Jonathan Goldsmith
Jonathan Goldsmith is Law Society Council member for EU matters and a former secretary general of the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe. All views expressed are personal and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Law Society Council
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OpinionOn our guard against AI legal imperialism
I salute America for being the brains and power behind AI. But in myriad ways, our legal world is likely to become more Americanised.
OpinionThe law’s busy summer
The law has not taken a holiday, but has gone into the office every day.
OpinionThe consequences of the riots for lawyers
Some significant changes for the legal profession are becoming apparent only now.
OpinionPeaceful climate protest: a headache for Labour
Were the Just Stop Oil activists who were recently sentenced to four and five years in prison justly or unjustly convicted and sentenced?
OpinionThe failures of success
Our profession should not tolerate working hours for young people of over 11 or 12 hours per day, however well-paid they are.
OpinionA preview of the King’s speech
Growth and planning - intertwined goals - are the major thrust of government policy, which Labour emphasised throughout its campaign.
OpinionLawyers and the 2024 elections
If ‘lefty lawyer’ is the worst attack we have to put up with, we have come out of it a good deal better than our colleagues in France.
OpinionE-evidence – EncroChat and more
As more and more evidence becomes electronic, the law and court decisions on e-evidence become more important.
OpinionImmigration lawyers under pressure everywhere
The UK's backlogs are grave: the immigration and asylum open caseload has increased 75% since last year.
OpinionLIPs and the unregulated – a worsening story
A persistent challenge to professions is what to do about those who are forced to carry out their own services without any help and the role of unregulated providers.
OpinionLammy takes up fight against lawyer enablers
The direction of travel of a possible future Labour government is clear.
OpinionLawyers’ needs in election campaigns
Our demands of politicians should be focused on the rule of law, access to justice and the independence of the legal profession.
OpinionWill ABSs soon be allowed across the EU?
Alternative business structures have traditionally been snubbed by European bars. A landmark case at the CJEU could change that.
OpinionWhat are the European bars’ current concerns?
As the Society's representative to the UK delegation to the CCBE, my job is to ensure that there is a dialogue between the CCBE and Chancery Lane.
OpinionFall-out for law students at campus protests
Blanket bans on students who have participated in protests is not right. Each case should be considered on its merits.
OpinionApril is the SLAPP-iest month
The subject of strategic litigation against public participation continues to generate enormous publicity.
OpinionThe golden mean between online and in-person
We are in a state of transition in terms of both climate awareness and technological possibilities.
OpinionReflections on the KlimaSeniorinnen climate change case
We can decide to be agitated about a ruling from an international court, but it seems pointless - the direction of travel regarding climate change is clear.
OpinionHow others cope with our problems
We should keep an eye on what our neighbours in the same position as us are doing. We may learn something.