Legal Features

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SJ Interview: John Sorabji

Dr John Sorabji is a barrister at Nine Chambers, an Associate Professor of Law at University College London, and one of the UK’s leading authorities on civil justice and procedure. He has advised the senior judiciary, including the Lord Chief Justice and the Master of the Rolls, and has played a key role in shaping debates on civil justice reform. In this interview, he reflects on the strengths and weaknesses of the civil justice system in England and Wales, the long-term impact of LASPO on access to justice, the role of the Civil Justice Council, and the opportunities and risks posed by digitalisation and artificial intelligence.

Open justice by default: PD 51ZH explained

From January 2026, PD 51ZH will fundamentally reshape non-party access to key commercial court documents

How trade sanctions impact English contracts

Trade sanctions increasingly collide with English contract law, raising difficult questions about illegality, performance and enforcement

Why claims against the MOD are soaring

A sharp rise in personal injury claims against the MOD reveals unique legal, medical and career-loss complexities.

SJ Interview: Christine Braamskamp

For the December 2025 volume, Christine Braamskamp speaks to Solicitors Journal

Construction insolvency exposes deep structural weaknesses

Rising failures, regulatory pressures and legacy liabilities reveal entrenched vulnerabilities across the construction sector’s financial and legal landscape

High Court endorses Ofcom’s deterrence rationale

The High Court confirms Ofcom’s broad regulatory discretion and upholds £300,000 in fairness and privacy sanctions against Star China as proportionate and lawful

Beyond ‘Dear Sirs’: language, inclusion and legal culture

The debate over retiring “Dear Sirs” reveals deeper tensions between tradition, inclusivity, and the evolving culture of the legal profession