Legal advice deserts
The Times (£) looks at legal advice deserts that have left people unable to get help with issues including housing, community care, education, immigration and family break-ups.
Our research on legal aid provision is cited to demonstrate the scale of the problem.
The Times (£) also looks at legal aid deserts in Scotland, noting that such deserts have long been highlighted south of the border by the Law Society of England and Wales.
Property Fraud
Sarah Dwight, from our conveyancing and land law committee, spoke to You and Yours (from 32:02) about what people can do to help protect their property from fraudsters.
Junior Solicitors Network launched
Legal Cheek, Today’s Wills and Probate, Today’s Conveyancer and Today’s Family Lawyer report we have launched a new national network for junior solicitors to encourage greater collaboration with local and regional bodies.
Vice President Nick Emmerson said: “This change is within the wider context of the Law Society working closely and collaboratively with regional and local grouping such as local JLDs and local law societies and shifting from operating siloed ‘divisions’ to establishing inclusive and joined-up working via Law Society ‘networks’ in order to encourage greater collaboration and exchange of ideas and perspectives.
“We look forward to working with the JSN Advisory Committee, National Junior Lawyers Division (JLD) Committee and local JLDs throughout the next year and beyond.”
Find out more about the Junior Solicitors Network
Lady Justice of Appeal
Today’s Wills and Probate and Today’s Family Lawyer cover the appointment of a Lady Justice of Appeal.
Law Society President Lubna Shuja said: “On behalf of the solicitor profession, I would like to offer my congratulations to Lady Falk.
“Solicitors bring particular skills and experiences to the judicial process and decision-making. They also come from more diverse backgrounds than the barristers who traditionally populate the bench.
“Lady Falk is currently the only solicitor on the Court of Appeal and will be only the 20th Lady Justice of Appeal ever, which demonstrates there is still much progress to be made before the judiciary reflects wider society.
“I’m sure her appointment will encourage solicitors with judicial aspirations that there need be no limits to their ambition. We hope to see more solicitors bringing their skills to the judiciary in this way.”
Meanwhile, the New Law Journal looks at out statistical analysis which suggests it will take more than 120 years for women, Black and Asian people to be proportionately represented within the judiciary.
Landmark judgment
The Times (£), New Law Journal and the Association of Costs Lawyers report our reaction to the judgment in Belsner v CAM Legal Services, which examined solicitors’ costs and the deductions from client damages in personal injury cases.
Read our press release
Mental Health Act disproportionately affects Black people
Coverage continues of Law Society analysis of statistics on the application of the Mental Health Act, including in Telegraph and Argus, The Scarborough News, Doncaster Free Press, Barnet Post, Wirral Globe, and the Oldham Times. Outlets look at the numbers of detentions under the Act in their area.
Detention rates for Black British people were found overall to be over four times those of white people, while Community Treatment Orders – which require a person to receive supervised treatment in the community – were used for Black British people at 11 times the rate of white people.
Law Society Vice President Nick Emmerson said: “These statistics show why reforming the Mental Health Act must be a priority for the government.”
Mental Health Act reform
The New Law Journal covers our call for reform of the Mental Health Act.
Year in review
The Times (£) reviews the legal year and publishes its best law firms of the year.
Also worth a read:
- SRA to make full use of proposed new unlimited fining power – Legal Futures
- Asylum seekers left stranded – Guardian
- Junior lawyer exemption from obligation to report workplace bullying – Gazette