Women solicitors continue to join profession in droves
The Independent, the Times (£) and Global Legal Post report that our Annual Statistics Report 2021 has found that women are joining the legal profession at three times the rate of men over the past decade.
The Times spoke with Amandeep Khasriya, a member of our women lawyers division and our social mobility ambassador Prisca Wharton, about their careers and experience.
Law Society president I. Stephanie Boyce said: “For a long time the solicitor profession was male dominated. But in just 100 years, women have shown how much they have to offer the sector.”
Record number of law graduates
Legal Cheek covers another angle on our Annual Statistics Report 2021, which found the number of students graduating with first degrees in law was the highest on record at 18,927.
“It is encouraging to see solicitors employed in-house by organisations, ranging from FTSE and private companies to local authorities, now make up a quarter of the profession,” said I. Stephanie Boyce.
Stamp Duty amongst cuts in mini budget
The Gazette and Today’s Conveyancer cover our response to the chancellor’s mini budget, which was announced last week, and included permanent cuts to Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT)
I. Stephanie Boyce said: “Today’s announcement means conveyancing solicitors will now be watching and waiting to see how the changes announced by government will impact their workload and businesses.”
The Gazette had already spoken to conveyancing solicitors ahead of the announcement.
Sarah Dwight, a member of our conveyancing and land law committee, said: “We are all still reeling from the SDLT cut in what was seen to be a buoyant market as we came out of the first lockdown.
“Following the end of the SDLT holiday in September 2021, the market has remained busy, transaction times have increased, and many experienced conveyancers have left the profession.”
Arbitration Act reform proposals
The Law Commission recently unveiled proposals to reform the Arbitration Act 1996.
I. Stephanie Boyce tells Today’s Wills & Probate and Law360 (£): “The world is not standing still and it is important to review and update the provisions of the Act some 25 years after it was adopted.
“We share the Law Commission’s objective of improving the Act and keeping this jurisdiction at the forefront of international dispute resolution. We will review the Commission’s proposals with great interest.”
Disability and diversity
The Gazette reports from the Lawyers with Disabilities Division’s annual event, which saw attendees reflect on how disability is treated within diversity and inclusion culture.
One speaker said: “We’re moving forward tremendously but disability is still slightly overlooked, it’s still a slightly poor relation.”
Family court backlog
The family court backlog continues to grow. The latest statistics have found there are an estimated 68,134 new family cases.
Family legal aid, meanwhile, has not been available to families since the cuts brought in by the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act.
The Gazette reports that I. Stephanie Boyce has called on the UK government to “ensure, so far as possible, that there are sufficient fee-paid and full-time judges to deal with existing and new caseloads”.
President heads to Preston
Business Lancashire reports on I. Stephanie Boyce’s visit Preston and Sheffield last week.
Craig MacKenzie, a partner at Forbes Solicitors said: “It’s a privilege to be involved with the Preston Incorporated Law Society and to be able to discuss our plans with Stephanie Boyce – an inspiring and hugely experienced member of the legal profession.”
Only Connect
Paul Singh, a member of our employment law committee, made a recent appearance on the BBC’s Only Connect show.
Speaking about his TV appearance, he told the Gazette: “The thing for me was that Only Connect has no prize money so I could just enjoy the experience. This was a fun little quiz that required some lateral thinking, which is something that lawyers excel at.”
His team’s next appearance will be screened later this autumn.
Also worth a read:
- Tax cuts: Pound hits new low after mini-budget unveiled – BBC
- Starmer vows to reinstate top rate of income tax – Guardian
- Dame Vera Baird KC to step down as Victims’ Commissioner – Gazette
- Witnesses can give evidence via WhatsApp – Legal Cheek
- Conveyancers new explicit requirement to treat customers fairly – Legal Futures