Solicitors will benefit from legal aid reforms, lord chancellor insists
The Gazette reports lord chancellor Brandon Lewis insists solicitors will benefit from the government’s criminal legal aid reforms as law firm employers prepare to discuss potential action.
Labour’s Valerie Vaz asked the justice secretary why solicitors were only receiving a 9% uplift in fees, which had prompted the Law Society to issue a warning if the government fails to bridge the funding gap between solicitors and barristers.
Read more about our warning to government
The government has announced extra funding for legal aid for victims of domestic abuse and those facing eviction, the Gazette reports.
Only 90 of 13,000 law firm partners are Black, new study shows
A study supported by the Law Society has found that Black representation at partner level remains stubbornly low at around 1%, according to the Guardian.
The report identifies barriers commonly experienced by Black partners interviewed, such as feelings of being an outsider and facing harsher scrutiny. It recommends action across the profession.
Read about our own Race for Inclusion report
World Menopause Day
Company Insight, Today’s Wills and Probate, Today’s Family Lawyer and Today’s Conveyancer discuss World Menopause Day.
Law Society of England and Wales president Lubna Shuja said: “The menopause affects a large proportion of our members, whether first hand, through relationships, friendships or in the workplace.
“That is why the Law Society has produced menopause guidance to help individuals and firms access the support they need.”
Iran must release lawyers
New Law Journal reports our call to halt the arbitrary arrest, detention and ill treatment of lawyers in Iran.
Law Society president Lubna Shuja said: “The Law Society calls on the Iranian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release all lawyers who have been arbitrarily arrested and detained and drop any charges against them, as well as to ensure their psychological and physical integrity pending such release.”
New Law Society president
New Law Journal celebrates Lubna becoming the new Law Society president, the first Asian and the first Muslim to hold the position.
Lubna also gets a mention in a Global Legal Post piece about the new president of the Law Society of Western Australia.
Criminal courts backlog
New Law Journal looks at the criminal court backlogs, noting outstanding Crown Court cases climbed from 60,351 in July to 61,212 at the end of August.
Law Society president Lubna Shuja said: “Criminal defence solicitors are needed more than ever to help tackle these unprecedented backlogs in our criminal courts and yet government is still refusing to give them parity with barristers.”
Proportionate regulation
Today’s Family Lawyer discusses Law Society concerns over the proportionality of new powers to be given to the Solicitors Regulation Authority to combat economic crime.
Law Society president Lubna Shuja said: “We propose amendments to the Bill to provide greater clarity to the proposed legislation, which would assist companies and investment vehicles to operate smoothly in the UK.
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