Features

As businesses rush to adopt the advantages of AI, Julaine Speight explains why it pays for lawyers to keep it personal

John Bowers QC examines some ground-breaking decisions on religious dress & calls for balance between competing perspectives

Fiona Bawdon explains why this ground‑breaking scheme is aimed at firms, as well as not-for-profit agencies

David Burrows calls for clarity and fairness for families and practitioners and highlights some priorities for the year ahead

Jon Robins questions the government’s decision to rule out a public inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death of Pat Finucane

In a special NLJ report, Grania Langdon-Down talks to Mrs Justice Cockerill, head of the Commercial Court, and litigators about the challenges of 2020 and what 2021 will bring in relation to work-flow, procedural reform, diversity and well-being. She also draws on responses from the latest London Solicitors Litigation Association (LSLA) and NLJ Litigation Trends Survey. Overall, most responders were positive that the litigation market would grow or, at least, remain unchanged. There was overwhelming support for virtual hearings and agile working. But there was also a strong message to the profession’s leaders that the legal community needs to do more to promote both diversity and inclusion and the importance of good mental health.

Owen Igiehon considers the practice and scale of surrogacy in the UK and welcomes proposals for reform

In a tribute to John Le Carré, Athelstane Aamodt reflects on the operation & enforcement of official secrets laws

Michael Zander on whether there was parliamentary scrutiny worthy of the name

Ian Smith takes a leap into the new year reporting on two important statements of principle & an adventurous challenge