New Law Society CEO
The announcement of incoming Law Society CEO Ian Jeffery is covered by the Gazette, Today’s Conveyancer, Legal Futures, Today’s Family Lawyer, Law360 and Legal Brief.
Law Society president I. Stephanie Boyce said: “As a solicitor and law firm leader, Ian comes with valuable and highly relevant skills amassed during his time as a managing partner and chief executive at a large firm, from his specialism in intellectual property and his early experience in legal aid.
“I am confident he will develop an ever-more sophisticated approach to meeting our members’ needs, from in-house to government, from the City to legal aid practitioners and high street solicitors. I know Ian will be instrumental in helping us to continue to realise our vision for a valued profession delivering the highest quality legal services in the public interest and advancing the rule of law.”
Ian Jeffery said: “It is an exciting time to be joining the team at the Law Society. As the voice of the solicitors’ profession the organisation has a huge role to play in shaping the future of legal services, addressing immediate challenges and leading conversation around long term opportunities. I’m looking forward to working with the Law Society to champion solicitors’ interests and to support them to thrive in a rapidly changing legal environment.’
Harm from unregulated providers.”
Read our press release
Brussels office closure
The closure of our Brussels office has been picked up by the Gazette and Global Legal Post.
A Law Society spokesperson said: “It is with great sadness that we announce the closure of the Law Society’s Brussels office. Our Brussels team has been an integral part of the Law Society’s influencing work in the European Union for over three decades. Their role during the Brexit transition period was particularly important as the UK sought to leave the EU and establish a new trade relationship.
“Post-Brexit and post-transition period, however, the UK has third country status and is treated by the EU as any other non-member state, meaning the workload has fallen for our Brussels team and the workload of our international team at Chancery Lane has increased as the UK seeks trade deals with countries outside the bloc. The nature of the UK-EU trade agreement means that the need for a presence in Brussels to be close to the EU institutions is reduced, while the relatively high fixed costs of the office mean a smaller Brussels team would not be economically viable.”
Harm from unregulated providers
The Gazette picks up our response to LSB research into unregulated providers of legal services.
The Law Society said the LSB’s research showed the benefits of using regulated lawyers but there was still widespread confusion about the difference between regulated and unregulated providers.
President I. Stephanie Boyce said: “With an increasingly aging population, these areas call for regulatory attention to ensure that vulnerable people – particularly those with mental incapacity – are sufficiently protected.
“The priority must be to enlighten consumers about the limitations through public legal education initiatives alongside addressing gaps in client protections.”
Bill of Rights signals collision course with rule of law
Today’s Wills and Probate and Family Law Week cover our response to the UK government’s proposed Bill of Rights.
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.”
SIF closure
The Gazette reports from the Sole Practitioners’ Group conference. Robert Bourns, chair of the Law Society Board, defends the Law Society’s role in intervening in the closure of SIF and highlighted the role we played and are continuing to play in dealing with this matter.
Also worth a read: