Bill of Rights Bill back on the agenda
ITV News and others report the justice secretary has said the Bill of Rights Bill will return to Parliament in the ‘coming weeks’. The article only picks up one voice in opposition to the bill, noting the Law Society view that the bill represents a “lurch backwards for British justice which would disempower people in Britain while giving the state more unfettered authority.”
Read our press release
Skills Minister attacks immigration lawyers
The Gazette covers comments Skills Minister Andrea Jenkyns made to describe immigration lawyers, accusing them of being “anti-British.”
Law Society President Lubna Shuja said: “Immigration lawyers who ensure British laws are upheld in British courts are protecting British values.
“It is deeply irresponsible for a government minister to use inflammatory language to describe lawyers who are doing their jobs to ensure justice for all.”
Pro Bono Week
The 21st Pro Bono Week begins today, reports the Gazette.
Law Society President Lubna Shuja said: “Pro Bono Week is a great opportunity to shine a light on the important work lawyers do for free to help those in need of crucial legal advice.
“I encourage members of the legal profession to participate in events during Pro Bono Week and consider whether they too can volunteer. Pro bono work helps ensure people have access to justice and enables solicitors and firms to give back to their communities.”
Law Society President Lubna Shuja’s achievements celebrated
British Muslim Magazine reports our President Lubna Shuja has been awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Law.
Lubna Shuja told graduates: “Where you start your career is not necessarily where you will end up. Grab every opportunity that presents itself. You never know where it may take you.”
Elsewhere, Bal Singh Atwal, a solicitor at West Midlands police and co-chair of the Birmingham Solicitors’ Group, celebrates the appointment of Lubna Shuja as our first Asian, first Muslim and seventh female President in Legal Cheek.
“For Lubna Shuja to become the first British Asian President is remarkable, considering the number of hurdles not only to get into the profession but also to flourish. Added to this achievement is that Shuja is a sole practitioner and calls Birmingham home and as a lawyer that has seen the profession led from and been very London centric, it’s extremely refreshing to see it being led out of somewhere other than the capital.
“For lawyers across the nation, this shows you can achieve great things, regardless of where you are in the country and what area of law you practice.”
Redundancy: know your rights
Max Winthrop, a member of our Employment Law Committee, spoke with BBC Radio Shropshire (first at 37:01 and next at 49:19) about the rights of people facing redundancy at the BBC, ASOS and McColls.
Racial diversity in the profession
The Gazette takes an in-depth look at the legal profession’s uneven progress on racial diversity and hosts a roundtable on what needs to change.
Law Society research found a third of Black African and Caribbean solicitors have experienced some form of discrimination or bullying in the workplace, the highest figure reported by any ethnic group.
Law Society President Lubna Shuja said: “I think we are making progress, but it feels like it’s been a hell of a long time coming… I launched my presidential plan last Wednesday.
“Diversity, social mobility and social inclusion are some of the priorities I want to focus on… I plan to have a particular focus on progression to the senior levels of the profession, which is not happening at the moment. That includes a focus on the judiciary.”
Mental Health Act disproportionately affects Black people
Coverage continues of recently published data revealing the number of people detained under the Mental Health Act, including in the Kidderminster Shuttle, Dudley News and Derbyshire Times.
Detention rates for Black British people were found to be more than 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.”
Solicitor Judge appointed to Court of Appeal
Legal Cheek reports the appointment of Lady Justice Falk as the sole solicitor on the Court of Appeal bench.
Law Society President Lubna Shuja said: “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 Justice 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.”
SRA’s reporting requirements
The Gazette covers changes to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) code of conduct and regulatory obligations, including clarification on the extent to which conduct requirements intrude into solicitors’ private lives.
In our consultation response we said: “Interactions between staff outside the workplace are not a matter for the SRA. It would be difficult, if not impossible, to be clear about where any line would be drawn.”
Read our consultation response on health and wellbeing at work
LSB launches regulatory framework
The Legal Services Board (LSB) has published its proposed regulatory framework, which governs how frontline legal regulators are to be held accountable for their approach to regulating in the public interest, reports Law360 (£).
Law Society President Lubna Shuja said: “The SRA must be accountable for its performance. We are concerned that the new performance framework reflects an emphasis on self-reporting and that the LSB appears to be taking a minimalist approach to regulatory performance monitoring.
“We will provide feedback to the LSB on how the framework may most effectively be used to assess regulatory performance in practice.”
Also worth a read:
- Bill of Rights Bill will be back in weeks, promises Raab – Telegraph (£) and Sun
- Autumn statement rumours of tax rises & spending cuts – Guardian
- Millions have no savings as cost of living soars – BBC
- Home Office: £3m taxi bill for moving migrants – Times (£)
- EY-Cranfield survey criticises lack of progress of women in executive roles in UK – FT (£)