As of 13 March 2014, pursuant to the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013, same-sex marriage became legal in the UK.  Before this, the only way same-sex couples had legal recognition of their relationship was through a civil partnership. The passing of this legislation also enabled same-sex couples to convert their civil partnership into marriage. The UK’s Office for National Statistics (ONS) published that, since the introduction of same-sex marriage in the UK in 2014, there have been more marriages among female same-sex couples each year, than male same-sex couples.

We have seen a recent rise in Will Writers offering cheaply prepared Wills online, and more and more people are taking matters into their own hands by preparing their own DIY Wills. 

An article has been published by the Law Gazette highlighting the increase in disputes that were heard in the High Court from 227 in 2018 to 368 in 2019, this is largely due to poorly prepared Wills.

The Trades Union Congress (“TUC”) has done a recent survey on the topic of harassment of LGBT people in the workplace. From the population of approximately one thousand people canvassed, 68% said they had been subjected to at least one type of sexual harassment at work, of which 70% stated that the most recent incident of unwanted sexual behaviour at work had been from a colleague, and 12% stating that they had been harassed by their direct manager or another manager.

With the government’s recent announcement that Section 21 notices are to be abolished, it is important to take action sooner rather than later if you are a landlord looking to recover possession of your property.

However, many landlords are concerned that they will be accused of carrying out a retaliatory eviction if they serve a Section 21 notice, and their possession claim will fail if the tenant defends it on this basis.

The recent administration of the Jamie Oliver Restaurant Group Limited and other associated companies will lead sadly to 1,000 jobs being lost.

The administration of any business raises significant concerns for employees who may find themselves at risk of redundancy and/or unable to recover sums due to them from their employer.

In the case of an administration (rather than a compulsory or creditors’ voluntary liquidation where the legal position may be different), the appointment of an administrator does not automatically terminate a contract of employment.

A consultation was launched by the Sentencing Council on 9th April 2019 which is due to conclude on 9th July 2019.

The Council is an independent body with responsibility for establishing guidelines for criminal courts to apply when sentencing convicted defendants. It has developed draft guidelines to assist courts in applying a consistent approach in dealing with offenders with mental health conditions, neurological impairments or developmental disorders.

The NHS released their Long Term Plan earlier this year, setting out priorities for health care over the next 10 years. Detailing the specific areas in which the £20.5 billion budget is set to be spent, the plan lays the foundation for the UK Government’s future healthcare strategy. Here are the key takeaways and concerns associated with the plan.

Where are Investments Going?

The argument that clinical negligence claims are draining the NHS of funds that could better be used for front line services is a common one that is directed at our industry. Figures published state that £1.63bn was paid in compensation to victims of medical accidents in 2017/2018, an increase on the previous number of £1.08bn in 2016/2017. But does the problem really lie with the legal sector?