We are pleased to make this submission to the Law Commission concerning its 14th Law Reform programme. The Law Commission plays an essential function in keeping areas under review with the aim of ensuring that the law is as simple, accessible, fair, modern and cost-effective as possible.
We note that the Commission is now grappling with some challenging legal topics, including the impact of AI and digitisation upon governmental and private law decision making; the need to enable legislation to meet environmental objectives, and the adaptations that society, business and the public sector have been having to make brought about by the exit of the UK from the EU and from the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Law Commission is also operating in a context in which the traditional distinction between “public” and “private” law is beginning to look a little obsolete. The legal environment is now far more complex and multi-dimensional, including aspects of international law that may impact on retained EU law (such as regulatory standards and consumer rights) in domestic legislation. Our submission is limited to areas of law in which we have direct engagement.
