Legal aid fees
Guardian, Business Mayor and 6 other news outlets report that the lord chancellor is being taken to the high court over claims that legal aid fees are so low they are preventing lawyers from providing representation for thousands of people who are eligible for it.
President Nick Emmerson said: “The civil justice system is in a precarious state and ultimately the ones who will suffer are those trying to seek justice.”
Mental wellbeing
Gazette reports carers working in the legal sector either do not get offered support or do not take the support that is provided, a new study has found.
Law Society president Nick Emmerson said: 'Many people will continue to hold caring responsibilities and the profession needs to continue to adapt and embrace them.
'There also needs to be a degree of inclusive flexibility in and promotion of, for example, appraisals, promotions and people policies such as for carers or parents, to ensure we do not lose talented solicitors who can often be on the cusp of senior careers when they find themselves with caring responsibilities.'
Court delays
Guardian, Yahoo! Uk and Ireland and 4 other news outlets report on the courts backlog delays and the impact at a court house in East London.
Richard Miller, head of justice at the Law Society of England and Wales, said: “There is no judge, no barrister, no documents, defendants not produced from prison. Years ago, we were saying the system was in crisis, but the government didn’t do anything and now it’s fallen over completely.”
Property information forms
Property Industry Eye reports that the Law Society announced the ‘postponement’ of the ‘TA6’ last Friday.
Executive officer Ian Jeffery said: “The recent updates made to our TA6 form were intended as a pragmatic response to the National Trading Standards Estate and Letting Agency Team guidance on material information. We know that many firms have been gearing up to go live with the new form, with thousands of copies having already been accessed.
However, we have listened to recent feedback and recognise that we have not yet persuaded enough of our colleagues on those particular changes, so we need to do more to communicate with the profession about them. Having reflected on the strength of feeling expressed by members on this issue we have this week decided to postpone compulsory implementation of the TA6 Property Information Form (5th edition) (2024) for accredited CQS members for six months while we consult members further.”
Today’s Conveyancer also reports on the property information forms as the Law Society has announced mandated use of the updated TA6 property information form will be delayed until January 2025 to enable it to further consult members on the content and implications.
Legal Futures also reports that the Property Lawyers Action Group (PLAG) has criticised the decision of the Law Society to delay implementation of the new TA6 form.
Legal News, Gazette, Today’s Conveyancer and Legal Futures report that the Law Society has today announced it will postpone the use of the TA6 Property Information Form, for six months while it consults its members. Ian is quoted.
Legal Futures reports on the TA6 property form in their ‘Monthly Compliance Update.’ The Law Society is mentioned.
Lawyers at risk
MSN Philippines and Philippine Daily Inquirer report that several attacks on members of the legal profession are prematurely labelled as “cold cases,” in the Philippines. The Law Society is included in the international delegation of organisations participating in a fact-finding mission.
Pride month
Legal Business reports diversity, equality and inclusion initiatives have been a focus for the legal industry for years now. The Law Society’s LGBTQ+ Network, among other organisations, have been taking their own increasingly proactive steps to create inclusive workplaces.
Also worth a read:
- Rachel Reeves to seek ‘improved’ UK-EU trade terms if Labour wins election – FT (£)
- Global defence groups hiring at fastest rate in decades amid record orders – FT (£)
- Reform UK candidate resigns after calling for people to vote for BNP in historic comments – Independent
- Greek coastguard threw migrants overboard to their deaths, witnesses say - BBC
- ‘I’m not opposed to assisted dying’, says Sunak – Telegraph (£)
- Apple set to be first Big Tech group to face charges under EU digital law – FT (£)
- Bank of England to hold rates even as inflation looks set to fall to two per cent – City A.M