Government launches weddings law reform consultation following Law Commission recommendations – Law Commission

Posted July 17th, 2026 in news by Simon

‘The proposals in this consultation follow our 2022 report on weddings law, where we published our final recommendations proposing a fairer system that gives couples more choice over where and how their wedding takes place. The Government responded to our report in October 2025 giving its intention to modernise wedding law.’

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Law Commission, 16th July 2026

Source: lawcom.gov.uk

Court of Appeal criticises “unwise” decision of judge to give ex tempore judgment in care proceedings – Local Government Lawyer

Posted July 17th, 2026 in news by Simon

‘In B and G (Fact-Finding) [2026] EWCA Civ 860, Lord Justice Baker, with whom Lady Justice Andrews and Lord Justice Holgate agreed, concluded that the judge’s decision to deliver the judgment ex tempore from notes was “unwise […] in a case of this complexity”.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 17th July 2026

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Barristers report “endemic” delays to trials caused by late delivery of prisoners – Bar Council

Posted July 17th, 2026 in news by Simon

‘Research based on reports from barristers has shown the “endemic” and “routine” nature of delays caused by the late delivery of prisoners to court, casting doubt over the validity of official data.’

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Bar Council, 16th July 2026

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Zonglin Lyu: Marking Their Own Homework, After the Deadline: Earned Settlement and the Timing of an Impact Assessment – UK Constitutional Law Association

Posted July 17th, 2026 in news by Simon

‘“Impact Assessments should be published when decisions are made.” That is the recorded position of the Minister for Migration and Citizenship, given to a Lords committee this spring. It is the settled position of the Court of Appeal that the duty to have regard to a policy’s impacts must be performed before and at the time the policy is under consideration. This post is about the space between those two statements — and a set of dates, already in the diary, that will determine whether it closes or widens. None of this is, at bottom, about immigration: it concerns the relationship in time between ministerial decision-making and the evaluative duties Parliament and the common law attach to it.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 17th July 2026

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

UK High Court rejects aggregated knowledge as basis for fraud – OUT-LAW.com

Posted July 17th, 2026 in news by Simon

‘A recent ruling by the High Court in London on fraudulent breach of warranty claims has reaffirmed that fraud requires conscious dishonesty on the part of an identifiable individual – and inference is not enough.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 16th July 2026

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Archdeacon uncovers errors at St Peter, Wrecclesham – Law & Religion UK

Posted July 17th, 2026 in news by Simon

‘“The consistory court is amongst the most nimble and efficient of the courts of this realm. The registry is well equipped, accessible and responsive: it can move with speed and expedition in cases of urgency” Hill Ch, Re All Saints, Featherstone [2025] ECC Lee 1

‘However, it is not always well-served by those providing it with information, as demonstrated in three cases circulated this week: Re St. Peter Wrecclesham [2026] ECC Gui 1, Re St. Peter Wrecclesham [2026] ECC Gui 2, and Re St. Andrew Compton Dundon (Number 2) [2026] ECC B&W 2.’

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Law & Religion UK, 17th July 2026

Source: lawandreligionuk.com

How the British press has undermined the ECHR over many years: new study – EIN Blog

Posted July 17th, 2026 in news by Simon

‘A key factor driving the UK’s perennial interest in the ECHR and the associated European Court of Human Rights has been press coverage. In our recent research, we developed the first systematic analysis of how British press coverage has supported or undermined the legitimacy of the ECHR over 25 years.’

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EIN Blog, 16th July 2026

Source: www.ein.org.uk

Supply and Appropriation (Main Estimates) Act 2026 – legislation.gov.uk

Posted July 17th, 2026 in news by Simon

Supply and Appropriation (Main Estimates) Act 2026

Source: legislation.gov.uk

Lord chancellor ‘failing’ on statutory legal aid duty, MPs warn – Law Society Gazette

Posted July 17th, 2026 in news by Simon

‘The lord chancellor is failing in his statutory duty on legal aid, MPs have concluded in a damning report that paints the bleakest picture to date of the sector which also warns of an ‘unacceptably high risk’ of miscarriages of justice.’

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Law Society Gazette, 17th July 2026

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Discipline lawyers through one channel, says consumer watchdog – Law Society Gazette

Posted July 17th, 2026 in news by Simon

‘In a damning report into the regulatory framework, the Legal Services Consumer Panel says the current way of prosecuting misconduct, with separate pathways for solicitors and barristers, “defies coherent governance”.’

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Law Society Gazette, 16th July 2026

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Snap consultation on JR curbs for infrastructure projects – Law Society Gazette

Posted July 17th, 2026 in news by Simon

‘Judicial reviews could be curbed for major homes and infrastructure projects to ‘get Britain building’, the government announced today – embarking on a snap consultation.’

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Law Society Gazette, 16th July 2026

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Judge condemns CAFCASS reporter for failing to follow family court directions – Law Society Gazette

Posted July 17th, 2026 in news by Simon

‘A family court judge has described the approach taken by a reporter for the Children and Family Court Advisory Service (CAFCASS) as ‘entirely inappropriate’ after she ‘unilaterally chose to depart from the clear court direction’ in her welfare assessment.’

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Law Society Gazette, 17th July 2026

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Odulate v Odulate [2026] EWFC 159 – Financial Remedies Journal

Posted July 17th, 2026 in news by Simon

‘HHJ Hess (sitting as a deputy High Court judge). Committal proceedings following husband’s non-compliance with a financial remedy order made almost four years ago. Six months immediate term of imprisonment.’

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Financial Remedies Journal, 15th July 2026

Source: financialremediesjournal.com

MPs issue legal aid warning as restrictions create ‘unacceptably high’ risk of wrongful convictions – The Independent

Posted July 17th, 2026 in news by Simon

‘MPs have warned that tough access to legal aid is creating an “unacceptably high risk of miscarriages of justice”, with as many as half of defendants facing prison in magistrates’ court cases forced to appear without legal representation.’

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The Independent, 17th July 2026

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Inquest reopened into death of 14-year-old boy after ‘TikTok blackout challenge’ – The Guardian

Posted July 17th, 2026 in news by Simon

‘The inquest into the death of a 14-year-old boy, whose mother believes he died after a TikTok challenge gone wrong, is to be reopened in a landmark ruling by the high court.’

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The Guardian, 16th July 2026

Source: www.theguardian.com

MI5 reprimanded for lying about ties with neo-Nazi informant who attacked girlfriend with machete – The Guardian

Posted July 17th, 2026 in news by Simon

‘The Investigatory Powers Commissioner’s Office (Ipco) criticised MI5’s handling of a man known only as agent X, and said some of its officers had initially misled the public about his true status.’

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The Guardian, 16th July 2026

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘Keys to the kingdom’: hackers who gained access to heart of London transport network jailed – The Guardian

Posted July 17th, 2026 in news by Simon

‘Thalha Jubair, 20, and Owen Flowers, 19, sentenced to five and a half years each for cyber-attack that cost Transport for London £39m.’

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The Guardian, 16th July 2026

Source: www.theguardian.com

Social landlord loses appeal over charges for services leaseholders were unable to access – Local Government Lawyer

Posted July 16th, 2026 in news by Simon

‘A group of shared ownership residents cannot be charged for services on their estate that they cannot access, the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) has ruled.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 16th July 2026

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Is clients’ use of AI destroying legal privilege? – Legal Futures

Posted July 16th, 2026 in news by Simon

‘Much has been written about the risks of lawyers misusing AI for legal research and drafting. Recent cases involving fabricated authorities and inaccurate legal analysis have rightly attracted attention.

‘However, in my view, the greater and more immediate challenge lies elsewhere: the routine use of AI by clients themselves.’

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Legal Futures, 16th July 2026

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Future of the Undercover Policing Inquiry – Home Office

Posted July 16th, 2026 in news by Simon

‘This consultation seeks views on the future structure, scope and format of the Undercover Policing Inquiry.’

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home Office, 16th July 2026

Source: www.gov.uk