Criminal barristers strike deal
Coverage of the Criminal Bar Association vote to accept the MoJ’s pay deal to end their strike notes government must now address the crisis of solicitors exiting criminal defence work because of chronically low rates of pay.
The Times (£),Gazette, Star, Solicitors Journal, London Daily, Gazette Ireland and Company Insight note Law Society president I. Stephanie Boyce said: “The justice minister may think he has got one problem off his table but there are bigger problems coming his way.
“Solicitors are the backbone of the crisis-hit criminal justice system. They will see that the government has found a magic money tree to stop the disruptive action of barristers — money that was not available to pay solicitors fairly.
“Our members will see that disruptive action achieves results that hard evidence and constructive engagement do not.”
The FT (£) also picks up the story.
Legal services on Conservative Party fringe
The Gazette reports on discussions about justice at a Conservative Party fringe event jointly hosted by the Law Society.
I. Stephanie Boyce, president of the Law Society, called on ministers to prioritise legal services, what she called one of the nation’s ‘greatest assets’.
“The government can do this by seeking provisions in trade deals to allow English and Welsh lawyers to advise on home-country laws to the same extent that they are entitled to practise in their home jurisdiction,” she said.
“This should be facilitated by mobility arrangements that allow legal professionals to enter and work easily across jurisdictions, and provide vital advice to individuals and corporations on a fly-in, fly-out basis.”
D&I Framework
People in Law reports we’ve launched our D&I Framework.
Law Society president I. Stephanie Boyce said: “From the high street to the Supreme Court, the legal profession must reflect the society it serves.
“There is often a leap to action on D&I – a sense of urgency to ‘do something,’ with a myriad of advice, schemes and checklists available. This can lead to activity that is reactive to immediate pressures, short lived or not properly resourced or recognised.
“This risks a lot of effort being put into initiatives that don’t ultimately improve diversity or boost inclusion in your workplace.”
Bio-law report
The Guardian covers our Law in the Emerging Bio Age report.
Read the report Law in the emerging bio-age.
Costs case intervention
Our intervention in Belsner v Cam Legal Services is picked up by the Gazette.
World Mental Health Day
Company Insight picks up our statement to the profession on World Mental Health Day.
Law Society president I. Stephanie Boyce said: “We know the profession’s working practices can contribute to an increased risk of poor mental health, due to long hours and high workloads.
“If our members are feeling burnt out, anxious, depressed, stressed or experiencing any other forms of mental ill-health, I encourage them to reach out to LawCare.”
Also worth a read:
- Supreme Court considers indyref2 – BBC
- WFH could violate leasehold terms – Guardian
- Online Safety Bill critique – Evening Standard
- Twitter reaction to bar vote – Gazette
- Cases wrongly dropped, finds BBC – BBC