Driving Renewable and Sustainable Development in the Public Sector

Open Justice Principle – Where are the lines drawn in care proceedings?

The Court of Appeal recently sought to emphasise the limits of the open justice principle, specifically in the context of care proceedings under the Children Act 1989. Jemimah Hendrick analyses the ruling.

December 17, 2025

Open Justice Principle – Where are the lines drawn in care proceedings?

Local government reorganisation and historic liabilities

Local government reorganisation risks leaving historic liabilities unresolved, writes Laurence Besemer.

December 18, 2025

Local government reorganisation and historic liabilities

What's the best way to manage conflict between colleagues in schools and colleges?

Alexandra Addington gives practical guidance for schools following a recent Employment Tribunal case where a nursery nurse's relationship with two teachers deteriorated to the point they refused to work with her.

December 17, 2025

What's the best way to manage conflict between colleagues in schools and colleges?

Unlocking legal talent

Jonathan Bourne sets out why in-house council teams and law firms should embrace apprenticeships.

June 13, 2025

Unlocking legal talent

The status of co-opted members

December 18, 2025

Geoff Wild considers the legal status of non-councillor members of local authority committees.

The ‘Hillsborough Law’, senior leaders and prevention of critical harm

December 12, 2025

Simon Belfield considers the implications for senior leaders of public bodies of Section 13 of the Public Office (Accountability) Bill, which introduces a criminal offence of failing to take reasonable steps to prevent death or serious injury.

Growing apart?

November 27, 2025

For centuries, England and Wales have shared a single legal jurisdiction, with both countries operating under one unified system of courts and legal principles. However, since the creation of the Welsh Parliament in 1999, leading to the divergence of Welsh and English law, questions have arisen over the need for a separate Welsh legal jurisdiction. Lottie Winson explores how this situation came…

Political and mayoral assistants

November 27, 2025

Political and mayoral assistants will potentially play an increasingly important role in the post-LGR/devolution landscape. Geoff Wild sets out the legislative background to these posts in local authorities, the scope of the roles and constitutional changes necessary to proceed with appointments.

Teacher dismissed after joking about 'whacking' a pupil: was the decision fair?

December 17, 2025

Is it okay for a teacher to joke about ‘whacking’ a pupil? That's what happened in a recent case and resulted in the teacher being dismissed. The main question the tribunal had to decide was whether the dismissal fell within the range of reasonable responses open to the school, writes Alexandra Addington.

Weapons in Cardiff educational settings: new guidance for schools

November 26, 2025

A new approach adopted by Cardiff Council to tackling weapons in schools provides a framework that other Welsh local authorities may seek to follow, writes Stephanie Hughes.

Court of Appeal rules on exclusions once again

November 20, 2025

The Court of Appeal delivered its third exclusion decision this year at the end of October. This marks unprecedented activity in exclusion case law - no other Court of Appeal exclusion cases have emerged since the law changed in 2011, writes Philip Wood.

Faith-based oversubscription criteria

November 20, 2025

The High Court recently upheld faith-based oversubscription criteria in school admissions arrangements. Laura Berman and Michael Brotherton explain why.

Enjoying the challenge

November 21, 2025

LLG President Paul Turner has worked in local government throughout his legal career. Philip Hoult talks to him about what drew him into the sector, the benefits of working for different kinds of local authorities, and what challenges such as local government reorganisation mean for legal teams.

Work-related stress: a key issue for employers

February 07, 2025

Debra Gers looks at the support employers can provide in relation to work-related stress.

From Paralegal to Solicitor

November 15, 2024

Rob Dudley outlines the route to qualification for paralegals via the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE).

Scrutiny of professionals working in Children Act litigation

December 17, 2025

James Dove looks at the implications of the recent Court of Appeal ruling in Re E for professionals working around the Family Court.

Fear of harm and plans for adoption

December 17, 2025

The Court of Appeal recently set aside care and placement orders in respect of a two-year-old boy, concluding that the deficiencies in the parenting that he was likely to receive from his mother were not of a nature and degree to justify the termination of the parent/child relationship. Will Green looks at the lessons from the ruling.

Issues Resolution Hearings, threshold criteria and adequacy of reasons

December 17, 2025

The Court of Appeal has allowed an appeal over a short form of judgment delivered at the conclusion of an IRH disposing of public law proceedings which were by then effectively uncontested, finding that the parties were left in a state of ignorance as to the basis on which the judge actually approved the local authority's right to pursue final orders. Theo Corbett examines the judgment.

Foster carers and manifestation of religious belief

December 16, 2025

The High Court recently rejected a claim brought by Evangelical Christians against a city council under the Human Rights Act 1998 and the Equality Act 2010 after the local authority rejected their application to become foster carers. Georgina Pein analyses the ruling.

A hard road

Sep 19, 2025

Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation: the planning perspective

In this webinar, you will hear about how devolution and local government reorganisation will shape plan-making and development management.

Pathfinder and the Sunflowers

In today’s episode of FortyTwo Talks, Family Law Practitioner, Rachel Chan, is joined by Estella Newbold-Brown, Partner of Amphlett Lissimore to discuss the Private Law 'Pathfinder' and Estella’s new book, Isla and Quinn The Sunflowers.

Public Sector Insights – Disability discrimination in education

Trish D’Souza, a Legal Director in the Education sector, and Jo Corbett-Simmons, a Legal Director in our Commercial Litigation team, delivered a session for schools, local authorities and academy trusts on Disability discrimination – how to recognise potential claims.