SDT throws out Carter-Ruck ‘SLAPP’ prosecution – Law Society Gazette

Posted December 15th, 2025 in news by Simon

‘The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal today summarily dismissed an alleged SLAPP prosecution against a partner at a renowned defamation firm.’

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Law Society Gazette, 12th December 2025

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

When Might an Arbitration Not Be Entirely Private and Confidential? – Financial Remedies Journal

Posted December 15th, 2025 in news by Simon

‘It is beyond argument that one of the great virtues of family law arbitration is its ability to provide the parties with confidentiality and privacy for the resolution of their dispute. Unlike court proceedings, the parties will not face the risk of the hearing taking place in open court with curious members of the public present, or in private but with the media potentially in attendance (even if constrained in what they may report).’

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Financial Remedies Journal, 15th December 2025

Source: financialremediesjournal.com

Home Office urged to be transparent about deaths of asylum seekers in its care – The Guardian

Posted December 15th, 2025 in news by Simon

‘Human rights and refugee campaigners are calling on the Home Office to be transparent about the numbers of asylum seekers who die in its care by publishing quarterly data as other government departments do.’

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The Guardian, 14th December 2025

Source: www.theguardian.com

Man cleared of wife’s murder found guilty after child provides new evidence – The Guardian

Posted December 15th, 2025 in news by Simon

‘A man who was previously cleared of killing his wife on the grounds of self-defence has been found guilty of her murder after their child came forward with new evidence under double jeopardy rules.’

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The Guardian, 12th December 2025

Source: www.theguardian.com

Call for system that frees rape suspects as alternative to bail to be scrapped in England and Wales – The Guardian

Posted December 15th, 2025 in news by Simon

‘Hundreds of suspected rapists in England and Wales are spending years released under investigation, under a system that the government has been urged to scrap as it “doesn’t serve anyone’s interests apart from the police”.’

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The Guardian, 15th December 2025

Source: www.theguardian.com

Teen on murder charge set for trial 100 miles away – BBC News

Posted December 15th, 2025 in news by Simon

‘A teenage boy charged with murder could go on trial about 100 miles from the town where the crime was allegedly committed.’

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BBC News, 15th December 2025

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Court of Protection considers correct legal test for assessing whether woman has capacity to make own decision as to whether or not to marry – Local Government Lawyer

Posted December 12th, 2025 in news by Simon

‘A Court of Protection judge has considered the correct legal test for assessing whether an elderly woman with dementia has the capacity to make her own decision as to whether or not to marry, finding that the court should asses her capacity to marry in general, rather than her capacity to marry a particular person.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 11th December 2025

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Family Court approves care plan entailing move to Jamaica amid concerns over immigration application risks – Local Government Lawyer

Posted December 12th, 2025 in news by Simon

‘A Family Court judge has approved a care plan for a young looked-after British child to move to Jamaica to live with her maternal half-brother, who is in the care of his paternal aunt.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 11th December 2025

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

High Court rules temporary chief constable appointment by police and crime commissioner was unlawful – Local Government Lawyer

Posted December 12th, 2025 in news by Simon

‘A decision by a Police and Crime Commissioner to appoint a chief constable on a temporary basis was “unlawful”, the High Court has found.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 11th December 2025

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Making work pay: why it’s important to monitor earnings by sex at the self-employed Bar – Bar Council

Posted December 12th, 2025 in news by Simon

‘The General Council of the Bar (GCB) has monitored barrister earnings since 2015, with the latest publication “Gross earnings by sex and practice area at the self-employed Bar 2025” being published in November. In this blog, Dr Rose Holmes, Bar Council Head of Research, and Rachel Krys, Bar Council Equality and Diversity Consultant, explain why it’s important to collect and analyse this data and how our work has evolved over the last decade.’

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Bar Council, 11th December 2025

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Half of people arrested in London could have undiagnosed ADHD, study finds – The Independent

Posted December 12th, 2025 in news by Simon

‘Neurodivergent individuals – particularly autistic people and those with ADHD – are overrepresented within prison populations, according to research.’

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The Independent, 12th December 2025

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Met police face independent inquiry over fears 300 recruits not properly vetted – The Guardian

Posted December 12th, 2025 in news by Simon

‘The home secretary is to order an independent special inquiry into whether the Metropolitan police allowed hundreds of recruits to join without proper vetting amid fears they may pose a criminal risk.’

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The Guardian, 12th December 2025

Source: www.theguardian.com

Nationwide fined £44m by watchdog for financial crime control failings – The Guardian

Posted December 12th, 2025 in news by Simon

‘Nationwide has been fined £44m by the City watchdog over “weak” financial crime controls that culminated in a serious case of Covid fraud that left UK taxpayers £800,000 out of pocket.’

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The Guardian, 12th December 2025

Source: www.theguardian.com

Leaving findings of fact to inquest juries in Article 2 cases – Quarterly Medical Law Review

Posted December 11th, 2025 in news by Simon

‘In this case, the High Court considered the appropriate legal test for leaving findings of fact to juries in Article 2 inquests. Is it that such findings are arguable? Or is it that there is sufficient evidence to support them? The answer, quite firmly, is the latter.’

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Quarterly Medical Law Review, 11th December 2025

Source: 1corqmlr.com

High Court rejects latest judicial review challenge over Environment Agency decisions on landfill site – Local Government Lawyer

Posted December 11th, 2025 in news by Simon

‘A child whose health was damaged by exposure to emissions from a landfill site has lost the third round of litigation in the case, with the High Court rejecting arguments for judicial review.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 11th December 2025

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

City council defeats appeal by landlord over refusal of permission to apply for judicial review in business rates case – Local Government Lawyer

Posted December 11th, 2025 in news by Simon

‘The Court of Appeal has dismissed as “wholly unarguable” a landlord’s case that its tenant was liable to pay business rates on an “unoccupied hereditament”.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 11th December 2025

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Chair’s blog: towards a more diverse legal profession – Legal Services Board

Posted December 11th, 2025 in news by Simon

‘At the heart of this consultation is a simple but powerful principle: the legal profession should better reflect the society it serves. Greater diversity brings many advantages, not just for fairness, but also for improving the quality, reach, and relevance of legal services. It is also imperative for the sector’s continued economic growth that it has access to the widest range of talent.’

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Legal Services Board, 9th December 2025

Source: legalservicesboard.org.uk

Don’t forget human support in the rush to digital, lawyers told – Legal Futures

Posted December 11th, 2025 in news by Simon

‘Both the structure and delivery of legal services – such as a lack of guidance and reactive communication – can cause difficulties for consumers, new research has found.’

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Legal Futures, 11th December 2025

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Government hints at more controls on RTA damages and costs – Legal Futures

Posted December 11th, 2025 in news by Simon

‘The government’s motor insurance taskforce reported yesterday with a hint that it may extend the whiplash tariff to other injuries and also review the small claims limit.’

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Legal Futures, 11th December 2025

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Groundbreaking Crown Prosecution Service panel calls on experts to help tackle hidden and evolving ‘honour’-based crimes – Crown Prosecution Service

Posted December 11th, 2025 in news by Simon

‘Experts have joined prosecutors to advise on how to spot hidden signs of “honour”-based abuse as part of a drive to improve how these complex and often-hidden crimes are prosecuted.’

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Crown Prosecution Service, 10th December 2025

Source: www.cps.gov.uk