Means test review
Solicitors Journal and Today’s Family Lawyer report that the Law Society calls for the new government to implement changes to legal aid eligibility, as suggested in the Means Test Review 2023.
President Nick Emmerson said: “The fact that those living in the very deepest poverty are the only ones left who are eligible for full legal aid shows just how drastically this vital support has been cut back over the past 20 years.
“Viewing those who are already living significantly below the Minimum Income Standard as being well enough off to contribute to legal costs will only lead to a denial of justice for survivors of abuse deprived of the protection they need and for families vulnerable to illegal evictions from rogue landlords.
“The new government has an opportunity here to improve access to justice for millions by introducing changes that have already been agreed and budgeted for.”
Criminal justice reform
Justice Gap covers the Law Society’s reaction to the new government’s plan to reform the criminal justice system, as it was addressed in last week’s King’s speech.
Law Society president Nick Emmerson said: “Writing new laws is not a panacea in the absence of adequate funding of all facets of the criminal justice system and timely, expert advice and support.
"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.
“We broadly welcome measures intended to improve the criminal justice response to violence against women and girls, deal with knife crime and respond to the criminal exploitation of children.
“However, writing new laws is not a panacea in the absence of adequate funding of all facets of the criminal justice system and timely, expert advice and support.”
Arbitration Bill
Global Legal Post reveals that the Arbitration Bill is back on the UK’s legislative agenda, as confirmed by the government in last week’s King’s Speech.
President Nick Emmerson said: “Ensuring we continue to have a modern arbitration legislative framework is an important component in maintaining England and Wales as the jurisdiction of choice for international dispute resolution.”
Lawyers at risk in Egypt
IAPL Monitoring Committee on Attacks on Lawyers reports that the Egyptian state has restricted the free and fair practice of law.
Vice president Richard Atkinson said: “The Egyptian state machinery displays a pattern of contempt against lawyers working in criminal and human rights law.
“This mistreatment is particularly noticeable in cases that involve political opponents. For example, following anti-government protests in September 2019, Egyptian authorities targeted and arrested lawyers who were defending imprisoned protestors.
“Lawyers involved in politically sensitive cases face harassment, intimidation, arbitrary arrests and enforced disappearances. The state uses broad anti-terrorism legislation against these lawyers to bar them from fulfilling their professional duties.”
Microsoft outage
Global Legal Post covers the impact that last week’s Microsoft outage had on law firms and solicitors.
A Law Society spokesperson said: “A limited number of our staff, who are not member-facing, were affected by the IT outage, but this has now been largely resolved.
“We are aware of some members who have been impacted. Should we receive requests for support, we will consider what support we can offer them, as individual firms will have their own business continuity policies and contingency plans.
“The IT outage serves as a reminder for our members to have business continuity plans in place to protect against future problems and to mitigate the impact.”
TA6 form and SGM
Today’s Conveyancer mentions the Law Society’s upcoming Special General Meeting (SGM) on Tuesday 23 July 2024, which will address updates made to the TA6 property form.
Former Law Society president tribute
Gazette covers tributes paid to former Law Society president Nicholas Fluck, who passed away on 11 July 2024. He served as president of the Law Society from 2013 to 2014.
President Nick Emmerson said: “We are deeply saddened by the passing of Nicholas Peter Fluck, who served as the president of the Law Society of England and Wales from 2013 to 2014.
“Nick was highly regarded and lauded for his kindness, sincerity and diligence by colleagues and members alike. His commitment to the legal profession transcended his time as president, as he continued to support the profession as a council member for Lincolnshire.
“He will be thoroughly missed by those in the organisation and across the profession. Our thoughts are with his family at this time.”
Lord Chancellor’s historic ceremony
Clarion reports that Shabana Mahmood MP was sworn in as Lord Chancellor last week, marking the first time a Lady Chief Justice swore in a woman Lord Chancellor. The piece mentions Law Society president Nick Emmerson’s attendance and speech at the ceremony.
Alternative dispute resolution
Local Government Lawyer mentions the Law Society’s involvement in the Churchill v Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council ruling.
Planning reform
Today’s Conveyancer and Inside Conveyancing cover Labour’s agenda for planning reform, housing and infrastructure investment. The pieces mention the Law Society’s Guidance Notes on Contaminated Land, Flooding, Mining and Climate Change.
Also worth a read:
- 192,912 children had a parent in prison in England and Wales – Solicitors Journal
- Bar vocational course uptake and fees are continuing to grow - Legal Futures
- Litigation funding overlooked in last week’s King’s speech - Gazette
- Labour outlines plans for immigration law - Solicitor’s Journal (£)
- Starmer can restore trust by ending SLAPPs – Times (£)
- Watchdog urges ministers to reduce caseload of probation service by up to 40,000 offenders if they are to ease overcrowding crisis in prisons - Guardian
- Watchdog head refuses to quit over Andrew Malkinson case failures - Times (£)
- Former postmistress wrongly accused of theft has still not received Post Office scandal final compensation - BBC
- US law firms have shaken up the UK’s ‘magic circle’ - Financial Times (£)
- Suella Braverman expected to defect to Reform – inews (£)