Small claims cases
New Law Journal 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.”
Property information forms
Times (£) reports that conveyancers are demanding a special meeting with the Law Society, to discuss the updated property forms.
A Law Society spokesperson said: “It is disappointing that PLAG 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.
“We have now received a formal requisition to hold a Special General Meeting and will make arrangements to hold that meeting between 22 July and 16 August. The exact date should be confirmed within the next two weeks.
“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.”
Consumer protections regulations
LexisNexis (£) covers the Law Society’s updated guidance on consumer protection regulations in conveyancing.
Also worth a read:
- National firm Duncan Lewis is taking the UK government to court over legal aid fees for immigration and asylum work - Gazette
- SRA has filed a legal claim against the Post Office - The Lawyer (£), Law.com (£)
- 50 migrants set for Rwanda flights have been freed on bail - inews (£)
- PM rejects Tory right’s call for pledge to quit ECHR - inews (£)
- Judges rush to delete job titles from online profiles – Times (£)
- Patent lawyers warn of AI’s ‘double-edged sword’ – FT (£)
- Commons leader Penny Mordaunt calls for Britain to leave ECHR, unless it is reformed – Telegraph (£)
- Politicians are facing fresh pressure to reform the broken Single Justice Procedure as more victims emerged from the secretive fast-track courts - Standard
- ECHR rules that the UK’s statutory scheme for compensation for miscarriages of justice is lawful - Gazette
- Remaining British judges urged to resign from Hong Kong’s top court - Guardian
- Less than 7% receive payouts for wrongful convictions - Independent
- UK public trust in government has fallen to a record low - FT (£)
- Opinion: Transparent and open justice must be made a UK-wide initiative – Times (£)
- Green party’s manifesto, which was launched today - BBC