THIS ISSUE
While political sleaze hit the headlines this week, lawyers have been fighting to preserve accountability of public bodies on a separate front
The Sentencing Council has launched its strategy for the next five years, committing itself to five objectives
The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) could take legal action against the government over changes to its pension scheme, which it says will make firefighters pay the cost of age discrimination introduced by the government into the scheme
Conveyancing firms that generate the most complaints will pay the highest practice fees, under radical Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) plans
Advocate, the Bar’s pro bono organisation formerly known as the Bar Pro Bono Unit, marked its quarter-century anniversary in style last week at its annual awards ceremony
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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