SDLT holiday officially ends
Today's Conveyancer and Estate Agent Today report on the end of the Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) holiday tapering period.
Law Society president I. Stephanie Boyce said: "I am extremely proud of the hard work and dedication demonstrated by conveyancing solicitors since the stamp duty land tax holiday began. They helped ensure buyers could complete their moves, despite operating under immense pressure and in the most challenging circumstances with pandemic restrictions."
Peter Rodd, our council member for residential property, writes in the Gazette about his experience of working during the SDLT holiday during a pandemic.
Police station protocol changes today
In April 2020, a new police station protocol was introduced – which allowed for remote legal advice to accommodate the Covid-19 pandemic. From today, a new version comes into force, envisaging a return to in-person attendance in most cases.
The Gazette speaks to I. Stephanie Boyce: "The protocol was introduced as a temporary emergency measure and we have always made it clear that in-person advice is preferable and should be reverted to as soon as possible. Despite the successful vaccine rollout, Covid-19 hasn't gone away, and it remains crucial to balance the essential right to have one's solicitor present in custody, with the need to maintain safety for all."
Read our press release and about the new protocol
Legal aid deserts
Last month we released our new infographics showing the growth of advice deserts in education, community care, immigration and asylum and housing. The Gazette picks up the story.
Stephanie Boyce said: "Behind each statistic is a child not getting the education they need, a family facing eviction, fighting for welfare benefits to stay afloat in these turbulent times or a person denied a say in how they are cared for."
Read about our legal aid deserts campaign
Firms spend nearly £1m on money laundering compliance
New research by LexisNexis Risk Solutions has found that firms spend close to £1 million a year to comply with the Fifth Anti-Money Laundering Directive, which came into force last year.
Solicitors Journal reports that a recent poll, conducted by us and LexisNexis Risk Solutions, found 56% of firms surveyed felt the biggest obstacle anti-money laundering requirements create is the time it takes to collate the information.
Dis-abled?: the language of the Equality Act 2010
Lynette Wieland, one of our social mobility ambassadors, writes in the Gazette about the nuances and complexities of the language used to described disabled people in the Equality Act 2010.
Stephanie Boyce on diversity & inclusion
In an in-depth interview with Reports Legal, I. Stephanie Boyce talks about her career and the work the legal profession is doing to create and maintain a diverse and inclusive environment.
On page 24, she said: "We must be the driver, the encourager. One of the things we must do is to encourage firms and organisations to address the retention gaps, the gaps that we see mid-career, the drop off that we see amongst females, that we see amongst Black, Asian and minority ethnic solicitors."
Read our press release on Black History Month
My legal life: Laura Thomas
Laura Thomas, a member of our LGBT+ Lawyers Division Committee, features in the Gazette's My legal life section, where she discusses what inspired her to become a lawyer, her role as an adult social care lawyer at Wigan Council and coming out at work.
Read our Pride in the Law report
Also worth a read:
- Pandora Papers reveal world leaders' financial secrets – Times (£)
- Sunak to pledge £500m for job support schemes – BBC
- Serving Met police officer charged with rape – Guardian
- Supply crisis – Military tankers begin to deliver fuel – Independent
- Brexit: Body meant to scrutinise trade deals delayed – Financial Times (£)