Criminal courts backlog to last years
The Financial Times and the Gazette cover a National Audit Office report which suggests the backlog of criminal cases waiting to be heard in England and Wales is set to last beyond 2024.
The backlog has risen by 19,000 since the Covid-19 pandemic began, reaching 60,692 cases at the end of June.
Law Society president I. Stephanie Boyce said the report highlighted "the dire need for investment resulting from years of cuts".
Tickbox AML regime isn't working
Today's Wills and Probate quote I. Stephanie Boyce saying the current anti-money laundering (AML) regime should be improved to create a more risk-based approach.
She said: "While we welcome [the Treasury's] commitment to making the AML regime proportionate and effective, the current regime does not promote a risk-based approach and instead drives 'tick box' compliance to satisfy overly prescriptive requirements, which is a particular challenge for small firms."
Read our press release
Wills, wills, wills
Melinda Giles, a member of our wills and equity committee, spoke to BBC Radio Cornwall (from 1:16:00) about all things wills and probate, and also answered questions from listeners.
New Zealand trade deal
A new trade deal with New Zealand will allow UK lawyers to practise in New Zealand according to the UK government, reports Practice Source and Global Legal Post.
The agreement, which is currently in drafting stages, states that the final deal will contain provisions aimed at driving collaboration between legal regulators to address current barriers to local practice.
The Law Society welcomed the deal and I. Stephanie Boyce said that "a challenge for trade negotiations is that many barriers to trade in legal services are 'behind the border' and are not covered by FTAs.
"Therefore, it's vital there is further cooperation to advance seamless cross-border provision of legal services, as indicated in the proposed regulatory dialogue between relevant authorities in the legal sectors of both countries."
Litigation is a game of chess
Paul Maddock, a member of our LGBT+ lawyers division committee, wrote in Legal Cheek about how his love for board games helped him with strategy. He also discusses our recently published Pride in the Law Report.
Find the full report here and the press release here.
Rise in Japanese knotweed claims
Today's Conveyancer reports a rise in legal claims against property sellers relating to Japanese knotweed. The Law Society's TA6 form, completed as part of the conveyancing process, requires sellers to state whether the property is affected by the problem plant.
Changes to Professional Indemnity Insurance policies
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has announced a new clause which will be added to the minimum terms and conditions of law firms' Professional Indemnity Insurance (PII) policies. The new clause should offer clarification for coverage of cyber losses. It follows a public consultation as well as discussions with insurer representatives and the Law Society.
Also worth a read:
- Gazette to go fully digital – Gazette
- Long delay for hundreds of rape cases – BBC
- Two thirds of young adults in hospital not vaccinated – Times
- GPs in England threaten industrial action over in-person appointments – Guardian
- Prop gun misfire kills cinematographer – Guardian