Read our latest articles, news briefs and legal updates across all our different services.
The government is set to launch its ‘Good Work Plan’ to keep employment laws up-to-date with the changing world of work in the modern economy. It follows recommendations made in the Taylor Review of working practices and it is hoped that millions of workers will benefit from the reforms. The government will seek to protect
A betting shop manager has won her unfair dismissal claim after she was sacked for refusing to accept a new contract on a lower pay grade. Nicola Dinham had worked as a manager for William Hill for 18 years. The company restructured its employment model, merging the roles of shop manager and deputy manager into
A school dinner lady has been awarded £45,000 in compensation after she was subjected to bullying because she reported a breach of policy by her colleague. Neydi Vasconcelos worked part-time at Medlock Primary School in Ardwick. She became aware that some of the kitchen equipment was being taken off site for private use by a
A review of inheritance tax thresholds could make it easier for parents to give their children money to buy a home, fund their education or set up a business. Currently, the maximum sum that can be gifted tax free is £3,000 a year. Any additional funds are subject to 40% inheritance tax if the donor
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has started giving refunds to people who were overcharged when setting up lasting powers of attorney (LPA). It has set aside £90m to cover the cost of the refunds. Between April 2013 and March 2017, the operating costs of the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) came down as more
Divorce can be one of the most stressful events anyone has to face in their lives, especially if it descends into recriminations and disputes over money and care of the children. Thankfully, it doesn’t have to be that way. The government, with the backing of many family lawyers, has been trying to promote a more
Sir James Munby, President of the Family Division has recently provided further details of new specialist courts being piloted to deal with the financial aspect of divorce proceedings. In December 2017, Munby set out a blueprint for the financial remedies courts (FRC), which are part of wider efforts to separate divorce administratively from its financial
An executive at a recruitment company who was taunted with being a tinker and a ‘gyppo’ has been awarded £283,000 compensation in an unfair dismissal and race discrimination case. Edward Bell, who is from Belfast but now lives in Manchester, worked for recruitment company Cordant People Ltd, formerly Prime Time Recruitment Ltd. He claimed that
The government has announced new measures to prevent unfair and abusive practices within the leasehold system. They include a ban on leaseholds for almost all new build houses. Changes will be made so that ground rents on new long leases – for both houses and flats – are set to zero. It will also become
Nearly two out of three adults in Britain do not have a valid will, according to a survey carried out by MacMillan Cancer Support. The charity surveyed more than 2,000 people and found that 63% had not made a will, including 42% of people over the age of 55. The survey also uncovered various “will