Civil Legal Aid Review
Local Government Lawyer, Legal Futures, Law360 (£) and Today’s Family Lawyer cover our response to the launch of the government’s Civil Legal Aid Review, with a final report due to be published in 2024.
Law Society President Lubna Shuja said: “A well-functioning civil justice system is vital to the economic health and social wellbeing of our country. Legal aid is an essential part of this. We have a justice system that’s the envy of the world, but without investment, it is falling apart.
“For every civil legal provider that closes its doors, there is a child not getting the education they need, a family facing eviction, fighting for welfare benefits to stay afloat in these turbulent times or a vulnerable person denied access to the care they’re entitled to.
“The last time fees were increased was in 1996, over 25 years ago. On top of this, the government imposed a further 10% fee-cut in 2011. This represents a real-terms cut of 49.4% in fees to 2022.”
The Gazette notes the lack of urgency in the government’s approach.
Digital Lasting Powers of Attorney
Melinda Giles, a member of our Wills and Equity Committee, spoke with BBC Radio 4’s Money Box (from 05:04) about people’s rights when filing for a digital Lasting Power of Attorney. The programme has found that HMRC is not accepting digital applications and is instead demanding a certified paper copy.
462 cases listed at Wimbledon Magistrates Court
Wimbledon Magistrates Court listed 462 cases to be heard in one day last week, reports South West Londoner.
Stuart Nolan, Chair of our Criminal Law Committee, said: “It is unusual to see so many cases in one day.
“The criminal justice system is in crisis. They can’t necessarily get barristers, prosecutors, there’s a shortage of defences, there’s backlogs because of Covid, because of the strikes, because of lack of personnel, lack of funding.
“So all of those factors could play into why you have this extraordinary case - so many cases, one court with such variation.
“If some of those are allegations of assault, they can take a long time and the idea of doing that many cases in one day is extraordinary because it can take considerable time to give people their legal rights and make sure that justice is done and that justice is seen to be done as they say.”
Ukraine fights to uphold the rule of law
The Gazette runs an in-depth piece into the enormous personal financial stress Ukraine’s lawyers are under, as the profession fights to uphold the rule of law.
At the time of the invasion, our immediate past President I. Stephanie Boyce said: “The Law Society stands in solidarity with the Ukrainian people, the Ukrainian National Bar Association and the Ukrainian Bar Association.
“We also stand with the Russian people who oppose their government’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, and lawyers who are defending the rule of law in the region.
“We condemn the actions of the Russian Federation, which are in contravention of international law. There is no doubt that these actions are a direct threat to the rule of law.”
In June 2022, the presidents of Law Societies and Bar Associations from G7 countries met and signed resolutions condemning the invasion and calling for protections of client-lawyer confidentiality.
The Law Society also hosted a networking event in September 2022 for Ukrainian lawyers in the UK, which gave them the opportunity to learn about opportunities for employment, work and training in England and Wales.
Find out about support for Ukrainian lawyers and firms in England and Wales
Belsner could revive ‘renumeration certificates’
The Association of Costs Lawyers (ACL) has suggested that the ‘renumeration certificate’ could be revived as a way for clients to challenge solicitors’ bills of less than £50,000 and avoid court.
The Solicitors Journal reports that ACL suggests working with the Law Society and the Legal Ombudsman at the Civil Justice Council’s costs review last month.
Also worth a read:
- TV legal drama influences UK staff’s career choice – Legal Futures
- Flexible working helps productivity, research finds – Guardian
- Jeremy Clarkson column: Prince Harry criticises lack of royal defence – BBC
- Junior doctors to vote on strike action – Sky News