Queen's speech: Bill of Rights
Coverage continues of our response to the Queen's speech in the Times (£), City AM, Today's Conveyancer, Today's Family Lawyer, Solicitors Journal, New Law Journal, Local Government Lawyer, the Justice Gap, and Yahoo! UK.
Law Society president I. Stephanie Boyce said: "If the new bill of rights becomes law, it would make it harder for all of us to protect or enforce our rights.
"The proposed changes make the state less accountable. This undermines a crucial element of the rule of law, preventing people from challenging illegitimate uses of power."
Stephanie spoke to German public broadcaster ARD (from 21:00) about the proposed changes to the Human Rights Act.
Read our press release
Afghan evacuees
Annette Elder, from our immigration law committee, spoke to Sky News and multiple radio stations about Afghan evacuees being left in limbo without up-to-date evidence of their right to be in the UK.
Nationality & Borders Act
The Voice spoke to our human rights policy advisor Hazel Blake about the Nationality & Borders Act.
"The Law Society hopes that challenges are [however] taken seriously by the incumbent government, rather than being dismissed as politically motivated, which just creates hostility towards these lawyers. The ability to challenge a government is a core component of the legal system and must be respected", Hazel said.
Litigation forum of choice
Stephanie's keynote address at London International Disputes Week is covered by the Gazette, Business Mayor and Business Fast.
England and Wales will continue to flourish as a global legal centre of choice for dispute resolution despite fierce competition, she told the gathering of legal professionals.
Mental health awareness
New Law Journal, World Intellectual Property Review and Today's Wills & Probate write about our call, alongside LawCare, for a change in culture in the profession as Mental Health Awareness Week continues.
LawCare's Life in the Law report revealed that 69% of lawyers experienced poor mental health in the last year.
Law Society president I. Stephanie Boyce said "We need to start talking about how some working practices contribute to an increased risk of poor mental health and how we can work together to change things.
"Tackling excessive working hours and workloads, as well as ensuring better supervision and support, especially for younger lawyers, are essential."
Read our press release
Solicitors under review
Law Society vice president Lubna Shuja is quoted in a Gazette piece about review sites.
Regulators must ensure such sites operate fairly so that consumers, firms and practitioners alike have trust and confidence in them, Lubna told our annual risk and compliance conference in March.
The apprenticeship
The new legal apprenticeships in Wales, launched in conjunction with CILEX, are covered by North Wales Business and News from Wales.
Also worth a read:
- Ukraine refugees could be sent to Rwanda – Telegraph (£)
- Rebellion warning over NI protocol plans – Guardian
- Pushback against SLAPPs legislation plans - Gazette
- LPC graduates to be required to complete parts of the SQE – Legal Cheek