Special General Meeting
The Times (£), Local Government Lawyer, New Law Journal, Inside Conveyancing and Today’s Conveyancer report that a vote of no confidence in the Law Society’s ability to represent conveyancers failed at the 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.”
Means test review
LawCareers.net continues coverage of our calls to change the means test and expand 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.
“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.”
Compensation fund levies
Inside Conveyancing reports that the SRA has confirmed a significant increase in compensation fund levies.
The Law Society has criticised the lack of data and has called for greater transparency in explaining how the figures were reached.
Anti-SLAPPs Bill
Guardian, Yahoo! UK And Ireland, MSN UK, Business Mayor and Legal Futures report on the Anti-SLAPPs Bill as Labour delays their proposals to ban oppressive SLAPPs lawsuits.
The Labour justice minister, Frederick Ponsonby said that discussions with the Law Society would continue, in order to come to a decision on SLAPPs.
Immigration policies
Zeena Luchowa, a member of our immigration law committee, writes in the Gazette about Labour’s immigration policies.
Criminal solicitors in London
Daily Waffle publishes a guide to find the best criminal solicitor in London, mentioning Law Society’s Criminal Litigation Certification for criminal lawyers.
Residential Property Accreditation
Yorkshire Legal celebrates Blacks Solicitors who have won our Residential Property Accreditation, which is a prestigious and newly recognised quality standard for residential property.
Also worth a read:
- LeO’s backlog “reflects scale of challenges”, chief ombudsman says – Legal Futures
- Labour criticised after rebranding ‘illegal migration’ as ‘irregular migration’ – Telegraph (£)
- Our jails are not working, says new prisons minister – Telegraph (£)
- New digital service will replace eForms when applying for legal aid – Solicitors Journal
- Post Office bonus culture ‘played part’ in Horizon scandal, says former minister – Evening Standard
- ‘Second Post Office scandal’ report due in weeks – i news
- Soaring UK mortgage rates have pushed 320,000 adults into poverty, thinktank says – Guardian
- Ed Miliband puts energy into public ownership with offshore wind drive – Times (£)
- Rachel Reeves to pave way for Budget tax rises in ‘spending audit’ – Financial Times (£)
- House of Lords to debate assisted dying law reform – Today’s Wills and Probate
- Tom Tugendhat enters race to become next Tory leader – inews (£)