Cuts to legal aid for prisoners ruled unlawful – The Guardian

Posted April 11th, 2017 in appeals, equality, legal aid, legal representation, news, prisons by sally

‘The government has lost a key court of appeal battle over access to legal aid for prisoners in a ruling that campaigners have called a groundbreaking victory.’

Full story

The Guardian, 10th April 2017

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

No “reason why”: Essop and Naeem in the Supreme Court – Cloisters

‘Robin Allen QC and Anna Beale consider the latest case on indirect discrimination and ask the pressing question: are equal pay cases suddenly significantly easier for Claimants?’

Full story

Cloisters, 5th April 2017

Source: www.cloisters.com

Gay man takes fight for equal pension rights for his husband to Supreme Court – Daily Telegraph

‘A gay man fighting to win his husband the same pension rights a wife would enjoy if he was in a heterosexual relationship takes his case to the UK’s highest court.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 8th March 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Who gets Silk 2016-17? – Counsel

Posted February 23rd, 2017 in diversity, equality, legal profession, news, queen's counsel by sally

‘David Wurtzel reveals the story behind the statistics in this year’s Silk list and Abigail Bright imparts sage career advice from an expert panel of women QCs.’

Full story

Counsel, March 2017

Source: www.counselmagazine.co.uk

Family Court proceedings: gender reassignment and ultra-orthodox Judaism – Cloisters

‘Claire McCann, an expert on trans equality, analyses the competing arguments in the Family Court’s recent assessment of the children’s “best interests” in the unusual context of a transgender parent and the Charedi Jewish community in North Manchester.’

Full story

Cloisters, 1st February 2017

Source: www.cloisters.com

Court rules against heterosexual couple who wanted civil partnership – The Guardian

‘A legal challenge aimed at overturning the ban on heterosexual couples entering into civil partnerships has gained ground despite defeat at the court of appeal, according to equal rights campaigners.’

Full story

The Guardian, 21st February 2017

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Bar Council: shared leave plan will help women reach top – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted February 21st, 2017 in barristers, consultations, equality, news, parental rights, self-employment, women by sally

‘The Bar Council has backed proposals by the regulator to amend rules on shared parental leave, claiming this could encourage more women to stay at the bar.’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 20th February 2017

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Appeal court to rule on civil partnerships for heterosexual couples – The Guardian

Posted February 21st, 2017 in appeals, civil partnerships, equality, news, sexual orientation discrimination by sally

‘The appeal court is to decide whether opposite-sex couples can enter civil partnerships – without running away to the Isle of Man.’

Full story

The Guardian, 21st February 2017

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Joseph Bryan: High Heels and Workplace Dress Codes – Is Discrimination Law Working? – Littleton Chambers

Posted February 20th, 2017 in employment, employment tribunals, equality, news, sex discrimination by sally

‘In December 2015 Nicola Thorp, employed by reception agency Portico, turned up for her first day of work as a temporary receptionist at PwC. She was wearing smart flat shoes, but was told that Portico’s policy required women to wear heels between two and four inches high. She was given an ultimatum: go out and buy high heels or go home. Ms Thorp refused to buy a new pair. When she challenged the policy, her manager sent her home without pay.’

Full story

Littleton Chambers, 30th January 2017

Source: www.littletonchambers.com

BSB publishes two-year equality and diversity strategy – Bar Standards Board

Posted February 10th, 2017 in barristers, diversity, equality, press releases by tracey

‘The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has today published its Equality and Diversity Strategy for 2017-2019. This follows the publication of its Diversity at the Bar Report last month. That report showed that diversity at the Bar was heading slowly in the right direction but that considerable progress is still needed.’

Full press release

Bar Standards Board, 10th February 2017

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Taxi drivers face £1,000 fine for refusing to pick up wheelchair users – The Guardian

Posted February 7th, 2017 in disabled persons, equality, fines, news, taxis, transport by sally

‘Taxi drivers who refuse to pick up wheelchair users or attempt to charge more for transporting them could be fined up to £1,000 under new laws tackling discrimination.’

Full story

The Guardian, 7th February 2017

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Transgender teenager sues Hereford school for discrimination – BBC News

Posted February 3rd, 2017 in equality, news, school children, transgender persons by sally

‘A transgender teenager is taking legal action against his former school for discrimination.’

Full story

BBC News, 2nd February 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Transgender teenager sues Hereford school for discrimination – BBC News

Posted February 2nd, 2017 in education, equality, gender, news, transgender persons, young persons by tracey

‘A transgender teenager is taking legal action against his former school for discrimination.’

Full story

BBC News, 2nd February 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Transgender woman denied contact with her ultra-Orthodox Jewish children – The Guardian

‘A transgender woman has been denied direct contact with her five children on the basis they would be shunned by their ultra-Orthodox Jewish community if she were allowed to meet them.’

Full story

The Guardian, 30th January 2017

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

AI watchdog needed to regulate automated decision-making, say experts – The Guardian

‘An artificial intelligence watchdog should be set up to make sure people are not discriminated against by the automated computer systems making important decisions about their lives, say experts.’

Full story

The Guardian, 27th January 2017

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Inquiry launched into UK gender laws amid fears over Brexit effect – The Guardian

‘A major review into the UK’s gender discrimination laws is to be launched amid fears a potential post-Brexit move towards a lower regulation economy could see protections eroded.’

Full story

The Guardian, 30th January 2017

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Hackney LBC v Haque – Arden Chambers

Posted January 27th, 2017 in disabled persons, equality, homelessness, housing, local government, news by sally

‘The Court of Appeal has held that the four-stage approach to considering the public sector equality duty in s.149 Equality Act 2010 in Hotak v Southwark LBC [2015] UKSC 30; [2016] AC 811, is concerned only with vulnerability under s.189(1)(c) Housing Act 1996. In cases concerning suitability of accommodation, a review officer had to show (on a “stand-back” reading of the decision) recognition as to whether a homeless applicant had a disability and whether the accommodation was unsuitable having regard to that disability and its impact on the applicant compared to those without such a disability.’

Full story

Arden Chambers, January 2017

Source: www.ardenchambers.com

Fine firms for sexist dress rules, say MPs – BBC News

Posted January 27th, 2017 in employment, equality, fines, news, sex discrimination, women by sally

‘The government must enforce the law to ban sexist dress rules at work that discriminate against women, MPs say.’

Full story

BBC News, 25th January 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Suitability and PSED – Nearly Legal

Posted January 26th, 2017 in appeals, disabled persons, equality, housing, mental health, news by tracey

‘London Borough of Hackney v Haque [2017] EWCA Civ 4. In which the Court of Appeal grapple with the application of the Public Sector Equality Duty to decisions on suitability of accommodation provided under s.193 Housing Act 1996 (in satisfaction of the full housing duty).’

Full story

Nearly Legal, 24th January 2017

Source: www.nearlylegal.co.uk

Taxi driver who refused to take guide dog is fined – BBC News

Posted January 26th, 2017 in costs, disabled persons, equality, fines, news, taxis by tracey

‘A taxi driver who refused to carry a guide dog because he claimed it was against his religion has been fined for breaching equality laws.’

Full story

BBC News, 25th January 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk