Hague 19 Convention
The Gazette, Law360 (£) and Commercial Dispute Resolution (£) cover our response to the Ministry of Justice’s consultation on the UK acceding to the Hague 19 Convention.
Law Society President Lubna Shuja said: “The UK’s prompt accession to the Hague 19 Convention would help to ensure UK businesses have greater confidence entering cross-border contracts and investment relationships. The Convention provides legal clarity, reduces costs, increases certainty and predictability. It encourages better risk management and shortens timeframes for the recognition and enforcement of judgements across jurisdictions.”
The state of the criminal justice system
The New Statesman (£) and UK Daily News look at state of the criminal justice system.
Our survey on court infrastructure is mentioned: “A December poll by the Law Society reads colourfully: Lawyers report flooding, broken toilets, malfunctioning air conditioners, furniture held together with tape, not to mention a lack of reliable Wi-Fi.
“Two-thirds of respondents had experienced delays in cases in 2022 due to the condition of buildings. It’s a situation so metaphorically on the nose that Charles Dickens would have thought it unsubtle: crumbling courthouses symbolizing the crumbling judicial system.”
Solicitors Indemnity Fund
Solicitors Journal, Legal Futures and the Gazette cover the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s final steps towards the continuation of the Solicitors Indemnity Fund in-house, with the Legal Futures noting ‘the board agreed that two changes should be made to the draft rules for the new scheme, both proposed by the Law Society.’
Employment Tribunal backlog
Our response to the latest Employment Tribunal backlog figures is covered by Law360 (£).
“The Employment Tribunal backlog means employees and employers aren’t getting the swift resolution they should,” said Law Society President Lubna Shuja.
“This means people and businesses are facing prolonged periods of uncertainty, which is likely to take a high toll both personally and financially, with the cost-of-living crisis hitting individuals and businesses hard.”
Public law challenge sees legal aid widened
Today’s Family Lawyer covers news that following a Public Law Project challenge, the Ministry of Justice has changed the law so that foster parents and approved prospective adoptive parents bringing special educational needs and disability (SEND) appeals on behalf of a look-after child will not be means assessed for legal aid.
A Law Society spokesperson said: “This is an important addition to the strategic litigation work the Law Society has been supporting to expand legal aid and ensure people can access justice.
“However, increasing legal aid can only be effective if there are legal aid lawyers available to advise and represent those in need. The government must urgently commit to immediate investment to ensure solicitors can continue to do this vital work whilst the Civil Legal Aid Review takes place.”
Also worth a read:
- Nicola Sturgeon’s resignation – The Scotsman
- SRA to keep details of sanctions online for longer – Legal Futures
- Iranian human rights activist summoned to prison – Gazette
- Regulator’s SLAPPs warning – Times (£) and Guardian