Legal aid promises fall short
The Gazette, Solicitors Journal and Business Fast report our critique of the government's criminal legal aid package, which falls far short of what was billed.
Law Society president I. Stephanie Boyce said: "The government response sends a clear message that the Ministry of Justice is simply not serious about tackling that crisis.
"While of course the proposed investment in police station and magistrates court work is much needed, the overall package is woefully short of the minimum identified as necessary to keep the network of criminal defence services functioning.
"It is no good just part of the system being economically viable if the system as a whole is not. That is why we cannot support this overall set of proposals."
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Judicial recruitment disadvantaging solicitors
Today's Conveyancer reports concerns that the judiciary is not sufficiently diverse and the judicial recruitment process, particularly for more senior judicial roles, creates a glass ceiling for solicitors, who come from a more diverse profession than barristers. I. Stephanie Boyce spoke to BBC Radio 4's Law in Action (from 10:30) on the issue.
Small firms peril from comparison sites
City AM, Today's Family Lawyer, Today's Conveyancer and Today's Wills and Probate report our warning that small firms could be pushed aside by larger firms on price comparison sites.
Speaking at the Law Society's Risk and Compliance conference vice president Lubna Shuja said: "Regulators must ensure they operate fairly. At the Society, we agree consumers should be able to access information on [the quality of customer service] and other objective regulatory data.
"However, it is difficult to develop meaningful benchmarks across a diverse range of practice areas that provide a snapshot of what quality service should look like across the whole sector."
Alternative dispute resolution consultation
Legal Futures reports responses to the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) consultation on alternative dispute resolution (ADR), noting a number of responses calling for greater use of ADR as an alternative to more costly court options. The piece notes mixed views on compulsory ADR, citing the MoJ saying:
"Some representatives of the legal profession also recognised a need for greater compulsion, including the Law Society, which promoted the use of early neutral evaluation."
P&O Ferries mass sackings
Max Winthrop, a member of our employment law committee, spoke with Times Radio and TalkRadio about employee rights following the mass sacking at P&O ferries, while fellow committee member Adele Edwin-Lamerton spoke to Latest Page News alongside Max.
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