Immigration spotlight
Immigration committee member Chris Cole was on LBC (from 02:15:00) discussing proposals that asylum seekers be allowed to work while they wait for a decision on their case. The idea has been mooted as a way of helping fill essential jobs where there are staff shortages, such as in the care sector.
Chris also spoke to the Express for a piece on Isis bride Shamima Begum's appeal against the removal of her British citizenship.
Law Society Awards
BusinessWorks and Today UK News report winners of the Law Society Awards 2021, in particular Gazette Legal Personality of the year Neil Hudgell, who represented the subpostmasters in their successful fight for justice from the Post Office.
Excellence was recognised across 20 categories at the most prestigious awards ceremony for solicitors in England and Wales.
Law Society president I. Stephanie Boyce said: "Congratulations to all the winners, commended and shortlisted in this year's awards.
"Solicitors help so many people – including the most vulnerable in society – in so many ways and it is a great pleasure to be able to recognise the efforts of our outstanding winners."
Read our press release and view our award winners
Clearing the conveyancing backlog
Brinkwire looks into the conveyancing backlog caused in part by the stamp duty holiday, which ended at the end of September, noting that according to the Law Society, the average time of completion is currently 12 to 16 weeks.
Separately, Today's Conveyancer reports findings by the Halifax suggesting average house prices are now at a record high, due to the Covid-19 pandemic and changes in living and working arrangements.
Also worth a read:
- Government may face JR over efforts to help Afghan judges - Gazette
- UK covid response failings – report - BBC
- ONS shows record number of UK job vacancies - Guardian
- Hothousing junior lawyers - Legal Cheek