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NLJ this week: Justice delayed, justice denied

05 September 2025
Issue: 8129 / Categories: Legal News , Legal services , Consumer , Profession , Libel
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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

Regan explores the implications of landmark rulings, including the Supreme Court’s sensitive handling of car finance litigation and the upcoming phone-hacking trial against The Daily Mail. He critiques the ‘unwritten rule’ that judgments be delivered within three months, noting Lady Justice Falk’s nuanced view that rushed decisions may also deny justice. Regan also reflects on the libel defeat of actor Noel Clarke and the tragic conclusion of the Autonomy saga.

His commentary paints a vivid picture of a legal system under strain, where vehicles—literal and metaphorical—drive much of the profession’s workload.

Issue: 8129 / Categories: Legal News , Legal services , Consumer , Profession , Libel
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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Hugh James—Phil Edwards

Hugh James—Phil Edwards

Serious injury teambolstered by high-profile partner hire

Freeths—Melanie Stancliffe

Freeths—Melanie Stancliffe

Firm strengthens employment team with partner hire

DAC Beachcroft—Tim Barr

DAC Beachcroft—Tim Barr

Lawyers’ liability practice strengthened with partner appointment in London

NEWS
Tech companies will be legally required to prevent material that encourages or assists serious self-harm appearing on their platforms, under Online Safety Act 2023 regulations due to come into force in the autumn
Commercial leasehold, the defence of insanity and ‘consent’ in the criminal law are among the next tranche of projects for the Law Commission
The Bar has a culture of ‘impunity’ and ‘collusive bystanding’ in which making a complaint is deemed career-ending due to a ‘cohort of untouchables’ at the top, Baroness Harriet Harman KC has found
Lawyers have broadly welcomed plans to electronically tag up to 22,000 more offenders, scrap most prison terms below a year and make prisoners ‘earn’ early release
David Lammy, Ellie Reeves and Baroness Levitt have taken up office at the Ministry of Justice, following the cabinet reshuffle
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