Crown courts facing delays & postponements
Courts across England and Wales are facing postponed trials and delays. London World, Sussex World, Newcastle World, Bristol World, Liverpool World, Birmingham World, Doncaster Free Press, Warwickshire World, The Star and more than 60 other regional outlets cover the story.
Law Society of England and Wales I. Stephanie Boyce said: "Decades of underfunding and cuts mean there simply aren't enough judges, prosecutors and defence lawyers left to cover the huge backlog of cases.
"Defence lawyers will continue to leave the profession in their droves, and we will no longer have a criminal justice system worthy of the name, unless the government changes tack urgently."
Criminal barristers begin direct action
City AM, Tech Register, Legal Futures, Solicitors Journal and the Gazette report that criminal barristers will begin direct action from today. We released guidance on Friday for solicitors to help them decide what to do if they are affected.
"The Criminal Bar Association (CBA) and the Law Society are, for different reasons, both of the view that the Ministry of Justice's proposals are woefully inadequate to address the crisis in the criminal defence professions," said I. Stephanie Boyce.
"We understand why barristers have chosen to take this action. It may have an impact on solicitors, so we have published this guidance to help them decide what to do if they are affected."
Read our press release and our guidance
'No fault' divorce
Karen Dovaston, interim chair of our family law committee, spoke with Times Radio (from 02:06:48) and GB News (from 48:35) about 'no fault' divorce, which came into effect on 6 April.
Judicial appointments process locks out diversity
Eastern Eye, Bangladesh Weekly, Pakistan Weekly, Sri Lanka Weekly and Garavi Gujarat report that we have said there is virtually no chance of achieving a diverse judiciary that mirrors diverse Britain, because the very recruitment process that claims to deliver that goal has failed.
PC fee consultation
Legal Futures and the Gazette cover our practising fee (PCF) consultation, which launched on Friday. After several years of cuts and freezes, we are planning an £11 rise for individual solicitors.
A Law Society spokesperson said: "For some years now the Society has gone to considerable lengths to reduce or freeze what it takes from the practising certificate fee. This had been about supporting our membership during the pandemic. Now, like all other businesses we are faced with inflationary costs unparalleled in recent memory and so for the first time in nearly seven years we are going to have to increase what we ask of our membership – that will be £11 more for an individual solicitor paying their annual fee.
"We are doing this as part of a new ambitious three-year strategy which we hope will give members more of what they have told us to deliver both on championing the profession and helping them navigate the future so they have a clear picture of what's coming down the track.
"The final amount of next year's PCF will be unclear until the SRA reveals its plans. However, we wanted to give solicitors as much notice as possible and we are seeking their views."
Law firms and Russian clients
The Week covers the relationship between law firms and Russian clients.
"Solicitors are highly regulated and are not allowed to bring spurious objections to processes – if they challenge the government's actions, it's because they think the government is at risk of breaking its own rules," said I. Stephanie Boyce.
Diversity in the profession
Our Women in Leadership in Law programme and Women in Law Pledge are cited in an article by Lexis Nexis, which examines the drive to improve diversity across the legal sector.
London International Disputes Week
London International Disputes Week is back via a hybrid conference in May. Australasian Lawyer reports that I. Stephanie Boyce will be a keynote speaker. This year's theme is: Global, Sustainable, Ethical?
Also worth a read:
- UK benefits will fall to lowest value in 50 years – Guardian
- Le Pen and Macron to fight for French presidency – BBC
- Easter break: Holidaymakers brace for disruption – i News
- PM meets Zelensky in Kyiv – Evening Standard
- Sunak asks PM to investigate his finances – Sky News
- Elon Musk will not join Twitter board – Times (£)
- Channel 4 privatisation: Nadine Dorries hits out at 'lefty luvvie lynch mob' – Independent
- 'No fault' divorce: what took so long? – Gazette