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NLJ this week: Anti-discrimination laws & socio-economic disadvantage

01 April 2021
Issue: 7927 / Categories: Legal News , Discrimination , Human rights , Public
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The UK is one of the most economically and socially unequal countries in the world, according to the Equality Trust, Theo Huckle QC writes in this week’s NLJ.

The COVID-19 pandemic has shone a harsh light on the impact of socio-economic disadvantage. Huckle asks whether current anti-discrimination laws offer any hope for the future, and whether the pandemic might provide a platform for taking stock and effecting real change.

Some legislation, for example, s 1 of the Equality Act 2010, which requires public sector bodies to make decisions in a way designed to reduce inequalities of outcome, has ‘not yet been put to the test’ because governments have refused to bring the duty into force. Huckle looks at what lawyers can do to help.

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
The Court of Protection has ruled in Macpherson v Sunderland City Council that capacity must be presumed unless clearly rebutted. In this week's NLJ, Sam Karim KC and Sophie Hurst of Kings Chambers dissect the judgment and set out practical guidance for advisers faced with issues relating to retrospective capacity and/or assessments without an examination
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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