City council launches legal action after primary school site sold off in conveyancing error
Birmingham City Council is taking legal action to recover ownership of a primary school site that was transferred as a result of a conveyancing mistake.
Campaigners send pre-action letter to county borough council over former landfill site
Campaigners who want a former landfill site declared contaminated have sent a pre-action protocol letter to Caerphilly County Borough Council.
Borough council appoints Browne Jacobson to advise on planning and highways matters for Universal theme park
Law firm Browne Jacobson has been appointed by Bedford Borough Council to advise on specific planning and highways matters associated with the 268-hectare Universal United Kingdom Resort.
Commissioner finds council failed to comply with Welsh language standards when consulting on school transport policy
Bridgend County Borough Council has been warned that it faces a county court order if it fails to comply with any of the requirements imposed by the Welsh Language Commissioner after a dispute concerning a school transport consultation.
Number of infants subject to care proceedings remains “concerningly high”, say researchers
Researchers have found a small reduction in the number of babies involved in care proceedings, but still far more than in 2007/08.
Developer fails in High Court challenge to refusal of permission for 33-home scheme
A developer has failed in a bid to overturn a planning inspector’s finding that there was no realistic possibility of highways connecting his site to the local network being built in the foreseeable future.
Public authorities failing to meet basic rights in South of Scotland, watchdog warns
The Scottish Government, councils and NHS Boards are failing to meet their "most basic obligations" regarding food, health and housing in the South of Scotland, a human rights watchdog has warned.
Public Services Ombudsman for Wales sees sharpest increase in complaints in its 20-year history
The Public Services Ombudsman for Wales received more than 4,500 complaints in 2025-26, some 27% more than the previous 12 months, 47% more than three years ago, and three times as many as 20 years ago.
Prime Minister's electoral reforms must be "bold", administrators urge
Electoral administrators have urged the Prime Minister to “look wider than voting systems” and overhaul how elections are delivered, in response to newly announced plans to reform elections.
External auditors issue key governance recommendation over council cyber attack
Kensington and Chelsea Council has been told it must improve its IT systems and cyber security training after a cyber-attack last year disrupted several services and led to data theft.
Supreme Court hears appeal over data breach claims and threshold of seriousness
The Supreme Court is this week (7-8 October) hearing an appeal over whether a threshold of seriousness of harm applies to claims for damages following a data breach.
Landmark Chambers bolsters property offering with three new arrivals
Landmark Chambers has strengthened its property team with the arrival of three barristers whose expertise includes residential and commercial landlord and tenant work, real property disputes, building safety, leasehold and insolvency.
Councils struggling to meet requests from domestic abuse victims for safe accommodation, warns LGA
Councils in England are struggling to meet requests from domestic abuse victims and survivors for safe accommodation, due to shortages of suitable homes and mounting financial pressures.
Court of Appeal hears dispute over faith-based oversubscription criteria
The Court of Appeal is this week (6-7 October) hearing an appeal over faith-based oversubscription criteria.
Glasgow ‘fire and rehire’ plans dropped following trade union deal
Glasgow City Council has cancelled plans to 'fire and rehire' staff after extensive negotiations with trade union UNISON and additional financial support from the Scottish Government.
Law Society calls for clear accountability for agentic AI in justice
The Law Society of England and Wales has called for clear accountability for agentic AI in justice, amid concerns that “AI is moving faster than the rules needed to govern it”.
Westminster calls for legislative change to tackle unlicensed street fundraising
Westminster City Council has urged the Government to amend legislation dating back to 1916 in order to allow local authorities to tackle "aggressive tactics" deployed by unlicensed street collectors representing non-charitable organisation.
Supreme Court agrees to hear appeal over whether HS2 tunnelling works benefitted from deemed planning permission
The Supreme Court has granted ministers and HS2 Limited permission to appeal a ruling that certain tunnelling works did not have planning permission.
District in Sussex becomes latest to take legal steps over local government reorganisation
Lewes District Council has become the latest local authority to take “protective legal action” in the aftermath of the Government’s decision to pause and review local government reorganisation (LGR).
Court of Protection rules 16-year-old boy is not subject to deprivation of liberty despite extensive restrictions
The Court of Protection has concluded that a 16-year-old boy is not being deprived of his liberty in the latest ruling in the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s ruling in the AGNI case earlier this year.
Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman changes name
The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman has officially changed its name to the Public Service Ombudsman after research suggested that its old name was “confusing for people”.
Change the law to give councils more effective powers to deal with intentional unauthorised development, district tells minister
East Herts Council has urged the Government to legislate for stronger planning enforcement and police powers in relation to intentional unauthorised development, including giving councils' improved access to injunctions and introducing a stronger statutory presumption against retrospective…
County council launches judicial review over solar development approved through NSIP process
Lincolnshire County Council has launched a legal challenge over the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero’s approval of Beacon Fen Energy Park.
Office for Students names five law firms to £1m+ legal services panel
The Office for Students, the independent regulator of higher education in England, has appointed five firms to a panel providing legal services worth an estimated £1.125m over five years.
County to take “precautionary steps” to protect position during review of local government reorganisation
The Cabinet at Lancashire County Council has agreed to take precautionary steps to protect the council's position while the Government reviews its plans for local government reorganisation.
Council in Derbyshire issues pre-action protocol letter over paused reorganisation decision
A council led by a Labour administration under minority control has issued a pre-action letter to the Government over its currently paused plans for local government reorganisation in Derbyshire and Derby.
Call for mayors to be given new powers to fund public infrastructure
Mayors should be given new powers to deliver housing, health and school infrastructure projects, according to a report by The Future Governance Forum (FGF), in partnership with law firm Trowers & Hamlins.
High Court rejects claim against council over decision not to renew option agreement for stately home
The High Court has rejected a claim brought by a former US film maker against Rochdale Council over control of a grade II* listed stately home.
Combined authority and housing agencies sign first ‘Place Delivery Agreement’
Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, Homes England and its subsidiary, the National Housing Bank, have signed a Place Delivery Agreement (PDA), the first of its kind in England.
ACAS to update Code of Practice on flexible working to reflect upcoming changes to the law
The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) has launched a consultation on updates to its existing Code of Practice on requests for flexible working, to reflect new changes introduced through the Employment Rights Act 2025.
Campaigners vow to fight on after refusal of permission for judicial review of plans for new football stadium
A Planning Court judge has refused a campaign group permission to apply for judicial review over the grant of planning permission to Championship side Oxford United for a new stadium.
Investigation finds “serious and repeated failings” in transport arrangements for children with SEND at county council
An investigation by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has found “serious and repeated failings” in transport arrangements for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) at Essex County Council.
Natural England to focus specialist planning advice on complex cases with significant environmental impacts
Natural England has said it will focus specialist advice on complex cases with “significant environmental impacts”, under changes to the way it provides planning advice set out today (1 October).
Minister intervenes at district over emerging local plan after council removes sites ahead of Regulation 19 stage
The Housing and Planning Minister has placed a holding direction on Rochford District Council with regards to its emerging local plan.
New Business and Property Division of High Court comes into effect
The Business and Property Division (BPD) of the High Court formally comes into effect from today (1 October 2026).
Company director wins Upper Tribunal appeal over imposition of financial penalty for HMO regulation breaches
The Upper Tribunal has allowed an appeal by a company director against the decision of the First-tier Tribunal (FTT) in relation to a financial penalty imposed upon him by a local housing authority, Cherwell District Council, for the offence of failing to comply with the regulations applicable to…
Met Police refers Kensington & Chelsea Council to CPS for charging decisions over Grenfell Tower fire
The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea has confirmed that it has been referred by the Metropolitan Police to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) for offences in relation to the Grenfell Fire in 2017.
Government issues AI guidance for adult social care providers
The Government has issued guidance on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in adult social care, highlighting the need for human review of AI-generated outputs and consideration of data protection.
Minister orders council to hold Regulation 19 consultation on local plan
North East Lincolnshire Council has been ordered by the Government to progress its local plan after councillors last week voted not to.
Campaign group seeks to block appeal by Spurs over quashing of permission for training ground
The Public Interest Law Centre (PILC) has said an amenity group it represents will seek to block Tottenham Hotspur Football Club from appealing against an order that quashed planning permission for the club to build on a local park.
High Court judge rejects statutory review challenge to advertising discontinuance notice
An outdoor advertising firm has lost its claim in the High Court for statutory review of a discontinuance notice.
ICO formally becomes the Information Commission as new board takes charge
The Information Commissioner's Office has formally become the Information Commission, with Chief Executive Officer Paul Arnold describing the move to a board-led regulator as "the beginning of an important new chapter" for information regulation.
Government publishes statutory guidance on information sharing for safeguarding organisations
The Government has published statutory guidance for safeguarding organisations and their practitioners ahead of the new information sharing duty taking effect from today (30 September).
Councils to be given new powers to refer homeless households to private registered providers
The Government is to bring forward amendments to the Social Housing Bill that will hand councils new powers to refer homeless households to private registered providers of social housing.
Regulator of Social Housing tells two councils that “significant improvement” is needed to meet consumer standards
Two local authorities have received a C3 grade - the second lowest - from the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) in its latest round of regulatory judgements.
Jobs
Senior Legal Adviser (Childcare)
£50,564 - £56,219 per annum, plus Market Supplement of up to £7,500 per annum (dependent on experience)
Chief Lawyer - Contracts
£68,427 - £76,588 per annum inc. London weighting
Local Government Lawyer - Commercial Property
£41,177 - £50,908 per annum
Lawyer
£49,358 per year, rising to £51,768 per year after successful completion of a 6-month probationary period.
Litigation Lawyer
£51,931 per annum
Paralegal
£33,673 - £36,581 per annum
Legal Officer (Litigation)
£39,354 - £43,878
Locum roles
Directory
Events
HMPL Building Blocks: Arrears Recovery for Leasehold Properties Including Shared Ownership - Devonshires
13-10-2026
Online (live)
Counsel’s Top 10 Insights for Running Claimant SEND Appeals for Parents and their Supporters - 3PB
13-10-2026
Online (live)
Understanding GDPR Accountability and Conducting Data Protection Audits - Act Now
13-10-2026 10:00 am
Online (live)
Land Use Conference 2026 - Landmark Chambers 
PATC | Subsidy control - Hugh James 
Public Sector Insights: Mental Health and Capacity Matters - Blake Morgan 
Commercial Lease Renewals: Practical Issues, Procedure and Strategy - Cornerstone Barristers
14-10-2026 4:00 pm
London
Rent Standard: Are you ready for 2027 rent increases and rent convergence? - Devonshires
15-10-2026 11:00 am
Online (live)
Procurement Lotting Strategy - DWF 
Certified Data Protection Officer Training (CDPO) - The Training Centre
19-10-2026 9:00 am
Online (live)
AI and Information Governance: Bridging Innovation and Compliance - Act Now
20-10-2026 10:00 am
Online (live)
Legal Apprenticeships: Navigating the New Landscape - Damar Training
20-10-2026 11:00 am
Online (live)
JCT Measured Term Contract 2016/2024 – Effective contract management and dispute avoidance - Devonshires
20-10-2026 2:00 pm
Online (live)
Conduct: What? When? How? - 42BR 
College Chambers Lecture Day 2026 
How to Handle a Subject Access Request - Act Now 