Civil legal aid review timetable
The Gazette discusses the terms of reference for the Ministry of Justice’s civil legal aid review, with comment from the Law Society.
“We are particularly pleased that the terms of reference acknowledge the importance of civil legal aid services being a financially viable business option for legal aid providers,” a spokesperson said.
“However, we urge the government to invest immediately in civil legal aid to shore up access to justice for those in need now as the review is not expected to report until 2024.”
LGBTQ+ history month
Law Society President Lubna Shuja looks at the evolution of LGBTQ+ legislation to mark the start of LGBTQ+ history month in the Gazette. Lubna also discusses the experiences of LGBTQ+ colleagues in the legal sector and examines how new approaches could create more equal and inclusive workplaces for solicitors.
Lubna writes: “It is important to gain more insight into our profession and get a greater understanding of the experiences of LGBTQ+ lawyers.”
Criminal court delays
The Bolton News continues regional coverage of the unprecedented backlog and delays in crown court trials.
Law Society President Lubna Shuja said: “The impact of decades of underinvestment in our criminal justice system is plain to see.
“The latest figures show huge backlogs in our criminal courts and unacceptably long delays for victims and defendants to access justice.”
New property forms published
Croner’s Europe covers recent updates to the Law Society’s leasehold forms that now incorporate building safety reform requirements.
Law Society President Lubna Shuja is quoted: “The LPE1 and TA7 forms have been amended as part of efforts to ensure that those who want to buy or re-mortgage flats affected by building safety issues can access mortgage finance.”
Bill of Rights bill
Hastings Online Times examines human rights legislation as the government threatens to replace the Human Rights Act with the Bill of Rights bill, which waits for its second reading in the House of Commons.
The article notes the Law Society view that the bill would represent a “lurch backward for British justice” and “create an acceptable class of human rights abuses in the United Kingdom.”
Joint and several liability
Law Society Council committee member Gary Rycroft talks to the Times about joint and several liability in the context of relationships.
Gary said: “Prevention is better than cure, which means anyone entering into joint financial arrangements for whatever reason (from sharing a house to sharing their hearts) should make a written record of what is agreed in terms of who is responsible for what – and if/when the situation changes, how it will be amicably brought to an end.”
Also worth a read:
- SRA promises to act on competence failures - Gazette
- Challenges continue for LeO - Legal Futures
- Recruitment is biggest obstacle to law firm growth – Legal Futures
- Dominic Raab’s bullying probe continues - BBC
- UK has fallen down Transparency International’s corruption index - Guardian
- Northern Ireland Brexit deal is underway – Times (£)
- Biggest day of strikes in a decade – Independent