Bill of Rights signals collision course with rule of law
Coverage of our response to the government’s proposed Bill of Rights continues across the world including Left Foot Forward, Geriatric Medicine Journal, Venezuela al Dia, Zaman Australia, Republic Americas and Ming Sheng Bao.
Law Society president I. Stephanie Boyce said: “It is a lurch backwards for British justice. Authorities may begin to consider some rights violations as acceptable, because these could no longer be challenged under the Bill of Rights despite being against the law.”
A Question Time (from 37:30) audience member asks – Would Dominic Raab’s Bill of Rights, as he claims, strengthen our UK tradition of freedom or would it, according to the Law Society president, make some human rights abuses in the UK acceptable?
SRA continues to pursue increase in fining powers
The Times (£), Today’s Wills and Probate and Today’s Conveyancer cover our concerns about the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) continuing to pursue an increase in its fining powers.
“We are particularly disappointed the SRA is continuing to seek to increase its fining powers by more than 1,000 per cent without balancing these changes with appropriate safeguards,” said I. Stephanie Boyce.
Gender gap in the legal profession
Our research is mentioned in the Irish Legal News and Scottish Legal News, which examine the gender pay gap in the legal profession.
Meanwhile, the Gazette looks at how women now outnumber men in the legal profession but not in the top jobs.
I. Stephanie Boyce said: “There have been signs of progress in the last four years, with some workplaces analysing pay gap data in greater detail and planning action to address underlying causes such as the under-representation of women at senior levels.
“There’s work still to be done. We urge member firms to analyse the data they hold and engage with employees to better understand the specific causes of why women aren’t progressing to leadership roles and develop actions to change things.”
Also worth a read:
- Successful high court challenges to government policy and decisions by public bodies have fallen dramatically – Guardian
- SRA to look at race disparity in investigations – Gazette
- Double byelection defeat for the Tories – Guardian
- Barristers respond to lord chief’s comments over direct action – Times (£) and Legal Futures
- Alleged dissident fighting extradition cites Law Society in defence submission – Irish Times