Equality Act assessors and open advice – Nearly Legal

‘Laidley v Metropolitan Housing Trust Limited (2024) EWHC 2611 (Ch). This was the joined hearing of two appeals from a possession claim on grounds of anti social behaviour. Mr Laidley had an assured tenancy from Metropolitan from 2009. There had been complaints of anti social behaviour and Metropolitan brought possession proceedings.’

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Nearly Legal, 20th October 2024

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Bailiff who took emotional support dog on jobs loses discrimination case – The Guardian

‘A bailiff who took her miniature Yorkshire terrier on debt collection jobs has lost her case for discrimination after being told she was not entitled to have an emotional support dog at work.’

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The Guardian, 18th October 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Anti-Zionism as a protected belief: final judgment in Miller v University of Bristol – Law & Religion UK

‘In February, we posted Anti-Zionism as a protected belief: Miller, which commented on the case of Dr David Miller v University of Bristol [2024] ET 1400780/2022. Dr Miller had been appointed Professor of Political Sociology at the University from 1 September 2018, but in 2019 there were complaints about his conduct, including what was said to be his use of antisemitic language. The Community Security Trust charity said that a lecture he had given had been a “false, vile, anti-Semitic slur”. The University appointed an independent barrister to investigate this as part of its internal complaints procedure, who concluded on 4 December 2020 that there was no formal case to answer in connection with any of the matters investigated.’

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Law & Religion UK, 16th October 2024

Source: lawandreligionuk.com

“Disruptive action” may be needed to improve diversity, LSB warns – Legal Futures

‘Bullying and harassment is not limited to the Bar and “disruptive action” may be needed to create a “fair, healthy, diverse and inclusive legal profession”, the Legal Services Board (LSB) has warned.’

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Legal Futures, 15th October 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Homelessness, disability and reasonable preference under allocation schemes – Nearly Legal

‘RR, R (On the Application Of) v London Borough of Enfield (2024) EWHC 2501 (Admin). This was a judicial review challenge to LB Enfield’s allocation policy for priority on the housing register, on the basis that it discrimated against disabled applicants who had the full housing duty under Part VII Housing Act 1996, who were also disabled.’

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Nearly Legal, 13th October 2024

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Employment Rights Bill to bring once-in-a-generation change for UK employers – OUT-LAW.com

‘The new Employment Rights Bill introduced by the UK government represents one of the most significant single items of employment legislation ever to be published, an expert has said.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 10th October 2024

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

High Court dismisses Judicial Review challenge to council housing allocation scheme – Local Government Lawyer

‘The High Court has dismissed a judicial review challenge to the London Borough of Enfield’s housing allocation scheme, after a claimant contended the scheme was unlawful both on a public law basis and that it breached the anti-discrimination provisions as set out in the ECHR and/or the Equality Act.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 9th October 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Gap between EDI policy and practice at law firms and in-house – Legal Futures

Posted October 3rd, 2024 in diversity, equality, law firms, news, reports by tracey

‘There remains a gap between policy and practice when it comes to diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI) at both law firms and in-house legal departments, according to new research.’

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Legal Futures, 3rd October 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

New equality duty will not impact cab-rank rule, says BSB chief – Legal Futures

Posted September 27th, 2024 in barristers, consultations, diversity, equality, news by sally

‘The Bar Standards Board’s (BSB) controversial proposal for new equality rules will not affect the cab-rank rule and will not lead to quotas, its director general said yesterday.’

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Legal Futures, 27th September 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Former justice minister urges opposition to planned BSB equality duty – Legal Futures

Posted September 26th, 2024 in barristers, diversity, equality, news by sally

‘Former justice minister Lord Wolfson KC has joined the voices opposing the Bar Standards Board’s (BSB) plan to impose a new positive duty on barristers to act in a way that “advances” equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI).’

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Legal Futures, 26th September 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Time to remedy the legal consequences of Jivraj v Hashwani? The personal scope of application of equal treatment legislation – by Nicola Countouris and Colm O’Cinneide – UK Labour Law

Posted September 26th, 2024 in brexit, contract of employment, contracts, EC law, equality, news by sally

‘This blogpost revisits the 2011 UK Supreme Court decision in Jivraj v Hashwani [2011] UKSC 40, which adopted a narrow reading of the personal scope of the Equality Act 2010 as it applies to the self-employed. It argues that this decision represented a wrong turn in the law, which should now be reversed by the courts or corrected by the legislature – especially in light of the January 2023 Court of Justice of the European Union (“CJEU”) decision in Case C-356/21, TP v JK, and the stated commitment of the newly elected Labour government to “ensuring those [equality] provisions that were previously derived from EU law remain enshrined in UK law”.’

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UK Labour Law, 25th September 2024

Source: uklabourlawblog.com

Met Police officer committed ‘gross misconduct’ when holding Taser to Black boy’s neck – The Independent

‘A Metropolitan Police officer has been found to have committed gross misconduct after holding a Taser against a 16-year-old Black boy’s neck, the police watchdog has said.’

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The Independent, 23rd September 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Social worker awarded £55k and £8k costs after accusing council employer of discriminating against protected beliefs – Local Government Lawyer

‘A social worker who worked for Cambridgeshire County Council has been awarded more than £55,000 in compensation and £8,000 in costs, after asserting that she was discriminated against for reasons relating to her gender critical beliefs and/or sexual orientation.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 20th September 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Regulators and lawyers “must do more” for learning disabled clients – Legal Futures

Posted September 19th, 2024 in disabled persons, equality, law firms, learning difficulties, news by sally

‘Legal regulators have been urged to develop a ‘disability-friendly’ quality mark for law firms, who in turn should hand out ‘easy read’ client information for those with learning disabilities.’

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Legal Futures, 19th September 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Tribunal rejects barrister’s bid to have ‘boys’ club’ disciplinary case thrown out – The Guardian

‘A tribunal has rejected a barrister’s request for it to throw out disciplinary proceedings brought against her for saying a judge had shown a “boys’ club attitude”, but it ruled that she can argue that the regulator discriminated against her because she is a woman.’

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The Guardian, 18th September 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Recent orders for possession in University protest camp claims – implications for academic institutions – Local Government Lawyer

‘Joe Walker and Fred Groves provide an update on unauthorised pro-Palestinian protest encampments on university premises where many have refused to comply with demands to vacate.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 13th September 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Recent orders for possession in University protest camp claims – implications for academic institutions – Local Government Lawyer

‘Joe Walker and Fred Groves provide an update on unauthorised pro-Palestinian protest encampments on university premises where many have refused to comply with demands to vacate.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 13th September 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

New BSB duty “would require barristers to become social engineers” – Legal Futures

Posted September 11th, 2024 in barristers, consultations, diversity, equality, freedom of expression, news by tracey

‘More high-profile figures have expressed their concern at the Bar Standards Board’s plan to impose a new positive duty on barristers to act in a way that “advances” equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI).’

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Legal Futures, 11th September 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Mel B among Britons taking fight against afro hair discrimination to parliament – The Guardian

Posted September 10th, 2024 in equality, minorities, news, race discrimination by tracey

‘The Labour MP Paulette Hamilton and singer Mel B are among leading Black Britons urging parliamentarians to make the UK the first western country to introduce a law to end afro hair discrimination.’

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The Guardian, 10th September 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Barrister “ineligible for judicial posts” fails in JAC discrimination claim – Legal Futures

‘An employment tribunal has struck out a discrimination claim brought by a disabled barrister over his failed applications for judicial appointment because he was not eligible for the posts he sought.’

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Legal Futures, 9th September 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk