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News in Brief

19 February 2009
Issue: 7357 / Categories: Legal News , Legal services , Profession
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Legal Services

EHRC gains UN accreditation

The Equality and Human Rights Commission is to receive United Nations (UN) accreditation as a national human rights institution. The commission can now participate fully in the human rights council of the UN and will be able to make both written and oral interventions at the human rights council. Nicola Brewer, CEO of the commission, said that the “UN accreditation is a historic step in the early life of the Commission, and reinforces our role as the leading body for the promotion of human rights in ”.

 

English common law

English common law is the most widespread legal system in the world with 30% of the world’s population living under its rule, according to new research by Professor Philip Wood, special global counsel at Allen& Overy, and  author of Maps of World Financial Law. The unique researchfocuses on the difference in fi nancial law between legal jurisdictions across the world. Some 27% of the world’s 320 legal jurisdictions use English common law, although these territories generate only 14% of global GDP.

 

Start date for LDPs

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) will, subject to Parliamentary approval, regulate Legal Disciplinary Practices (LDPs) from 31 March 2009. The SRA had originally hope to regulate LDPs from 1 March, but the Ministry of Justice has said it wants extra time to make sure the relevant provisions will work well. LDPs are a new type of solicitors’ fi rm, which can include one or more lawyers who are not solicitors and up to a quarter of non-lawyers.

Issue: 7357 / Categories: Legal News , Legal services , Profession
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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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