Criminal defence funding pre-action protocol
There is further coverage of the Law Society’s pre-action protocol letter to the UK government, seen in Justice Gap, New Law Journal, The National Jurist, World News and regional news outlets.
Law Society president Lubna Shuja said: “We argue the lord chancellor’s decision not to remunerate solicitors by the bare minimum 15%, which the independent review said was needed immediately over a year ago to prevent the collapse of the criminal defence sector, is unlawful, as is the decision not to take action to address the risk of local market failure.
“We are seeking a commitment by the government to withdraw both decisions and reconsider them within a mutually agreed timetable. If not, we will issue a judicial review seeking an order to quash them.”
The role of public inquiries
Our head of public law Ellie Cumbo spoke to BBC Essex about the role of public inquiries, explaining how government decides when this is an appropriate approach, in the context of calls for a public inquiry into deaths connected to mental health facilities in Essex between 2010 and 2020.
Criminal legal aid
Counsel magazine interviews the new Chair of the Bar, Nick Vineall KC, who speaks about the need for a properly funded criminal justice system.
The Law Society’s concern that Raab’s real-terms pay cut for solicitors would be a “fatal blow” to defence work is voiced.
Shambolic state of courts
The Law Society’s survey on the poor state of court infrastructure was reported on BBC Midlands Today. Law Society President Lubna Shuja spoke to the programme about the growing backlog of cases which is being exacerbated by disrepair in the courts estate and the urgent need for investment across the criminal justice system.
Social mobility in smaller firms
Alice Kinder, a Law Society Social Mobility Ambassador, writes in the Gazette about social mobility across firms of varying sizes, arguing that progress should be achievable in smaller firms as much as in larger ones.
How tech advancements affect the gender gap
Legal Cheek analyses what digital innovation in the legal profession might mean for women in law and closing gender gaps. The article cites statistics from research by the Law Society, published in a 2019 study commissioned from the Institute of Employment Studies.
Neurotechnology in legal practice
The Law Society’s Neurotechnology, Law and the Legal Profession report (August 2022) is mentioned in an article by LawCareers.Net about the rise of artificial intelligence in the legal profession.
Also worth a read:
- LAA & Land Registry join civil service strikes – Gazette
- Vulnerable adults at risk in immigration detention - Guardian
- New president of IBA is first woman in 20 years - Gazette
- Online Safety Bill updates – Guardian