Father and stepmother of 10-year-old Sara Sharif found guilty of her murder – The Guardian

Posted December 12th, 2024 in child abuse, children, families, murder, news by sally

‘Sara Sharif’s father and stepmother have been found guilty of her murder, as questions are now raised over missed opportunities to save the 10-year-old.’

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The Guardian, 11th December 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Specialist courts proposed to break addictions of prolific offenders in England and Wales – The Guardian

Posted December 11th, 2024 in courts, criminal justice, news, recidivists, sentencing by sally

‘Specialist courts focused on breaking the addictions of prolific offenders are “efficient” and “a good idea”, the head of the government’s sentencing review has said as he suggested they could be rolled out across England and Wales.’

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The Guardian, 11th December 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Allegations of alienating behaviour – important new guidance published – Transparency Project

Posted December 11th, 2024 in child abuse, children, divorce, families, family courts, news by sally

‘The Family Justice Council (FJC) has published guidance for Family Court judges and those working in the Family Justice System, on responding to allegations of alienating behaviour.’

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Transparency Project, 11th December 2024

Source: transparencyproject.org.uk

Britain leads the world in cracking down on climate activism, study finds – The Guardian

‘British police arrest environmental protesters at nearly three times the global average rate, research has found, revealing the country as a world leader in the legal crackdown on climate activism.’

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The Guardian, 11th December 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Linking skills with visas? Just make sure the Immigration Skills Charge does what it says on the tin – Kingsley Napley Immigration Law Blog

Posted December 11th, 2024 in immigration, migrant workers, news, visas by sally

‘In his speech last week, Sir Keir Starmer, the UK Prime Minister, announced plans to publish a White Paper which will link the ability to sponsor migrant workers to training “people here in our country”.’

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Kingsley Napley Immigration Law Blog, 9th December 2024

Source: www.kingsleynapley.co.uk

Have you renewed your MOT? RTA claims and “ex turpi causa” – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted December 10th, 2024 in accidents, causation, ex turpi causa, illegality, insurance, negligence, news, road traffic by tracey

‘Ali v HSF Logistics Polska SP ZOO [2024] EWCA 1479. This was a very simple case that illustrates in a nutshell the courts’ approach to the principle of “ex turpi causa”: the notion that prevents a claimant from seeking a legal remedy if the claim arises in connection with their own illegal or immoral act. Even in a civil case, courts are reluctant to allow a party to benefit from their own wrongdoing, as it may be seen as contrary to the interests of justice and social morals. However, it cannot be a blanket rule, as we shall see from the case below. Proportionality has to to be applied.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 10th December 2024

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Law Commission to review law and sentencing in homicide – Law Commission

Posted December 10th, 2024 in homicide, Law Commission, murder, news, sentencing by tracey

‘The Law Commission has agreed to take on a project reviewing the law on homicide and the sentencing framework for murder. The review follows a request from the Lord Chancellor and recognises the vital importance of making sure that the gravest offences recognised by the criminal law in England and Wales work effectively in the 21st century.’

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Law Commission, 6th December 2024

Source: lawcom.gov.uk

The View from the Bench – a speech by Mr Justice Fordham to the Hart Judicial Review Conference – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted December 10th, 2024 in case management, electronic filing, judicial review, judiciary, news, speeches by tracey

‘Mr Justice Fordham delivered a speech as part of the Hart 18th Annual Judicial Review Conference on Friday 6 December 2024.’

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Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 6th December 2024

Source: www.judiciary.uk

Barrister apprenticeship standard endorsed by Bar Standards Board – Bar Standards Board

Posted December 10th, 2024 in barristers, legal education, news, standards by tracey

‘The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IFATE) and the Bar Standards Board (BSB) are pleased to announce the Barrister Apprenticeship Standard. This new standard sets out the skills, knowledge and behaviours needed to become a successful practising barrister in England and Wales. ‘

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Bar Standards Board, 5th December 2024

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Race at the Bar: time to double down on race equality work – The Bar Council

Posted December 10th, 2024 in barristers, equality, news, race discrimination, reports by tracey

‘The Bar Council is calling on individuals, chambers, and organisations at the Bar to step up work on race equality and keep the momentum going, as it publishes the follow up report to the landmark Race at the Bar report 2021.”

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The Bar Council, 4th December 2024

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Arbitrating Costs Provision Applications – Financial Remedies Journal

Posted December 10th, 2024 in arbitration, costs, divorce, family courts, news by tracey

‘There have been few seismic changes in family law that reshaped everything. Much as we would love suddenly to have a new landscape for our professional work, most of us can only hope to find small solutions that work for some small corner of one field. However, bit by bit this may all contribute to an evolving and improving climate in which families change and start their new chapters. Here we hope is one more such.’

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Financial Remedies Journal, 5th December 2024

Source: financialremediesjournal.com

Avoiding the Bear Traps of Arbitration – Some Tips from the Coalface – Financial Remedies Journal

Posted December 10th, 2024 in arbitration, dispute resolution, news by tracey

‘Arbitration is the form of ADR on everyone’s lips – even more so now with the new NCDR provisions that have come into force. Slow to get going, after its launch in 2012, and after Haley v Haley ironed out people’s concerns about routes to appeal, arbitration is sometimes hailed as being the silver bullet solution – a client-pleasing way to avoid the challenges that come with the court service. Providing a confidential and streamlined process for those wanting to avoid the delays and potential publicity of a court process, its attraction for clients, other than the additional fees of the arbitrator, are obvious.

However, there are traps that one can fall into, and stumbling blocks we have identified which prevent people from arbitrating, cause difficulties in the process and can add to the cost for clients, which can tarnish the lustre of our proverbial silver bullet.

Here are our lessons learned over the past few years.’

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Financial Remedies Journal, 2nd December 2024

Source: financialremediesjournal.com

Mental health trust could lose its licence – BBC News

Posted December 10th, 2024 in homicide, hospital orders, hospitals, licensing, mental health, news, reports by tracey

‘NHS England says the mental health trust that treated the killer who carried out the Nottingham attacks must attend monthly progress meetings to discuss improvements or face losing its licence.’

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BBC News, 10th December 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Former chair of Criminal Bar Association found to have ‘inappropriately initiated sexual contact’ with aspiring lawyer – The Guardian

‘A former chair of the Criminal Bar Association (CBA) inappropriately initiated sexual contact with an aspiring lawyer, a disciplinary tribunal has found.’

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The Guardian, 9th December 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Top London academies face mass claims of emotional harm as Whitehall acts on crisis – The Guardian

‘The government has expressed alarm at “deeply distressing” allegations of emotional harm at one of the country’s leading academy trusts after an Observer investigation.’

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The Guardian, 7th December 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Leaseholders dispute £200,000 maintenance bill – BBC News

Posted December 10th, 2024 in housing, landlord & tenant, leases, news, ombudsmen, repairs, reports, service charges by tracey

‘Leaseholders living in a block of flats have reported their management company to the housing ombudsman in a dispute over maintenance costs.’

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BBC News, 10th December 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Stalkers to be tagged on prison release in pilot – BBC News

Posted December 10th, 2024 in electronic monitoring, London, news, pilot schemes, release on licence, stalking by tracey

‘More than 200 stalking offenders released from prison will be GPS tagged by March 2026 under a pilot scheme from the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan.’

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BBC News, 10th December 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Ex-BBC journalist jailed for child sex offences – BBC News

Posted December 10th, 2024 in child abuse, guilty pleas, indecent photographs of children, news by tracey

‘A former BBC journalist has been jailed for eight years for a string of child sexual abuse offences.’

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BBC News, 9th December 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Monk abused children for decades on Welsh island ‘in plain sight’, review says – The Guardian

Posted December 10th, 2024 in abuse of position of trust, child abuse, clergy, news, sexual offences, Wales by tracey

‘A monk was able to abuse children for four decades on an island off the Welsh coast despite operating in “plain sight” and despite his victims’ repeated complaints, an independent review has concluded.’

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The Guardian, 9th December 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Abandon some jury trials or fund crisis-hit system, former chief justice says – The Guardian

Posted December 10th, 2024 in budgets, criminal justice, Crown Court, delay, juries, news by tracey

‘Ministers should consider abandoning jury trials for some crown court cases unless they properly fund a justice system “in serious crisis”, the former lord chief justice has said.’

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The Guardian, 10th December 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com