Special General Meeting
Gazette, Law360 (£), Legal Futures, Property Eye Industry, Today’s Conveyancer, Estate Agent Today, Inside Conveyancing and Prime Resi (£) report that a vote of no confidence in the Law Society’s ability to represent conveyancers failed at yesterday’s Special General Meeting (SGM).
Amerdeep Somal, chair of the Law Society Board and Mark Evans, deputy vice president of the Law Society, said:
“The Law Society Council and Board fully support the President and CEO and are pleased with the outcome of today’s vote
“We have listened to the concerns raised by some of our members on this specific issue. It is important to note that we have already taken steps to address these concerns by postponing the compulsory implementation of the updated TA6 form. We have also launched a consultation to ensure we understand the full range of member views.“
Today’s Conveyancer also covers what was said at the SGM.
Means test review
Justice Gap and New Law Journal 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.”
King’s Speech
Legal Era Online 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.”
New Law Journal also covers 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.”
Lawyers at risk in Egypt
African Law & Business reports that the Law Society submitted a UPR report to the United Nations on the plight of lawyers in Egypt.
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.”
South Asian Heritage Month
Global Legal Post reports that Law Society president Nick Emmerson and the legal profession mark the launch of South Asian Heritage Month.
The piece also mentions that immediate past president Lubna Shuja was the first solicitor of Asian heritage to lead the Law Society.
Compensation fund levies
Gazette and Legal Futures report that the SRA has confirmed a hike in compensation fund levies. The Law Society criticises the lack of data and calls for greater transparency in explaining how figures were calculated.
Court delays
China Daily compares court delays in Hong Kong to those in England and Wales.
Immediate past president Lubna Shuja said: “The long delays faced by victims and defendants in our courts are simply unacceptable and the government is failing to tackle the crisis. The entire criminal justice system is fracturing, with crumbling courts, overwhelmed prisons and a chronic shortage of lawyers and judges.”
Newly qualified solicitor income
Jonathan Goldsmith, chair of the Law Society’s Policy & Regulatory Affairs Committee, writes in the Gazette about ongoing coverage regarding high salaries paid to newly qualified solicitors in the City.
100 Black women
Broadway World reports on a new art exhibition of 100 Black women who have made a mark, including former Law Society president I. Stephanie Boyce.
Also worth a read:
- Post Office general counsel steps back from business - Gazette
- Complaints about the SRA’s handling of cases rose by 29% last year – Legal Futures
- Successful Australian legal aid model provides lessons for UK access to justice – Solicitors Journal
- US law firms make up three of the five highest-earning legal practices for UK corporate work – Times (£)
- SRA reports 2 law firms for breaching sanctions on Russia – Legal Futures
- Court battle over anti-protest legislation is paused - Gazette
- Bibby Stockholm barge to close as asylum accommodation - Guardian
- Labour suspends seven rebel MPs over two-child benefit cap - BBC
- Violence against women and girls is a ‘national emergency’ - Guardian
- Tory leadership battle continues – inews (£)