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NLJ this week: Looking to Labour for action as well as words

19 July 2024
Issue: 8080 / Categories: Legal News , Criminal , In Court , Profession , Legal aid focus
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‘Labour’s manifesto made clear that criminal justice will be the priority,’ writes David Greene, senior partner, Edwin Coe, in this week’s NLJ. So, will they stay true to their words?

Greene briefly covers Labour policy on criminal justice and other legal matters prior to taking office.

Looking back, legal aid cuts took place under the previous Labour administration as well as in the most recent 14 years under the Conservatives.

Nonetheless, he finds reasons for optimism, for example, ‘as an initial step to address the courts backlog, Labour has vowed to ensure more prosecutors are available by allowing associate prosecutors to work on appropriate cases’. Greene writes that he ‘lives in hope’.

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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