It would be worth reading Shani v Ozekhome for the artistic quality of the red hat alone, but the multi-car pile up of legal catastrophe is hilarious to read. A real page-turner! www.bailii.org/uk/cases/UKF...

I recently represented some acquaintances in a Rent Repayment Order, where the landlord had failed to obtain an HMO license. The property was not fire-safe, and contained electrical hazards which led to one tenant being electrocuted by a bathroom light switch.

The Supreme Court has handed down its Dartmoor wild camping decision in the case of Darwall and another v Dartmoor National Park Authority.

Very proud to win first prize in the Property Bar Association's Essay Competition: "100 years on from the passing of the Law of Property Act 1925, is the Act’s approach to formalities fit for the modern era?"

The Spectator on @gardencourtlaw.bsky.social: '…lawyers of undoubted intellect and skill…’ ‘…idealists, gifted advocates and politically passionate…’ ‘…radically effective…’ ‘…no doubting the skill or zeal…’ ‘…Garden Court racks up victories…’ www.spectator.co.uk/article/the-...

I don't know if there is a case to be brought before the European Court of Human Rights - but we have already asked the question of a KC. And, yes, if there is a decent case for a trans person to bring, we will help them bring it.

📣London Borough of Hounslow concede breach of disabled child’s right to education during 19 month search for school place📣 Garden Court Chambers #EducationLaw Team members Gráinne Mellon, leading Alex Temple, represented the client. Read on here 🔽 gardencourtchambers.co.uk/london-borou...

Is Kilmar Abrego Garcia alive? Because the amount of resistance to addressing his being trafficked gives the distinct impression that either he is dead or what they have done to him is so unspeakable that they cannot afford for him to be freed, seen, or spoken with.

More well-informed people than me will have better comment on the sad impact for trans people of the decision today in For Women Scotland v Scottish Ministers [2025] UKSC 16. However, they are far from the only people affected. This decision also impacts non-binary and gender fluid individuals.

I recently represented my first client for SIRG - at an Independent Review of a decision to exclude a child. It was a 6-hour hearing (my longest yet) - but the Panel decided to quash the exclusion and direct the school to reconsider. An excellent result!

www.theguardian.com/society/2025... Got to be a record!

Spent my weekend competing in the LSE Featherstone LGBT Moot. As always, a wonderful experience - and a competitive one! 102 teams entered, and we made it to the final 8, before being knocked out by the eventual (highly deserving) winners.

This week, I had my first chess game against a titled player. Came within touching distance of beating an International Master. Though I eventually came second, I’m still thrilled!

The Labour humiliation video is a beyond contempt and totally useless. If you want Reform voters give them jobs by taxing wealth and investing in education and infrastructure. People are far less hateful when they are given some dignity.

Reunited with one of my favourite photographs. Taken by my brother at the student protests in 2010. A reminder that protest however futile is often an act of simple defiance against despair.

There really isn't a single vaguely left wing manifesto promise Labour will keep, is there? Still, Wes Streeting will be delighted.

Got my results from my BSB litigation exams - passed! Very proud of 94% in Civil Litigation - I feel like a world expert in Part 36 Offers. Just the practical aspects left, and then I can be called to the bar!

@hflawcentre.bsky.social are hunting for a new housing solicitor! They are a friendly team, with a knack for finding unusual cases, and a disproportionately successful record. If you're interested in legal aid housing work, there are few better places you could be! hflaw.org.uk/vacancies/

£20,000 compensation and discharge of a suspended possession order, for discrimination arising from disability. Well done Nick!

Professional negligence claim against direct access barrister (and her clerk) in the amount of £292,806,729,326,976,872,097,543,994.24 struck out. This starts out as mad, and gets progressively more deranged. caselaw.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ewhc/comm/20...

🚨 We are pleased to share that the Home Secretary has confirmed the govt will repeal Safety of Rwanda Act 2024, in response to our legal challenge to the Rwanda plan. While the Labour govt had already announced that no one would be sent to Rwanda, the Act remains on the statute books. 1/4

Two interesting judgments yesterday. A Father v Worcestershire CC is notable for having (I think) the first litigant in person in the Supreme Court, but RTM v Bonne Terre Ltd and Hestview Ltd [2025] EWHC 111 (KB) is noteworthy too: www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWH...

Notable new arrival on here is @matthewpennycookmp.bsky.social - the housing minister (and I am confident this is real...)

Happy 2025, beautiful people. As a philosopher once said, there’s some good in this world, Mr Frodo. And it’s worth fighting for. X

"In simple terms, X is effectively making money off the sale of child sexual abuse material being openly promoted on its platform." uk.news.yahoo.com/checkmarked-...

Virgin Media paid the Metropolitan Police after they obtained search warrants for their private prosecution. Nearly 20,000 people are presently detained in profit-making prisons. Eleven died in a fire in a Dutch detention centre run by G4S. 2 years later, they were re-awarded the contract.

Just finished ‘Keep the Aspidistra Flying’. Orwell’s excellent approach of awful protagonist, sharply written, with real understanding. Principles are expensive. At times overbearingly grim - but a very satisfying ending. (Fittingly, I am at SOAS, and so not five minutes from Ravelston’s flat!)

14% increase in homelessness in a year. 1 in 47 people in London are homeless, 1 in 61 in Birmingham. There are dreadful, frightening figures. www.theguardian.com/society/2024...

Two news stories on the same day: 1 - PMQs dominated by arguments over which party is toughest on immigration. 2 - "A Nazi sympathiser prepared a terrorism attack on an immigration law firm after choosing them as a target after reading a Daily Mail article."

A write-up will follow, but heavens, this appeal from the Magistrates' dismissal of a statutory nuisance prosecution brought by a tenant under section 82 Environmental Protection Act 1990 for condensation mould is *really* not a good advert for the Magistrates' Court. www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWH...

Loved the @legalactiongroup.bsky.social Education Law conference on Friday - lots of fascinating discussions, including by Dionne Campbell-Mark of Communities Empowerment Network about the work they do to stop school exclusions. They're fundraising, and you can support them here:

Sarah Sackman is the new minister for legal aid. She has a masters in housing and poverty law, previously worked for the Toynbee Free Legal Advice Centre, has been praised by Inside Housing for her work with Shelter, and in her previous role got more funding for RASSO work. I'm oddly optimistic.

When I wrote this article for Legal Action Magazine, I was half way through my 100 days without booze. Having made it to day 100, I think I may stay sober until the Family Drug and Alcohol Court is available in every family court in the country. 🥂 www.lag.org.uk/article/2162...

Not enough detail to know, but seems like odd enforcement choices if the outcome is only a £15K fine. Truly appalling landlord. Could have been multiple breaches each with £30K civil penalty, or if planning enforcement prosecution, then a POCA penalty of ALL THE RENT. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Message from unknown Linkedin headhunter "Hey Giles, I hope you find this message exciting for you." Alas, his hopes were to be dashed.

An increase in housing civil legal aid is a wondrous thing, not seen in my whole legal career. But... A 10% increase just undoes the 2013 10% cut, and returns us to the rate in 1996. (The actual rate, no 'real terms equivalent'). Welcome, but will it be enough? www.gov.uk/government/n...

www.theguardian.com/law/2024/nov... 10% is something. But it has been a cut of nearly 50% since 1996. This is insufficient.

What should aspiring lawyers read after Rumpole? www.lag.org.uk/article/2162...

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... Awful

The decision to permanently exclude a child from school is life changing. The High Court stated that it deserved particularly close scrutiny. Schools' decisions deserve to be challenged. Yet the vulnerable children facing these decisions are given no support to do this. 🧵 youtu.be/fB-VAgkSq-o

I speak as a family lawyer. Working a DOLs case was vicariously traumatising. I can’t imagine how my client suffered. Private companies abuse vulnerable kids for profit. I have witnessed it and it is a national scandal. www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/resource/chi...

An argument that you have treated too many individuals wrongly to be able to recompense any of them is nauseating. But the fact that a council can advance such an argument demonstrates that ombudsmen are not adequate recourse. localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk/housing-law/...

Bluesky feels much less propagandized. I like this.