Regulators need flexibility
Today's Wills and Probate notes our comment on the LSB's statement on transparency rules for legal service providers.
Law Society president I. Stephanie Boyce said: "It's hard to imagine that a fully standardised comparison model will work in the legal sector, especially when it comes to measuring quality of legal services, customer service and work outcome.
"That is why giving regulators flexibility in developing new measures is welcome to take account of diverse areas of practices.
"We are also pleased that the LSB recognised the Law Society's call for the need to test new proposals before implementation."
Read our press release
Modern Law awards
Modern Law Magazine reports on its awards ceremony, lauding the winners and giving special thanks "to the ever-impressive I. Stephanie Boyce who along with our full panel of esteemed judges, took the time out of their busy schedules to judge this year's nominations".
Special congratulations were given to chair of our human rights committee Sue Willman for her outstanding achievement award.
Crown courts facing delays & postponements
Coverage of delays and postponements in courts across England and Wales continues across local media. South Wales Guardian, Western Telegraph, Bucks Herald, Northamptonshire Herald, Lancashire Telegraph and others pick up the story.
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
Legal Cheek, Asia Newsday, the Gazette and the Week cover the direct action being taken by criminal barristers. We released guidance 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
AML in sharp focus
The IBA discusses how Russia's invasion of Ukraine has brought anti-money laundering compliance into sharp focus and notes AML advice is prominent on the Law Society's website.
Read our anti-money laundering advice
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