King’s Speech
Independent, City AM, Gazette, Today’s Family Lawyer and MSN cover the Law Society’s response to the government’s legislative plan set out in the King’s Speech yesterday.
Law Society president Nick Emmerson said: “The new UK government has set out an ambitious legislative plan and we are pleased to see the criminal justice system is on their agenda.
“We hope the government will work proactively to protect and secure access to justice and make our justice system a source of pride again.
“Immediate steps that should be taken are a real terms increase in criminal legal aid rates of 15% while wider reform takes place and, for civil legal aid, an immediate £11.3m investment in early advice to sustain the system while the ongoing review takes place.”
Independent, Yahoo! News, Yahoo! News Australia and Yahoo! News New Zealand cover our response to the government’s plans to modernise the immigration system.
Nick Emmerson said: “Scrapping the Rwanda policy alongside introducing a bill seeking to modernise the immigration and asylum system is a pragmatic and sensible approach to immigration.”
Legal Futures also covers our response to the government’s plan to reform the rental market.
Nick Emmerson said: “We hope the government will ensure an appropriate balance between tenants’ rights and landlords’ routes to repossession by increasing access to housing legal aid and resourcing the courts so there is capacity to handle the caseload.”
New Law Journal covers our reaction to the inclusion of the Employment Rights Bill in the King’s Speech.
Nick Emmerson said: “A new Employment Rights Bill should contain many positive advances for people’s rights at work and make employment law fit better with the multiple ways businesses wish to work.
“It is good that there is a focus on improving dispute resolution and enforcement, though there are still a lot of details to work out to make sure the intentions of the Bill are positive for the labour market.”
Court backlogs
President Nick Emmerson visits Southampton and speaks to Southern Daily Echo about the crisis in criminal justice and the rising number of outstanding cases in the Southampton Crown Court.
Nick Emmerson said: “When you have a crisis in the justice system, which is what we have, most of it to do with a lack of funding, we have real problems.
“It affects every courtroom and it’s not just the fact that the courts are crumbling in some respects, there’s also a lack of staff and of course, a lack of lawyers - both barristers and solicitors - and a lot of that in the criminal legal sector is to do with the difficulties with criminal legal aid.”
New CILEX chair
Today’s Conveyancer reports that CILEX has appointed Eileen Milner as new chair. She will take over as chair from Chris Bones in January 2025.
Chief executive officer Ian Jeffery said: “We thank Chris for the work he has done leading CILEX over the past six years. His work leading CILEX has seen the organisation make strides in removing barriers for its members.
“There have been issues during Chris’ tenure on which CILEX and the Law Society have worked closely with a common viewpoint and others where we have respectfully differed. In all areas we have enjoyed constructive and professional dealings and thank Chris for his personal contribution to that.
“We wish Chris every success in his future endeavours and look forward to welcoming Eileen to the role of chair at the start of 2025.”
CILEX regulation
Gazette reports that CILEX and the SRA have entered the final stages of the regulatory takeover plan.
Chief executive officer Ian Jeffery said: “Although this decision is an unwelcome further step in the process, several other decisions would be needed, and it should not be assumed they will follow. An actual change of regulator would require approval from the Privy Council for changes to CILEX’s byelaws and Royal Charter, and a decision on the regulatory changes from the Legal Services Board. The SRA would also require approval from the Council of the Law Society, as sole member of SRA Limited, for changes to its articles.
“Throughout this process we will continue to advocate on behalf of our members and the wider public interest.”
Lawyers at risk
International Bar Association covers the Law Society’s work on lawyers at risk in Belarus and Myanmar.
Will writing
BBC’s Morning Live (from 10:38) and 14 other regional BBC TV stations report on the importance of writing a will with a qualified solicitor or law firm, such as those registered with the Law Society.
Also worth a read:
- More City firms report double-digit profit growth - Gazette
- Judiciary moving at a glacial pace on improving diversity – Times (£)
- Satisfaction levels and trust in lawyers continue to rise - Gazette
- Hundreds of prisoners evacuated from Dartmoor jail over radon levels – Telegraph (£)
- International money laundering network dismantled – Solicitors Journal
- Horizon IT scandal highlights risk of relying uncritically on legal advice – Times (£)
- Pat McFadden and Ed Davey to give evidence at Post Office inquiry today - BBC
- Labour to fast-track plans to process asylum claims of migrants earmarked for Rwanda – Telegraph (£)
- PM to focus on border security and immigration at summit of European leaders - Guardian
- Labour’s homebuilding plan at risk from skills shortage – FT (£)
- Rishi Sunak was warned a week before calling the election that he risked breaching his legal responsibilities if he didn’t release prisoners early - Telegraph (£)
- Home Office chief for small boats quits his job - inews (£)