Thousands of victims and defendants still waiting for justice
Law Society president I. Stephanie Boyce was on GB News discussing the delays in the magistrates and crown courts. There were 59,928 outstanding cases in the Crown Court and 349,277 in the magistrates' courts at the end of September 2021.
City A.M. also picks up the story.
Criminal legal aid
Daniel Peacock, an executive committee member of our junior lawyers division, writes an article for the Gazette about the state of criminal legal aid.
It cites our information that the starting salary in a criminal defence firm outside London would be £16.000 to £18,000 and £20,000 to £25,000 in London, demonstrating why junior lawyers may be looking at other areas of private practice.
SQE1 results show pass-rate disparity
The pass-rates for the first Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE1) have shown that 65% of white candidates passed compared to 44% of Black, Asian and minority ethnic students.
City A.M., the Gazette, Legal Cheek and Inside Conveyancing pick up the story.
"We welcome the news the SRA has commissioned in-depth research so it can better understand the causes of differential attainment in legal qualifications," said I. Stephanie Boyce.
Changing career direction
The Gazette examines how a solicitor could change their area of legal specialism. Rita Oscar, our head of career management, explains that most solicitors are not looking for anything so radical as changing their legal specialism. They are looking more for a change of focus.
"The main thing that we're finding is that the pandemic has given people the time to reassess what they're doing and whether in fact they enjoy what they are doing. Many want a better work-life balance and so are enquiring about consultancy or freelance working.
"Others want to remain in law but move away from private practice, perhaps in-house. And a few, from a non-legal background, are asking how they can qualify as a lawyer – a profession they regard as pandemic-proof," she added.
Also worth a read:
- Inquiry launched into 'Muslimness' sacking claims – Guardian
- 2020 parties: PM faces crucial week as Sue Gray report set to be published – BBC
- Sue Gray report: No 10 police provide 'damning' evidence – Telegraph (£)
- US embassy staff ordered to leave Ukraine – Evening Standard
- Afghanistan: 23m face severe hunger as aid falls short – Independent
- Privacy of royal wills to be heard at Court of Appeal – Gazette