Legal Ombudsman must focus on backlog
The Gazette, Today’s Wills & Probate, Today’s Conveyancer and Today’s Family Lawyer, continue coverage of our response to the Office for Legal Complaints' (OLC) business plan and reveal our reservations about the size of the proposed Legal Ombudsman budget.
Law Society President Lubna Shuja said: “The proposed 8% staff pay rise is particularly concerning when sections of the legal profession have seen no increase in their fees for many years. Criminal legal aid solicitors have not had a pay rise for over 25 years and fees have in fact been cut.”
Socio-economic diversity in law
Legal Futures mentions the Law Society’s online social mobility hub as critical in providing law firms with resources to improve socio-economic diversity across the profession.
President of the Law Society Lubna Shuja commented: “We know there is already great work underway to remove barriers to entry and progression for solicitors from non-professional backgrounds.
“However, the picture of socio-economic diversity in the profession shows there is much more to do and we hope the taskforce’s five-point plan will support legal sector employers in driving change.”
Lasting Power of Attorney Bill
Today’s Will and Probate reports on the Powers of Attorney Bill having its second reading in the House of Commons last week.
Law Society Wills and Equity Committee member, Ian Bond, expressed his disappointment that the Bill “did not include the Law Society’s recommendation that certification should expressly include consideration of the donor’s capacity.”
Law in the Emerging Bio-Age report
Wendy Schultz, one of the authors of the Law in the Emerging Bio-Age report, which was commissioned by the Law Society, spoke to the Planet: Critical podcast about the report findings.
Also worth a read:
- BSB performance problems – Legal Futures
- Prosecution crisis in rape cases - Gazette
- Raab bullying reports continue - Independent
- Online safety bill - Telegraph
- Changes to STaRs by SRA – Legal Futures