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Civil way: 14 March 2014

14 March 2014
Issue: 7598 / Categories: Features , Civil way , Procedure & practice
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County court revolution & conciliate—or else

THE ONE SHOW

The Family Court (see “Civil way”, NLJ, 24 January 2014, p 15) is almost certain to burst into life on 22 April 2014. Not to be outdone, the civil side of the legal coin is offering excitement too with big money on the County Court dropping out of the legislative womb on the same date through ss 17(1) and (2) of the Crime and Courts Act 2013 coming into force. Macclesfield county court, Aldershot and Farnham county court and every other county court in England and Wales will be absorbed into the one single and solitary County Court sitting at hearing centres based in Macclesfield, Aldershot and wherever else there happens to be a county court presently situated and with administrative offices attached. A single seal and even signage outside each hearing centre is threatened to be changed which could present some confusion where the present name is deeply engrained in concrete.

The 69th CPR update—most of which will be operative with

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Birketts—trainee cohort

Birketts—trainee cohort

Firm welcomes new cohort of 29 trainee solicitors for 2025

Keoghs—four appointments

Keoghs—four appointments

Four partner hires expand legal expertise in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Real estate team in Yorkshire welcomes new partner

NEWS
Robert Taylor of 360 Law Services warns in this week's NLJ that adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) risks entrenching disadvantage for SME law firms, unless tools are tailored to their needs
From oligarchs to cosmetic clinics, strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) target journalists, activists and ordinary citizens with intimidating legal tactics. Writing in NLJ this week, Sadie Whittam of Lancaster University explores the weaponisation of litigation to silence critics
Delays and dysfunction continue to mount in the county court, as revealed in a scathing Justice Committee report and under discussion this week by NLJ columnist Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School. Bulk claims—especially from private parking firms—are overwhelming the system, with 8,000 cases filed weekly
Writing in NLJ this week, Thomas Rothwell and Kavish Shah of Falcon Chambers unpack the surprise inclusion of a ban on upwards-only rent reviews in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill
Charles Pigott of Mills & Reeve charts the turbulent progress of the Employment Rights Bill through the House of Lords, in this week's NLJ
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