THIS ISSUE
The legal status of smart contracts and cryptoassets under English law has been confirmed by a taskforce chaired by the Chancellor of the High Court
Litigants in person should seek legal aid from the Legal Aid Agency not the High Court for civil contempt proceedings, Mr Justice Chamberlain has said in a case about an alleged ticket tout
The Association of Costs Lawyers (ACL) has reopened its training scheme for the first time in three years
Multiple family homes have been the fastest growing type of household during the past two decades, rising by three-quarters to 297,000 households in 2019, Office of National Statistics figures have revealed.
The Law Society has issued its own manifesto for the election, challenging the political parties to prioritise justice in their plans for government
The High Court rejected claims by the Liberal Democrats and SNP that they were unfairly and unlawfully excluded from the ITV election debate between the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition this week
The solicitors’ Handbook will be replaced by ‘Standards and Regulations’ on 25 November
MOVERS & SHAKERS
Birketts—trainee cohort
Firm welcomes new cohort of 29 trainee solicitors for 2025
Keoghs—four appointments
Four partner hires expand legal expertise in Scotland and Northern Ireland
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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