Deputy vice president
New Law Journal, Local Government Lawyer, Law360 (£) and LawCareers.net reports that civil litigation specialist Brett Dixon has been elected as the deputy vice president of the Law Society. He will take office in October, become vice president in 2025 and president of the Law Society in 2026.
President Nick Emmerson said: “I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the newly elected deputy vice president. Brett emerged from a strong pool of candidates and his election is a testament to his dedication, expertise and commitment to the legal profession.
I’m confident that Brett’s tenure will inspire, drive progress and help the Law Society navigate the future successfully for our members, the legal community and society. I wish Brett all the best.”
Brett Dixon said: “I’m delighted to be elected deputy vice president. As we enter the Law Society's bicentennial year, it is a time for celebration and a pivotal moment to plan for the future.
As the new deputy vice president, I will chart a course through digital change to ensure that the legal profession remains innovative and adaptable in the face of evolving technologies as well as promote a diverse and inclusive profession.
I will work with colleagues and the whole organisation to ensure the Law Society remains at the forefront of access to justice and the rule of law.”
Small claims cases
Law360 (£) reports on the rising delays on small claims cases revealing an access to justice crisis in the country 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 Wills and Probate reports on the SRA’s research on the ethnic group attainment gap in legal professional assessments, published by the University of Exeter.
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
Today’s Conveyancer publishes a commentary piece on the new versions of the TA6 and TA7 forms.
Continuing competence
The Practical Lawyer (£) reports on guidance published by the Law Society for SRA regulated solicitors on continuing competence and maintaining standards of practice.
Also worth a read:
- Tories put Help to Buy revival and £13bn tax cuts on table – Times (£)
- Unemployment rate highest for more than two years – BBC
- London social housing crisis costing UK economy nearly £8 billion – Standard
- UN Security Council votes in favour of Gaza ceasefire resolution – inews
- Trump will not be charged for waving around classified papers, judge says – Guardian
- Lib Dems pledge reduced backlogs and ‘more generous’ legal aid – Gazette
- Tory manifesto aims to save ailing campaign with 2p national insurance cut – Independent
- Police investigate abuse at Maidwell after Earl Spencer’s claims – Times (£)
- Labour to ban energy drinks sales to under-16s – Telegraph (£)
- Farage plan to axe interest on bank reserves ‘will harm economy’ – Times (£)