BSB “not fit for purpose”, says Proudman after tribunal dismisses case – Legal Futures

‘The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has proven itself “unfit for purpose”, Dr Charlotte Proudman said yesterday after a disciplinary tribunal ruled she had no case to answer over tweets she sent.’

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Legal Futures, 13th December 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Barrister cleared of misconduct after criticising ‘boys’ club’ attitude in legal profession – The Guardian

‘A barrister has attacked misogyny in the legal profession after a misconduct case brought against her for calling out a “boys’ club” attitude was thrown out.’

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The Guardian, 12th December 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Birmingham city council agrees deal over equal pay claims – The Guardian

‘Birmingham city council has reached an agreement to settle historical equal pay claims that left the authority with liabilities estimated at £760m and pushed it into effective bankruptcy.’

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The Guardian, 10th December 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Bar Standards Board ‘failed to protect’ female barrister from online gender violence – The Guardian

‘A barrister has accused her professional regulator of failing to protect her from online gender violence, at the start of a disciplinary hearing against her for saying a judge had shown a “boys’ club attitude”.’

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The Guardian, 10th December 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Housing case law update: November 2024 – Local Government Lawyer

‘Michael Owen, Sumi Begum and May Atkinson round up the latest cases and court decisions of interest to housing associations and local authorities.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 4th December 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

AI “could amplify gender biases in legal profession” – Legal Futures

‘Increased use of artificial intelligence (AI) could “perpetuate or even amplify existing gender biases in the legal profession”, new research has warned.’

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Legal Futures, 4th December 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Appeal judge orders re-hearing of employment claim against council where most of written reasons of tribunal were copied from evidence or submissions of local authority – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Employment Appeal Tribunal has ordered a re-hearing of claims by an ex-employee against a local authority, after finding that most of the Employment Tribunal’s written reasons were copied from the council’s witness evidence or written submissions.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 26th November 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Splitting hairs: A review of the ‘related to’ test under section 26 Equality Act 2010 – Cloisters

‘In Finn v British Bung Manufacturing Company [2023] EAT 165, the EAT upheld an employment tribunal’s decision that calling a male colleague a ‘bald c**nt’ was harassment related to sex. The employer’s counterargument, that baldness is not an exclusively male characteristic, failed.’

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Cloisters, 8th October 2024

Source: www.cloisters.com

Disabled paralegal’s £41k damages over unfair law firm dismissal – Legal Futures

‘A paralegal has been awarded £41,000 in damages against a law firm that unfairly dismissed and discriminated against her because she could not work full-time due to disability.’

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Legal Futures, 11th November 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Whistleblowing: Detriment and Dismissal Cases – Local Government Lawyer

‘In the second session of our Autumn/Winter Employment Series, Nick Bidnell-Edwards and Safia Tharoo provide a concise review of whistleblowing law for detriment and dismissal claims, including recent developments, followed by practical tips on how to bring and to defend the claims.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 1st November 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Unsuitable temporary accommodation and discrimination – Nearly Legal

‘Begum, R (On the Application Of) v London Borough of Tower Hamlets (2024) EWHC 2279 (Admin) – Ms Begum had applied as homeless to Tower Hamlets in 2001. She was given temporary accommodation in a studio flat. 5 months later her first child was born. In June 2022, she complained about the suitability of the studio, which at that time was still s.188 accommodation. In October 2022, Tower Hamlets accepted the full duty. An internal memo recorded that Ms B had requested a transfer due to overcrowding. By March 2023, Ms B was pregnant with her second child, with a due date in September 2023. Between May and July 2023 there was correspondence between Ms B’s solicitors and Tower Hamlets on the suitability of the accommodation. The present claim was issued and interim relief ordered in August 2023. Three days later, Tower Hamlets made an offer of accommodation which Ms B accepted.’

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Nearly Legal, 20th October 2024

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Council resists claim of indirect sex discrimination in homelessness judicial review – Local Government Lawyer

Posted October 10th, 2024 in homelessness, judicial review, local government, London, news, sex discrimination by sally

‘The London Borough of Tower Hamlets has resisted a claim that a database of homeless applicants either needing or requesting a move to alternative accommodation, was a “waiting list” or means of delaying suitable accommodation being provided, and that it put women at a disadvantage.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 9th October 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Tribunal rejects barrister’s bid to have ‘boys’ club’ disciplinary case thrown out – The Guardian

‘A tribunal has rejected a barrister’s request for it to throw out disciplinary proceedings brought against her for saying a judge had shown a “boys’ club attitude”, but it ruled that she can argue that the regulator discriminated against her because she is a woman.’

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The Guardian, 18th September 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘People tend to think these battles have been won’: Next equal pay claimant on fight for recognition – The Guardian

‘During an average shift on the shop floor at Next, Helen Scarsbrook has to remain polite and keep smiling while she makes split-second judgments about which customers need help and which need to be tactfully discouraged from shoplifting and ushered out of the store.’

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The Guardian, 1st September 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Face of British army recruitment drive wins payout for racist and sexist abuse – The Guardian

‘A former soldier who appeared on recruitment posters for the British army has received a settlement and an apology after taking it to an employment tribunal over the racist and sexist abuse she was subjected to during her career.’

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The Guardian, 2nd August 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

UN concern over disciplinary case against UK lawyer for ‘boys’ club’ remarks – The Guardian

‘Four UN special rapporteurs have warned that disciplinary proceedings against a female barrister for saying a judge had shown a “boys’ club attitude” may send “a disconcerting message” to lawyers challenging gender bias in custody and domestic abuse cases.’

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The Guardian, 16th July 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

“Not just banter” – secretary wins sexual harassment claim against law firm – Legal Futures

‘A legal secretary has won her claim of sexual harassment against a law firm whose owner was jokingly described by a colleague as a “sexual predator”.’

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Legal Futures, 5th July 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Different treatment for other boroughs – discriminatory policy – Nearly Legal

‘AK, R (On the Application Of) v Westminster City Council (2024) EWHC 769 (Admin). This was a judicial review of Westminster’s Allocation policy as it applied to ‘reciprocal transfers’ between another borough and Westminster.’

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Nearly Legal, 23rd June 2024

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Hull hospital doctor struck off for ‘sexual harassment’ – BBC News

‘A doctor who inappropriately touched two junior female colleagues has been struck off the medical register.’

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BBC News, 28th May 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

The new law on sexual harassment in the workplace – Local Government Lawyer

Posted May 29th, 2024 in employment, equality, harassment, local government, news, sex discrimination by tracey

‘The Government has recently passed new legislation to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace. The Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Act 2023 is due to come into force on 26 October 2024. Nicole Natur takes a closer look at the Act and how it will impact employers, as well as the steps that should be taken in order to prepare for the change.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 28th May 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk