Law Society Justice Select Committee evidence today
The Gazette and Business Fast report Law Society Head of Justice Richard Miller will join the Criminal Law Solicitors’ Association in telling the House of Commons Justice Select Committee why solicitors are considering industrial action and why the Law Society may advise its members not to undertake criminal legal aid work.
The Justice Gap and Law Careers cover our response to news 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 legal aid deserts revealed
Justice Gap reports on newly-published data by Lexis Nexis which details the spread of family legal aid deserts across England and Wales.
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.”
See the Law Society’s legal aid deserts campaign
Mental Health Act disproportionately affects Black people
Coverage continues of the Mental Health Act annual statistics report, now in the south west as Bournemouth Echo and Yahoo News.
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."
SRA fining powers
Solicitors Journal, Today’s Family Lawyer, Today’s Wills and Probate, Today’s Conveyancer, Law 360 and Company Insight looks at debate around changes to the SRA’s fining penalties.
Law Society President Lubna Shuja said: “The SRA’s internal fining powers increased from £2,000 to £25,000 in July this year for traditional law firms and solicitors.
“This means the SRA will decide more cases of alleged misconduct in-house, instead of referring them to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT).”
Northern Justice
The Gazette reports a new 10-part documentary on BBC iPlayer following the work of solicitors working across the north east of England.
- Also worth a read:
- Belsner’s long tail – Gazette
- Small boat deal contrasting perspectives – Guardian and FT (£)
- Hospital warns staff about solicitors coercing patients – Yorkshire Post
- Cautionary tale of neighbour dispute – Times (£)