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NLJ this week: Criticising the Attorney-General for ‘political sport’

28 February 2025
Issue: 8106 / Categories: Legal News , Profession , Legal services , Rule of law
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Recent attacks by MPs on the Attorney General, Lord Hermer on the basis of clients he once represented are ‘uninformed’ and concerning, John Gould, senior partner at Russell-Cooke, writes in this week’s NLJ.

The AG was even accused by his own party’s Lord Glasman of being ‘an arrogant, progressive fool’. Gould writes: ‘The narrow answer to the idea of conflicts with the interest of past clients is that once they cease to act, the lawyer no longer has a duty to advance the interests of their former client.’

As he points out, ‘beating up lawyers as political sport should be avoided by anyone committed to the rule of law’. He discusses the criticism received and the wider context, including comparing Lord Hermer’s client list to that of one of his predecessor’s. 

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
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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
Charles Pigott of Mills & Reeve charts the turbulent progress of the Employment Rights Bill through the House of Lords, in this week's NLJ
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
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