Criminal defence solicitors consider escalating action
Our response to criminal defence solicitors considering escalating action over the government’s failure to give them a 15% criminal legal aid rates increase is covered in the Independent, Daily Mail and Evening Standard and 300+ regional publications including Oxford Mail, Western Telegraph and Hexham Courant.
Law Society President Lubna Shuja said: “An escalation of action by law firm owners is near inevitable given the government’s baffling refusal to implement our demands for the bare minimum 15% increase for criminal defence solicitors, which was recommended by their own review.”
“If the government doesn’t give solicitors parity when their full response to the review is published later this month, we will advise our members that there is no viable future in criminal legal aid work.”
Criminal law firms set to form association
The Gazette reports that firms holding criminal legal aid contracts are expected to form a representative body, likely called the Criminal Legal Aid Contractors Association.
Retained EU Law Bill reaches committee stage
Our criticism of the “arbitrary and unrealistic” proposed Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill is covered in Today’s Wills and Probate
New data on family courts backlog
Today’s Family Lawyer and Company Insight cite new statistics published by HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) on the family courts backlog.
Law Society President Lubna Shuja voices our concern “about the effect delays and backlogs in the family courts are having on people seeking justice.”
We urge the government to act now to ensure fair and accessible representation in the courts.
Our response is further covered in Family Lore.
LexisNexis report on legal aid published
LexisNexis has published a report which surveys areas in the UK most in need of legal aid providers with the least access to them, using publicly available government data. The report focuses on housing, family and crime.
A functioning legal aid system upholds the Rule of Law by ensuring people can access and protect their rights.
Law Society President Lubna Shuja said: “We know many people across the country, who are on low incomes, are facing serious legal problems – such as those about to lose their homes or those fleeing domestic violence. They are unable to get access to the advice they are legally entitled to."
"Over the last decade, the number of family legal aid firms has more than halved. From July 2021 to July 2022 alone, another 83 family legal aid offices closed down, along with 32 housing legal aid offices and 68 crime legal aid offices."
Lubna Shuja celebrated as first Asian, first Muslim President of the Law Society
Our President Lubna Shuja speaks to Birmingham Mail about her goals for her tenure, which include encouraging diversity as the first Asian, first Muslim and seventh female incumbent.
Housing an area of unmet legal need
Emerging research from MP surgeries shows that housing is an unmet area of legal need, the Gazette highlights.
Law Society President Lubna Shuja said: “The cost-of-living crisis is likely to increase demand on a system that is already at breaking point, and the UK government urgently needs to address these problems in the civil and criminal justice systems to avoid a crisis in our legal sector.”
Also worth a read:
- 100,000 civil servants vote to strike over pay and conditions – Independent, Sky News
- Low trust in unrepresentative judiciary - Guardian
- MoJ appears to change tack on fixed costs – Gazette
- Official figures point towards UK recession - BBC, inews
- OFSI annual review publishes value of frozen assets - FT (£)
- Just Stop Oil eco-protest will halt immediately - BBC