The legal profession is rife with prejudice – I’ve seen it firsthand – The Guardian

‘An overhaul tackling sexism, racism and class discrimination would address the profession’s failure to reflect the society it represents.’

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The Guardian, 18th February 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Voter ID trials are dangerous. That’s why I’m taking the government to court – The Guardian

Posted February 13th, 2019 in elections, equality, identification, local government, news, pilot schemes, statistics by sally

‘In May, I will be asked to show ID to vote in local elections in Essex. This discriminatory plan risks undermining democracy.’

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The Guardian, 13th February 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Jurisdiction: s. 204 appeals – Nearly Legal

‘Adesotu v Lewisham LBC Case No E40CL183, a decision of HHJ Luba on preliminary issues handed down on 8th February 2019, is so going to the Court of Appeal that the judge (having been satisfied that Ms Adesotu and her household would continue to be accommodated by Lewisham) invited Counsel to agree the route to enable it to get there.’

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Nearly Legal, 12th February 2019

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

“Less talk, more action” needed to tackle female barrister crisis – Legal Futures

Posted February 13th, 2019 in barristers, diversity, equality, gender, judiciary, news, women by sally

‘There needs to be less talk and more action to tackle the “crisis” of female criminal law barristers leaving the profession, the head of the Criminal Bar Association has argued.’

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Legal Futures, 12th February 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Judges reject bias claim against Jewish housing association – The Guardian

Posted February 6th, 2019 in bias, equality, housing, Judaism, news, religious discrimination by tracey

‘A row about allocation of scarce housing could be heading for the court of appeal after judges rejected a claim that a housing association broke equality laws with its policy of providing homes only to Orthodox Jews.’

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The Guardian, 6th February 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘Free speech’ guidance issued for universities’ – OUT-LAW.com

‘Universities could be breaking the law if they, or their students’ unions, hold speaking events on campus and refuse to allow certain people or groups to put across their views, according to new ‘free speech’ guidance.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 5th February 2019

Source: www.out-law.com

Case Comment: Michalak v GMC [2017] UKSC 71 – UKSC Blog

‘The case was about the meaning of the Equality Act 2010, s 120(7), which removes from the jurisdiction of the employment tribunal any decision which is “subject to an appeal or proceedings in the nature of an appeal”.’

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UKSC Blog, 29th January 2019

Source: ukscblog.com

Former prisoner sues Ministry of Justice over PTSD from rats – The Guardian

‘A man is suing the prison service after he developed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from rats running across his body and bed while he was locked in his cell, the Guardian has learned.’

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The Guardian, 29th January 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Housing association defeats defence against eviction based on ‘cuckooing’ – Local Government Lawyer

‘The public sector equality duty should be considered in cases of ‘cuckooing’ where a vulnerable resident’s home is taken over by others as a base for drug consumption and dealing, the High Court has said.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 24th January 2019

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

BSB reviews pupillage recruitment practice at the Bar – Bar Standards Board

‘New research published today presents the Bar Standards Board’s (BSB’s) review of the way in which pupillages were advertised in 2018 and in the selection criteria used by barristers’ chambers.’

Full press rlease

Bar Standards Board, 21st January 2019

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

DWP acted ‘perversely’ in sacking of disabled woman, judge finds – The Guardian

‘A disabled woman was discriminated against when she was unfairly sacked by the Department for Work and Pensions, which behaved in a “perverse” and “blinkered” manner, a judge has found.’

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The Guardian, 21st January 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Mini-pupillages could “indirectly discriminate”, BSB review finds – Legal Futures

Posted January 22nd, 2019 in barristers, equality, news, pupillage, statistics by sally

‘Unpaid mini-pupillages could “indirectly discriminate” against would-be barristers from poorer backgrounds, a review by the Bar Standards Board (BSB) has found.’

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Legal Futures, 22nd January 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Lap dancing venue wins license renewal despite being threatened with closure from equality groups – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 18th, 2019 in equality, licensing, news, sex establishments, women by tracey

‘A lap dancing venue that was threatened with closure by equality groups has had its license renewed after its dancers insisted they were feminists too.’

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Daily Telegraph, 17th January 2019

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Recent ruling on Universal Credit – UK Human Rights Blog

‘R (Johnson, Woods, Barrett and Stewart) v SSWP CO/1552/2018 (11 January 2019) – this case was brought by four social security claimants contesting the proper method of calculating the amount of universal credit payable to each claimant under the Universal Credit Regulations 2013. Singh LJ and Lewis J concluded that treating claimants as having “earned” twice as much as they do if they happen to be paid twice within one monthly assessment period is “odd in the extreme” [para 54] and “…. could be said to lead to nonsensical situations” [para 55].’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 15th January 2019

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Gender pay gap targets must be set by all companies, Equality and Human Rights Commission says – Daily Telegraph

‘Targets to eliminate the gender pay gap must be set by all companies, Britain’s equality watchdog has suggested.’

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Daily Telegraph, 14th December 2018

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

QC appointment reforms aim to help women apply – Legal Futures

Posted December 17th, 2018 in barristers, consultations, diversity, equality, news, queen's counsel, women by sally

‘Changes to the QC appointment regime aimed to help women apply for silk are to be introduced for the 2019 round, the body in charge of the scheme has announced.’

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Legal Futures, 17th December 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Landlord fined £25,000 over lack of hot water for disabled tenant – The Guardian

‘The wife of Britain’s most controversial buy-to-let landlord, Fergus Wilson, has been ordered to pay £25,000 in fines and legal costs after a court ruled that she had failed to supply hot water to a disabled tenant.’

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The Guardian, 12th December 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

John Bowers QC on Employment Law: November Blog – Littleton Chambers

‘This month I look at a recent case on foster carers and working time, the ethos of religion defence in the Equality Act 2010 and the Supreme Court case of O’Connor v Bar Standards Board.’

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Littleton Chambers, 29th November 2018

Source: www.littletonchambers.com

2017 reforms to the NHS charging regime for ‘overseas visitors’ upheld – 11 KBW

Posted December 11th, 2018 in equality, fees, health, holidays, judicial review, news by sally

‘Judgment was handed down today in R (MP) v Secretary of State for Health and Social Care [2018] EWHC [3392] (Admin). Lewis J upheld the changes to system of charging ‘overseas visitors’ (those not ordinarily resident in the UK) for use of NHS services brought about by the National Health Service (Charges to Overseas Visitors) Amendment Regulations 2017 (“the 2017 Regulations”).’

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11 KBW, 10th December 2018

Source: www.11kbw.com

The Women Behind The Universal Declaration of Human Rights – Rights Info

Posted December 11th, 2018 in domestic violence, equality, human rights, legal history, news, statistics, women by sally

‘Hannah Swirsky, Campaigns Officer at René Cassin, outlines why the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a time for celebration, but also for remembrance of the unsung role of women in the Declaration, and, realising their legacies today.’

Full Story

Rights Info, 10th December 2018

Source: rightsinfo.org