Afghan evacuees' rights at risk
The BBC, Independent, Newslanes, MSN, yahoo! and UK Today News report our concerns that Afghan citizens evacuated to the UK last summer are facing limbo as their interim immigration papers expire in the coming weeks.
Law Society immigration committee member Annette Elder spoke with BBC Radio 4's Today programme about the situation.
Law Society president I. Stephanie Boyce is cited elsewhere saying: "Refugees and asylum seekers in the UK need valid immigration status to rent a home, open a bank account or find work, and access NHS treatment free of charge."
"The visa stamps given to people who arrived in the UK with Operation Pitting expire over the next few weeks. When Afghan evacuees arrived, the Home Office promised to work with them to secure their long-term UK immigration status within six months, but many still do not have the new papers they need to show they are in the UK legally when their six months are up.
"For people who were evacuated from Afghanistan in fear of their lives, this omission is deeply distressing.
Read our press release
In danger: criminal defence solicitors
The New Law Journal covers our concerns about the diminishing number of criminal legal solicitors with large parts of the country left underserved.
Read our press release
Our heatmap shows the picture across England and Wales
Environmental, social and governance (ESG)
Caroline May, chair of our working group on climate change, is quoted in a Times (£) piece about city law firms, sustainability and ESG.
SIF warning
Legal Brief and Today's Family Lawyer both cover our joint call with the Legal Services Consumer Panel for the SRA not to ditch the Solicitors Indemnity Fund (SIF).
Ticket trouble
Gary Rycroft, a member of our council membership committee, speaks to the Guardian about a reader's problem getting a full reimbursement for Premier League match tickets after a fixture was postponed.
No-fault divorce
Law Society is cited in a mylondon piece on the arrival of no-fault divorce.
Domestic abuse
Jenny Beck, from our access to justice committee, is cited in the Times (£) in conjunction with the launch of the Abuse Advice Alliance.
Also worth a read:
- Jailed solicitor loses sentence appeal - Gazette
- Shake-up plan for Legal Ombudsman – Legal Futures
- Call for urgent reform of power of attorney system - Gazette
- Storm Eunice: Red warnings issued - BBC