Recommended minimum salary
Legal Cheek, Gazette, Today’s Family Lawyer, Today’s Conveyancer and two other outlets report that the Law Society recommends a 5% increase in minimum salaries for trainee solicitors.
Law Society president Nick Emmerson: “The minimum salary policy and uplift supports those seeking to enter the profession with an appropriate salary recommendation.
“We encourage employers to consider this recommendation when looking at how much they will pay their employees.
“The policy applies to anyone undertaking a period of recognised training, such as a training contract, or anyone employed with the primary purpose of gaining QWE.”
Project Rise
Law360 (£), Solicitors Journal and LawCareers.Net report that another law firm has signed up for Project Rise, a scheme initiated by the Law Society’s Disabled Solicitors Network to encourage firms to offer part-time training options for aspiring solicitors unable to train full-time.
President Nick Emmerson said: “Firms already participating in Project Rise report that applicants are interested in part-time, with one firm reporting 20% of the latest cycle of applicants wanted to train part-time.
“Given recent legal changes providing more opportunities for employees, including trainees, to request flexible working, firms have found it useful to have the discussions and put working practices in place in advance, rather than having to deal with these following an actual request. One of our participating firms now has 30% part-time work across all levels of employee/partner.”
Criminal justice
Gazette reports that the future of criminal law is dependent on academic schemes that encourage law students to pursue a career in criminal justice. Law Society president Nick Emmerson said 'urgent action is needed now to tackle the very real crisis our criminal justice system is currently in.'
Vice president Richard Atkinson said: “My firm has used the Student Outdoor Clerking Scheme (SOCS) since November 2021 and we have been really impressed by the scheme. It not only assists us in being able to support advocates more fully at court, but it also acts as a great introduction to students interested in a career in criminal law.
“I see great potential in it being rolled out nationally, and I look forward to helping that happen. If the advance of clinical legal education from the very first university law clinic in 1973 has taught us anything, it is that anything is possible with a spark of a new idea.”
Annual general meeting
Ein Presswire publishes the Law Society invitation to all its members to attend the annual general meeting on 9 October 2024, either in person at the Law Society offices in London or online.
Lexcel accreditation
In Cumbria reports that a Carlisle-based firm has been awarded Lexcel accreditation, which is designed by the Law Society and enables the firm to hold a legal aid contract.
Keir Starmer’s special advisers
The Spectator publishes a guide to Keir Starmer’s special advisers (SpAd) and mentions Ellie Cumbo, who is the MoJ Policy SpAd and was previously head of public law for the Law Society.
Sham marriage conviction
Tribune India, India Today, NDTV World, Deccan Herald, Siasat Daily, News Drum and several other outlets report that a solicitor has been struck off for organising sham marriages for migrants to the UK. The solicitor was admitted to the UK's Roll of Solicitors in February 2013, according to an order filed with the Law Society.
Also worth a read:
- LAA has wasted nearly £400,000 due to immigration legal aid cuts - Gazette
- Ministers recommend a 6% pay increase for judges in order to address the judicial recruitment crisis - Gazette
- One third of inmates are living in crowded conditions at Bullingdon prison in Oxfordshire - Oxford Mail
- Hundreds of wrongly convicted postmasters from the Horizon IT scandal will be entitled to unlimited compensation - Times (£)
- Key takeaways from Post Office inquiry: toxic culture and poor leadership - Guardian
- Labour govt has unveiled a series of reforms to the planning system, including a restoration of housebuilding targets and a review of the green belt - City A.M.
- New housebuilding targets could force councils to build on the ‘grey belt’ - Guardian
- UK is expected to suspend some arms exports to Israel, following the recent ICJ ruling - Telegraph (£)
- Tributes to the victims of the Southport stabbing - Independent
- Letter on the newly open Sikh Court - Guardian