures

Posted April 27th, 2021 in barristers, Crown Prosecution Service, diversity, equality, news, women by sally

‘New “briefing principles” will ensure that the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) delivers equality of opportunity among the advocates it instructs, the Director of Public Prosecutions has pledged.’

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Legal Futures, 27th April 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Judges call for probe of discrimination in the judiciary – Litigation Futures

‘A group of serving judges has called on the justice select committee to conduct a “wholly independent audit” of discrimination in the judiciary.’

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Litigation Futures, 26th April 2021

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Judge criticises firm’s failures in defending solicitor’s dismissal claim – Legal Futures

‘A conveyancing solicitor has won her unfair dismissal and discrimination claim against a well-known Essex law firm by default after it filed its defence two days late.’

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Legal Futures, 26th April 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Departing from Equality in Farming Divorces – Family Law Week

‘Nichola Bright, Senior Associate at Myerson, explains some of the difficulties inherent in divorces involving agricultural assets.’

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Family Law Week, 22nd April 2021

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Women’s History Month: Justice Zainab Jawara Alami shares her experiences as a female judge – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted April 21st, 2021 in diversity, equality, judges, legal profession, news, women by tracey

‘Women’s History Month: Justice Zainab Jawara Alami shares her experiences as a female judge.’

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Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 20th April 2021

Source: www.judiciary.uk

Section 204 appeals – weighing medical evidence and ending ‘relief duty’ – Nearly Legal

‘Perrott v Hackney London Borough Council, 29 January 2021, Central London County Court and Perrott v Hackney London Borough Council, 29 January 2021, Central London County Court. Two linked s.204 appeals arising from Hackney’s finding that Mr Perrot was not vulnerable for the purposes of priority need – upheld on s.202 review – and Hackney’s decision to end the ‘relief duty’ under section 189B Housing Act 1996, also upheld on review.’

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Nearly Legal, 18th April 2021

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Female juniors head towards equality before top court – Litigation Futures

Posted April 16th, 2021 in barristers, diversity, equality, gender, news, statistics, Supreme Court, women by tracey

‘The ratio of women to men appearing before the Supreme Court has improved hugely in recent years at junior levels, although less so at senior levels, a comprehensive survey has shown.’

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Litigation Futures, 15th April 2021

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Keeping it Simple … A blog by Daphne Romney QC on the Asda Stores v Brierley UKSC decision – Cloisters

‘The Supreme Court has finally handed down judgment in Asda Stores Ltd v Brierley. But although it clarified and simplified the law concerning comparators at different establishments under s.79 EqA, it left other questions unresolved. Daphne Romney QC considers the judgment.’

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Cloisters, 26th March 2021

Source: www.cloisters.com

Met officer faces dismissal after ‘clear case of racial profiling’ – The Guardian

‘A police officer jailed for picking on a black father because of his colour and attacking him in front of his children is facing dismissal.’

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The Guardian, 13th April 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Judgment on Asda Stores Ltd v Brierley and others [2021] UKSC 10 – case summary by Daisy van den Berg – Old Square Chambers

‘Judgment was handed down on 26 March 2021 by the Supreme Court in the case of Asda Stores Ltd v Brierley and others [2021] UKSC 10. It was held that employees working in Asda’s stores can use as comparators employees working in Asda’s depots for the purposes of an equal pay claim.’

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Old Square Chambers, 26th March 2021

Source: oldsquare.co.uk

An erroneous decision to extend time under s.123(1)(b) Equality Act 2010 – 3PB

‘The Honourable Mrs Justice Ellenbogen, sitting in the EAT, held that a tribunal had erred in extending time under s.123(1)(b) Equality Act 2010 (“EqA 2010”), by failing to determine whether a claimant’s ignorance of his right to claim direct race discrimination was reasonable.’

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3PB, 2nd March 2021

Source: www.3pb.co.uk