Small claims trials
Solicitors Journal and Gazette report that small claims trials are taking over a year, revealing an access to justice crisis in the county courts.
President Nick Emmerson said: “We know that delays can result in litigants dropping their claims, rather than put more time and money into them, meaning many are not accessing justice. Justice delayed is justice denied. These shocking figures lay bare the crisis at the heart of our justice system.
“We urge the next UK government to commission and publish new research surveying their experiences, why they are unrepresented, what their experience of the court process was, how it could be improved and whether they feel justice was done in their case.”
Ethnic attainment gap
Today’s Family Lawyer continues coverage of the SRA’s research on the ethnic group attainment gap in legal professional assessments, published by the University of Exeter.
Law Society President Nick Emmerson said: “We are pleased the SRA has published its report scrutinising the differential outcomes of aspiring solicitors taking legal professional assessments, such as the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) and Legal Practice Course (LPC).
“The University of Exeter's research shines a light on the complexity and breadth of the potential causes of attainment gaps by ethnicity and how they impact legal professional assessment outcomes.
“It shows that the differential outcomes by ethnicity are likely not due to one single issue, but a range of issues from early education, school, university, and access to legal work experience.
“The Law Society is keen to work together with the SRA and other stakeholders to agree a collective way forward to address differences in outcomes by ethnicity.”
Property information forms
Gazette, Legal Futures, Property Industry Eye, Today's Conveyancer, Today’s Wills & Probate, Property Industry Eye, Estate Agent Today and Inside Conveyancing report that conveyancers are demanding a special general meeting to hold a no-confidence vote.
A Law Society spokesperson said: “It is disappointing that PLAG (Property Lawyers Action Group) has felt it necessary to take this step. The transformation of the home buying and selling process is both inevitable and ongoing in our digital age and it is our goal to support the profession to take a leading role in shaping these longer-term changes. While solicitors play a very important role in the conveyancing process, the changes are ultimately about making that experience easier and better for buyers and sellers.
“Should 100 members support the call for a special general meeting, we will of course hold one as our constitution requires. Our focus however remains on supporting conveyancing solicitors and their firms with the transition to using the new TA6 forms and we have developed a range of resources to assist.”
Today’s Conveyancer also reveals that Surrey Law Society has joined calls for a no confidence motion over the conveyancing forms.
Also worth a read:
- Government had considered removing Paula Vennells in 2014 over ‘lack of knowledge’ - Standard
- Post Office former chair says lawyers held back damning reports on Horizon IT scandal from the board - Gazette
- SRA spent £20m closing down a record number of law firms last year – Legal Futures
- Aspiring solicitors struggle to secure approval for their qualifying work experience (QWE) from law firms – Legal Cheek
- Man receives three years in prison after throwing a radiator at a judge - Gazette
- Rishi Sunak’s £2,000 Labour tax hike claim to be investigated by UK statistics regulator Independent
- Two more British judges resign from Hong Kong’s top court - Guardian
- Judicial Complaints Office has rejected a data watchdog ruling, after they requested to be exempt from Freedom of Information requests - Times (£)
- Conservative party reportedly pledges an overhaul of homicide laws as part of its manifesto - Guardian
- Prince Harry wins right to appeal against court ruling on his security – Times (£)