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18 November 2022 / Stephen Gold
Issue: 8003 / Categories: Features , Procedure & practice , Civil way
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Archive: Civil way: 18 November 2022

Stephen Gold discovers how in 1954 the courts faced the trial backlog, hears a Hampshire burr, and comes across marmalade pudding at the Law Society

It is 1954 which sees the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. An opportunity for courts to close for two days, albeit that for this year only, shutters would be up for the Queen’s birthday. The Law Times—£3.18s.6d annual subscription for 52 copies and 7s 6d for a 30-word classified ad—got in on the act with a special commemorative edition. Said the editor to the regular ‘Conveyancer’ columnist: ‘We are running “The Crown in Popular Estimation”. “Heraldry of the Coronation”. A whole load of stuff like that. Can you do, say, restrictive covenants for the benefit of Buckingham Palace?’ ‘No.’ He did ‘Conveyancing in Five Reigns’.

Too much crime

The backlog of High Court civil cases awaiting trial in London and on the circuits was serious, and it was far too early to blame COVID-19. The year’s Hilary Term opened with 1,700

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

NLJ Career Profile: John McElroy, London Solicitors Litigation Association

NLJ Career Profile: John McElroy, London Solicitors Litigation Association

From first-generation student to trailblazing president of the London Solicitors Litigation Association, John McElroy of Fieldfisher reflects on resilience, identity and the power of bringing your whole self to the law

Clarke Willmott—Elaine Field

Clarke Willmott—Elaine Field

Planning and environment team expands with partner hire in Manchester

Birketts—Barbara Hamilton-Bruce

Birketts—Barbara Hamilton-Bruce

Firm appoints chief operating officer to strengthen leadership team

NEWS
A landmark Supreme Court ruling has underscored the sweeping reach of UK sanctions. In NLJ this week, Brónagh Adams and Harriet Campbell of Penningtons Manches Cooper say the regime is a ‘blunt instrument’ requiring only a factual, not causal, link to restricted goods
Fraud claims are surging, with England and Wales increasingly the forum of choice for global disputes. Writing in NLJ this week, Jon Felce of Cooke, Young & Keidan reports claims have risen sharply, with fraud now a major share of litigation and costing billions worldwide
Litigators digesting Mazur are being urged to tighten oversight and compliance. In his latest 'Insider' column for NLJ this week, Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School provides a cut out and keep guide to the ruling’s core test: whether an unauthorised individual is ‘in truth acting on behalf of the authorised individual’
Conflicting county court rulings have left landlords uncertain over whether they can force entry after tenants refuse access. In this week's NLJ, Edward Blakeney and Ashpen Rajah of Falcon Chambers outline a split: some judges permit it under CPR 70.2A, others insist only Parliament can authorise such powers
A wave of scandals has reignited debate over misconduct in public office, criticised as unclear and inconsistently applied. Writing in NLJ this week, Alice Lepeuple of WilmerHale says the offence’s ‘vagueness, overbreadth & inconsistent deployment’ have undermined confidence
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