Fear of catching Covid “not a protected belief”, tribunal rules
A woman’s fear of catching Covid-19 and need to protect herself and others is not a philosophical belief for the purposes of the Equality Act 2010, a tribunal has ruled.
Scottish ABSs to go live with professional majority ownership – for now
The Law Society of Scotland has been authorised to regulate licensed legal services providers, the equivalent of ABSs, more than 10 years after the law allowing for them came into force.
Judges who ‘sit up’ in higher courts win claim for extra pay
The Ministry of Justice is facing a new pay-out to judges after an employment tribunal found that salaried judges who ‘sit up’ in higher courts from time to time should be paid more for the work.
BTAS beefs up sanctions for sexual misconduct further still
The Bar Tribunals & Adjudication Service has gone a step further in toughening up its sanctions guidance for barristers found to have been involved in sexual misconduct and discrimination.
Senior CPS barrister was victim of disability discrimination
The Crown Prosecution Service as admitted discriminating against a disabled senior prosecutor by failing to allow him to work from home or return home early to take medication for a heart condition.
Direct access business goes bust “leaving clients out out pocket”
An eight-year-old direct access business that said it could save clients half or more of the cost of a solicitor through its fixed-fee unbundled service has gone into liquidation.
City firm faces retrial of successful fees claim over pleadings failure
City law firm Charles Russell Speechlys is facing a retrial of a £50,000 claim for fees it thought it had won because it did not properly plead the existence of an implied retainer.
Seven in ten legal sector workers suffer from poor mental health
Seven out of ten legal sector workers (69%) describe themselves as suffering from poor mental health, with their union saying it showed a “crisis” in the law.
Supreme Court rejects barrister’s contempt of Supreme Court appeal
The Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal by a barrister against a £5,000 fine for contempt of court after he released a draft version of its ruling on the planned third runway for Heathrow airport.
Consumer panel “uncertain” over future of Legal Ombudsman
The Legal Services Consumer Panel is “uncertain” whether radical measures being considered by the Legal Ombudsman to cut its backlog of complaints will deliver sufficient change.
