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19 September 2025
Issue: 8131 / Categories: Legal News , Human rights , Health
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NLJ this week: Lord Neuberger on assisted dying

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Lord Neuberger, former president of the Supreme Court, shares his views on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill in this week's NLJ with William Raven

Neuberger advocates for liberalising assisted dying laws, citing personal autonomy as a fundamental right. He criticises the Bill’s six-month life expectancy limit and the government’s failure to sponsor it, arguing that a parliamentary committee should have preceded legislation. He supports the revised proposal for a panel of experts—rather than a High Court judge—to assess applications, maintaining that judges should only intervene in disputes.

Neuberger also reflects on the judiciary’s ‘priestly function’ and the need to preserve its high standards. The Bill, now in the Lords, faces scrutiny amid concerns over safeguards and ethical boundaries. Neuberger’s nuanced stance underscores the legal and moral complexities of assisted dying, urging reform grounded in compassion and clarity.

Issue: 8131 / Categories: Legal News , Human rights , Health
printer mail-details

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Clarke Willmott—Matthew Roach

Clarke Willmott—Matthew Roach

Partner joins commercial property team in Taunton office

Farrer & Co—Richard Lane

Farrer & Co—Richard Lane

Londstanding London firm appoints new senior partner

Bird & Bird—Sue McLean

Bird & Bird—Sue McLean

Commercial team in London welcomes technology specialist as partner

NEWS
What safeguards apply when trust corporations are appointed as deputy by the Court of Protection? 
Disputing parties are expected to take part in alternative dispute resolution (ADR), where this is suitable for their case. At what point, however, does refusing to participate cross the threshold of ‘unreasonable’ and attract adverse costs consequences?
When it comes to free legal advice, demand massively outweighs supply. 'Millions of people are excluded from access to justice as they don’t have anywhere to turn for free advice—or don’t know that they can ask for help,' Bhavini Bhatt, development director at the Access to Justice Foundation, writes in this week's NLJ
When an ex-couple is deciding who gets what in the divorce or civil partnership dissolution, when is it appropriate for a third party to intervene? David Burrows, NLJ columnist and solicitor advocate, considers this thorny issue in this week’s NLJ
NLJ's latest Charities Appeals Supplement has been published in this week’s issue
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