Criminal legal aid
Irish Legal News, Scottish Legal News, the National, Manchester Evening News, Hereford Times and Wimbledon Times cover our warning that solicitors will leave the criminal defence profession unless they get a fair deal on criminal legal aid.
This followed the Ministry of Justice proposing a deal for criminal defence barristers to end their strike.
Law Society president I. Stephanie Boyce said: “If solicitors do not get parity on the bare minimum 15% recommended by Lord Bellamy, the Ministry of Justice will have made it clear that there is no future in criminal defence practice and we will advise our members not to undertake this work. No responsible organisation could truthfully advise otherwise.”
Members of the Criminal Bar Association will be asked to vote on the deal this week. The ballot will open on Tuesday and will close on Sunday, reports the Daily Mail, Hereford Times, Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald, the Hexham Courant and 50+ local media outlets.
They note I. Stephanie Boyce’s assertion that: “We will continue to push for a fair deal for solicitors for the crucially important work they carry out. We will insist on further discussions.”
Tackling racial inequality with #10000BlackInterns
Company Insight covers our reflection on our participation in the #10000BlackInterns initiative.
I. Stephanie Boyce said: “The Law Society benefitted enormously from the contribution of the interns who joined us as part of the #10000BlackInterns initiative.
“We are pleased the interns told us they learned a lot from their work experience and were able to develop key professional skills they can take forward in their careers.”
Record-breaking number of divorce applications
Wales247 reports the highest number of divorce applications for a decade in April to June 2022.
I. Stephanie Boyce said: “We are pleased that this crucial ‘no-fault’ divorce legislation is now in force and being used, so that separating couples can divorce as amicably as possible.
“Separating couples don’t have to prove a fault-based fact against their ex-partner, or spend years still married to obtain a divorce, exacerbating tensions.”
Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill 2022
I. Stephanie Boyce speaks to Today’s Family Lawyer about the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill 2022, outlining our concern that the Solicitors Regulation Authority may be able to impose limitless financial penalties for economic crime disciplinary matters.
“We are concerned about what the proposed additional powers could mean for our members and how effective they will be in combating economic crime.
“We strongly urge the government to consider carefully the proportionality of any further regulation, given that there has been little evidence of the effectiveness or otherwise of the most recent changes to the SRA’s fining powers,” she said.
Also worth a read:
- Kwarteng U-turns on top rate of tax cut – BBC (Live)
- Transparency International queries government’s ability to identify oligarch’s assets – Guardian
- Justice Secretary promises shake-up of human rights law – Daily Mail
- ECHR withdrawal back on Tory agenda – Gazette