Judicial Reverse Mentoring Scheme
President of the Law Society Lubna Shuja writes in the Gazette about the Judicial Reverse Mentoring Scheme, which matches aspiring judges seeking judicial appointment in the next two years with salaried judges from the courts and tribunals who volunteer as judicial mentors.
It is designed to build bridges into, and with, the judiciary for lawyers from diverse backgrounds.
She said: “The Law Society supports reverse mentoring as it gives both employers and employees a better understanding of experiences different to their own.
“This can help create greater cohesion and a sense of community within organisations of all sizes, as well as fostering appreciation for the variety of contributions and insight people bring to their work.
“The application deadline for the Judicial Reverse Mentoring Scheme closes on Monday 27 February 2023. I encourage solicitors from socio-economic disadvantaged backgrounds, those from the LGBTQ+ community, Black Asian and minority ethnic, and women solicitors to participate in the scheme.”
UK’s accession to Hague 19 Convention
The Solicitors Journal covers the Law Society’s response to the Ministry of Justice’s consultation on the UK’s accession to the Hague 19 Convention.
President of the Law Society 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 Law Society will also continue to push for the UK to re-join the Lugano Convention, which is a more comprehensive framework for rules on jurisdiction and enforcement of judgments between the UK and the EU/EFTA states for consumers, families and businesses.”
Employment tribunal backlog
Personnel Today reports that the employment tribunal backlog reached over 50,000 last year in December 2022.
Law Society President Lubna Shuja said: “The employment tribunal backlog means employees and employers aren’t getting the swift resolution they should.”
“Long delays only add to the stress for people already worried about their job, their finances or their reputation. The government needs to ensure employment tribunal claims can be heard in a reasonable timeframe to enable individuals and businesses to resolve their issues and move on.”
SRA-run SIF
President of the Law Society Lubna Shuja comments in the Gazette on the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s (SRA) announcement that it will bring the arrangements of the Solicitors Indemnity Fund (SIF) in-house.
She said: “We are delighted that the SRA board has decided to continue to provide consumers with the vital protections of the SIF.”
“We are also pleased to note that the regulator has agreed to two significant suggestions made in our response to their consultation.”
President Lubna Shuja judges Legal Cheek awards
Law Society President Lubna Shuja has been announced as one of the judges on the panel at next month’s Legal Cheek Awards for the best Legal Cheek journal contribution.
She will be judging alongside former Supreme Court justice Lord Sumpton, Attorney General for England and Wales Victoria Prentis KC MP and Lord Pannick KC.
Also worth a read:
- New series on parole hearings – BBC
- CBA gender gap survey – Legal Futures
- Biased joint enterprise prosecutions monitored – Guardian
- Labour’s police vetting overhaul – Guardian
- Braverman disputes police disclosures – BBC