Category: news

‘In preparing to write this article, I visited the website interface of a well-known artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot and asked, “Do you harvest the intellectual property of other people to answer questions?” To paraphrase the answer, I was assured that this chatbot does not actively access or harvest other people’s intellectual property (IP) and that it generates responses based on patterns learned from licensed, created and publicly available data. Interestingly, the chatbot concluded by saying, “My outputs may resemble existing works, but I’m designed to avoid reproducing copyrighted material verbatim.” Clearly, it is a question that has been asked before.’

Full Story

Counsel, 8th December 2025

Source: www.counselmagazine.co.uk

‘The number of reports to the Bar Standards Board (BSB) of bullying and harassment has almost doubled in the last year, the regulator has revealed.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 9th December 2025

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

‘It is a case that has generated headlines and interest around the world because it has been seen as a battleground between opposing views on sex and gender.’

Full Story

BBC News, 8th December 2025

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

‘A property tycoon who lost nearly £1.5m on football wagers has failed in a bid to get his losses back after suing Betfair.’

Full Story

The Independent, 9th December 2025

Source: www.independent.co.uk

‘In May, Prince Harry lost a legal case to have his police protection reinstated when visiting the UK.’

Full Story

BBC News, 8th December 2025

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

‘Two teenage Afghan asylum seekers who abducted and raped a 15-year-old girl have been given custodial sentences.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 8th December 2025

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘A jury at Liverpool Crown Court found Barton had “crossed the line between free speech and a crime” with six posts he made on X (formerly Twitter) about broadcaster Jeremy Vine and TV football pundits Lucy Ward and Eni Aluko.’

Full Story

The Independent, 8th December 2025

Source: www.independent.co.uk

‘In a written judgment on Monday, the tribunal upheld Peggie’s harassment claim against the health board but dismissed other claims. It also dismissed the nurse’s claim against Upton, whose evidence was held to be “more reliable and materially more cohesive in nature”.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 8th December 2025

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘Is our society obsessed with youth? UN Human Rights’ Nena Georgantzi joins Equality Commissioner Alasdair Henderson to consider what stronger domestic and international legal frameworks could look like if society is serious about valuing people at a later stage of life.’

Full Story

UK Human Rights Blog, 8th December 2025

Source: audioboom.com

‘This was quite a remarkable (and successful) judicial review of a decision of HHJ Gerald to refuse permission to appeal on four grounds from an inunction order made against Mr Batt by a District Judge. It also involves what can charitably be said to be an innovative approach to section 9A Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 – the fitness for human habitation obligation.’

Full Story

Nearly Legal, 7th December 2025

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

‘Co-editor of the blog, Lewis Graham, has written on the Article 14 ECHR aspects of R (Jwanczuk) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2025] UKSC 42. The Supreme Court concluded that the “contribution condition” for bereavement support payment in the Pensions Act 2014, section 31, did not breach Article 14 ECHR read with Article 1 of Protocol 1 to the ECHR (“A1P1”). This condition required an applicant’s deceased spouse or civil partner to have paid certain national insurance contributions during their working life. The Claimant’s case, which the Supreme Court rejected, was that this condition gave rise to unjustified discrimination. The Supreme Court stated this “may seem a harsh decision” ([160]), but the result was not unexpected: this is the clear direction of travel since the Supreme Court’s judgment in R (SC, CB and 8 children) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2021] UKSC 26, [2022] A.C. 223.’

Full Story

Administrative Court Blog, 6th December 2025

Source: administrativecourtblog.wordpress.com

‘David Lammy plans to cut the number of jury trials in England and Wales. A defendant, a victim, a barrister, a KC, a judge and a juror have concerns.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 7th December 2025

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘The Bar Council has been awarded the ISO 14001 Environmental Management certification by the British Standards Institution (BSI) for our commitment to environmental sustainability in its operations.’

Full Story

Bar Council, 4th December 2025

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

‘The Court of Appeal has set aside care and placement orders in respect of a two-year-old boy on the basis that the proposed plan for adoption was neither “necessary nor proportionate”.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 5th December 2025

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

‘To what extent does the law afford protection to couples looking to foster children, in circumstances where that couple possesses (and vocalises) strong religious beliefs? This was the issue for consideration before Turner J, who heard this appeal in the King’s Bench Division of the High Court. Judgment was handed down on 18 November 2025.’

Full Story

UK Human Rights Blog, 4th December 2025

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

‘LAPG research suggests practitioners are spending up to a quarter of their time on what it terms ‘pro(vider) bono’ – the unpaid work that keeps the legal aid scheme afloat.’

Full Story

Legal Action, 27th November 2025

Source: www.lag.org.uk

‘Complaints from litigants in person now account for one fifth of all reports made of alleged misconduct by barristers, the Bar Standards Board’s annual report has revealed.’

Full Story

Law Society Gazette, 4th December 2025

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

‘There were 28 serious incidents at Gatwick immigration removal centre in 2024 compared with four recorded in 2023, the report from the independent monitoring board said. These included large protests and men jumping on to anti-suicide netting. On 12 occasions the National Tactical Response Group, a specialist unit to deal with protests and other serious problems, was called in to quell disorder.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 4th December 2025

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘Ministers will speed up the implementation of protections against unfair dismissal for workers so that they start from 2027 after brokering a compromise with Angela Rayner.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 4th December 2025

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘Dryrobe, the maker of huge waterproof towel-lined coats favoured by cold water swimming fans, has won a trademark case against a smaller label that must now stop selling items under the D-Robe brand within a week.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 4th December 2025

Source: www.theguardian.com