Crown Court backlog
Times Radio covers the backlog in the Crown Court, highlighting our warning that the backlog is shrinking at a glacial pace, meaning that victims, witnesses and defendants are waiting years to get justice.
Law Society president I. Stephanie Boyce speaks to Times Radio from 02:19:52 about these issues in detail, noting that the pandemic added to a backlog that existed before then due to years of underfunding and cuts.
Read our press release on the criminal justice system
Legal aid means test threshold doesn't take into account rising cost of living
The Gazette have published a long form piece on poverty and the law, which cites the UK government's consultation for legal aid eligibility.
I. Stephanie Boyce said: "People living below the poverty line have been unable to qualify for legal aid in recent years, as evidenced by our research, so changes to the means test are positive because a broader section of society will qualify for legal aid.
"However, people still cannot get legal aid for areas of law such as welfare benefits, debt and employment."
LawCareers.net also covers a report we commissioned from Professor Donald Hirsch at the University of Loughborough, which reveals proposed thresholds to determine legal aid eligibility would not keep pace with the rapidly rising cost of living.
In addition, the way families' financial needs are calculated would result in single parent families being disadvantaged.
Read our press release and Loughborough University's comment
LGBT+ employees' rights
Deyontae James, an associate solicitor at Thrive Law, spoke with BBC Radio Shropshire (from 2:34:53) about LGBT+ employees' rights as Pride Month begins.
Half-term flight cancellations: Consumer rights
Gary Rycroft, a member of our council membership committee, spoke with BBC Radio Derby (from 1:13:24) about what rights families have to get a refund following widespread flight delays and cancellations over half-term.
Evidence lacking for new SRA health and wellbeing rules
Local Government Lawyer, Today's Conveyancer and Today's Family Lawyer carry our comments on the SRA's proposals to changes its rules on health and wellbeing at work.
"We're supportive of the principles of treating people fairly, but we oppose the need to introduce additional regulation," said I. Stephanie Boyce.
Junior lawyers eschew criminal defence careers
The Gazette, India Education Diary, Business Mayor and Business Fast report on our survey of junior lawyers in which 81% of respondents said criminal law is not an attractive long-term career.
"What other business is still charging 1995 rates???" asks one respondent, while another says "underpaid and overworked. It is absolutely exhausting, and the pay does not reflect the hours and work put in".
Russian invasion of Ukraine
Practice Source covers news the bar associations from G7 countries and presidents of the Law Societies of Europe met and signed resolutions condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine and called for protections of client-lawyer confidentiality.
I. Stephanie Boyce attended on behalf of the Law Society and signed a resolution which called for governments to protect client-lawyer confidentiality against any "laws or practices that might violate [it]".
Also worth a read:
- Vote of no confidence in the PM today – BBC
- Legal stalwarts honoured in Queen's Birthday honours list – Gazette
- Asylum seekers given choice between war zone they fled from or Rwanda – Guardian
- 64% of companies affected by fraud – Times (£)
- 70 UK companies trial 4-day working week – FT (£)
- SRA warns ransomware and email phishing on the increase – Legal Futures