Crown Court backlog
The latest figures from the MoJ show the Crown Court backlog has reduced by 111 cases, from 58,386 in April 2022 to 58,275 in May 2022, reports New Law Journal.
“The Crown Court backlog continues to fall at a glacial pace leaving victims and defendants facing unacceptable delays,” said Law Society president I. Stephanie Boyce.
“Innocent defendants could face years in limbo before their name is cleared, while victims’ suffering is compounded by the long wait for justice. To make a significant dent in the backlog, sustained investment is needed to ensure there are enough judges, prosecutors and defence lawyers to cover the mountain of cases.”
Bill of Rights
They Work For You covers the reform of the Human Rights Act, which was debated in the House of Lords last week.
Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede, the shadow spokesperson for justice and home affairs, quoted our view on the bill.
I. Stephanie Boyce said: “The erosion of accountability trumpeted by the justice secretary signals a deepening of the government’s disregard for the checks and balances that underpin the rule of law.
“The bill will create an acceptable class of human rights abuses in the United Kingdom – by introducing” under a new permissions stage a bar on claims deemed not to cause ‘significant disadvantage’.
“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.
“Overall, the bill would grant the state greater unfettered power over the people, power which would then belong to all future governments, whatever their ideologies.”
Judicial diversity
New Law Journal covers the latest Ministry of Justice (MoJ) statistics on judicial diversity, which shows ethnic and professional diversity is still lacking.
Law Society president I. Stephanie Boyce said: “Solicitors now make up 45% of applications which demonstrates our members’ interest in judicial careers.
“However, solicitors only make up 27% of recommendations for appointment. Similarly, Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates represent 23% of applicants, but only 11% of recommendations for judicial posts.”
Mental Capacity Act
Today’s Family Lawyer reports our response to the government consultation on proposed changes to the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) Code of Practice.
I. Stephanie Boyce said: “We are pleased the UK government is updating the out-of-date code of practice to match new legislation affecting some of the most vulnerable in our society.
“This could affect someone with Alzheimer’s who cannot approve their medication, for example, or someone who needs to be restrained for their own personal safety.”
Burnt out conveyancers
The working week of conveyancing solicitors is covered by Today’s Conveyancer, citing that conveyancers are continuing to be extremely busy as property transactions continue to skyrocket.
A poll conducted by the outlet found that 78% of conveyancers are working in the evenings or Sundays to keep up and 54% are experiencing burnout.
It is “no surprise” that so many conveyancers have suffered burnout given the “long hours – including evenings and weekends – that they work to ensure buyers and sellers’ moves can be completed as quickly as legally possible,” said I. Stephanie Boyce.
“There has been no let-up in the volume of work throughout the last two years which has included the pandemic, lockdowns and the stamp duty land tax holiday. They are working under immense pressure with high volumes of emails and calls from estate agents and clients eager to hear progress.
Conveyancers “deserve thanks for going above and beyond and we would encourage conveyancing solicitors whose wellbeing is suffering to contact LawCare and we would advise all those involved in the transaction to try to manage clients’ expectations as far as possible.”
LSB regulatory framework
Our response to the Legal Services Board’s proposed regulatory framework has been picked up by Legal Futures.
UK legal sector earnings
Data from the Office for National Statistics found the UK legal services sector’s revenue dipped in May, reports Law360 (£).
A Law Society spokesperson said: “It is quite common for firms to have a lower turnover month in May. This is due to an increase in billing ahead of the end of the financial year, which for many firms falls at the end of April.
“Data from the Law Society shows the largest 200 firms are doing better than ever. A strong legal services sector has great benefits for the UK economy.
“Every £1 of improved productivity in the legal services sector could generate between £3.30 and £3.50 of additional gross domestic product for the UK across other sectors of the economy by 2050.
“The UK is a longstanding global leader in legal services and will continue to be for years to come.”
Ransomware payments
JD Supra covers our response to a joint letter by the NCSC and the ICO to legal professional bodies about ransomware attacks.
A Law Society spokesperson said: “We do not advise members to pay ransoms, nor suggest that is what they should advise their clients.”
Also worth a read:
- Tory leadership race: Rivals take aim in second TV debate – BBC
- Heatwave: Courts set to remain open despite Met office red warning – Gazette
- CLC warns firms about file storage and data retention – Legal Futures
- Barristers begin first five-day strike action – Guardian
- Same-sex civil partnerships at lowest level since 2005 – Today’s Family Lawyer