President discusses plan
Birmingham-based Law Society President Lubna Shuja spoke to BBC Radio York, BBC Radio Leeds and BBC Radio Sheffield (from 01:13:26) about her ground-breaking presidency as the 178th, first Muslim, first Asian and seventh woman to lead the solicitor profession, what she plans to do in her time in office. The presenter noted Lubna is an inspirational figure for people living in Yorkshire, Leeds and Sheffield.
Criminal defence solicitors consider escalating action
Personnel Today and New Law Journal cover our response to criminal defence solicitors considering escalating action over the government’s failure to give them a 15% criminal legal aid rates increase.
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% [fee] 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.”
Family court backlogs
The Gazette and Practice Source cover our response to new data released by HM Courts & Tribunals Service regarding the family court backlog, which has climbed to 110,00.
Law Society President Lubna Shuja said: “The ones who are impacted by this delay the most are families up and down the country. Some are dealing with deeply distressing issues – securing a child arrangement order, seeking protection from domestic abuse and controlling behaviour, or finalising a divorce.
“The government must ensure, so far as possible, that there are sufficient fee-paid and full-time judges to deal with existing and new caseloads.”
LexisNexis report on legal aid published
Local Government Lawyer and LawCareers.Net report on widespread inadequate access to housing legal aid, as highlighted by a LexisNexis legal aid deserts report.
Law Society President Lubna Shuja said: “This research echoes our own findings that many people across the country, particularly on low incomes, are facing serious legal problems.
“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.”
LexisNexis also highlights the worst legal family legal aid deserts in England and Wales, with Wychavon, Derbyshire Dales and East Cambridgeshire making the top three.
“There will be family legal aid providers shown in the maps who are only providing legal aid for cases related to children in care. This means for those fleeing domestic violence, who want to resolve relationship breakdown or child contact issues, access to legal advice is more sparce,” said Lubna Shuja.
Mental Health Act disproportionately affects Black people
Wigan Today covers the Mental Health Act annual statistics report, which found there were at least 355 detentions carried out across the former NHS Wigan Borough CCG area in 2021 to 2022.
Law Society Vice President Nick Emmerson said: "These statistics show why reforming the Mental Health Act must be a priority for the government.
“The current system means there is a risk that compulsory detention and treatment is used too often and that patients do not have enough involvement in decisions about their care.
“We welcome the government’s commitment to reforming the Mental Health Act and support the introduction of new safeguards for patients refusing medication."
Also worth a read:
- Justice Minister under fire - Observer
- Autumn Statement: PM grilled on way to COP27 – BBC News
- LawTech experts say more data needed for justice reform – Gazette
- 65 retired judges brought in to clear courts backlog – Telegraph (£)
- Law must protect children from online harm, says Children’s Commissioner – Observer