THIS ISSUE
How much of a concern is the government’s Judicial Review and Courts Bill? Some people expected worse. Others think the Bill is a big enough threat as it is
It was viewed as government retaliation for various judicial decisions in recent years, and was ‘awaited with trepidation’ but ‘far from revolutionary’ when it arrived
It’s wedding season and loved-up couples around the country are busy organising COVID-compliant ceremonies and celebrations
A change in the wording of equality legislation has not altered the burden of proof in discrimination claims, the Supreme Court has unanimously held
The Supreme Court has called on Parliament to address a ‘serious lacuna’ in the law on solicitors' undertakings, in a case concerning rival law firms involved in the Volkswagen emissions legal action
MPs have called for ‘urgent’ reform to civil and criminal legal aid, in a Justice Committee report
The Lord Chancellor, Robert Buckland has called for more CILEX (Chartered institute of Legal Executives) judges
The majority of law firms are making increasing use of technology, although funding and scalability issues mean the development of bespoke tech is mainly aimed at helping large corporate clients, an Oxford University study into innovation in lawtech has found
Some 60 Crown Court rooms will reopen by September, while 32 Nightingale Court rooms will have their leases extended to April 2022 to tackle the backlog of cases, the Lord Chancellor, Robert Buckland has announced
The government has introduced its Judicial review and Courts Bill to parliament, to widespread dismay among lawyers
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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