Court woes in the spotlight
The Economist (£) discusses the Law Society’s survey findings on the state of the courts in England and Wales, and how disrepair and a lack of investment are fuelling the backlogs of cases waiting to be heard, now at an all-time high.
The New Statesman podcast also refers to our findings, noting the Law Society’s work is further evidence of the need for a focus on crime by political parties.
Read more about our survey and recommendations
City AM, Gazette and Solicitors Journal cover our response to the National Audit Office’s report on the progress on the courts and tribunals reform programme.
Law Society president Lubna Shuja said the solicitors body remains concerned that “delays in the court are being exacerbated by ineffective reforms.”
Read our press release
Criminal court ‘Common Platform’ in trouble
Scott Bowen, a member of our Criminal Law Committee, writes in the Gazette about Common Platform.
“As of 20 January 2023, the common platform was being used in 173 criminal courts across the UK – that’s 76% of all criminal courts. Around 265,000 cases are currently being held on the system.
“However, after pausing the rollout in 2021 due to stability and technical issues and then resuming in March 2022, issues with the platform have continued to be raised by defence solicitors and other legal professionals working in the courts.”
Lasting Power of Attorney reform and financial abuse
Melinda Giles of our Wills and Equity Committee and Sheree Green, a member of our Mental Health and Disability Committee, spoke to Today’s Wills and Probate podcast about the legal challenges of proving financial abuse.
Melinda said: “Financial abuse is a soft word for stealing, it is a crime. Taking money from people who are vulnerable and it is often tied up with emotional abuse.”
Melinda spoke about her work with the Law Society Wills and Equity Committee on Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) reform, which she described as needed, but “risky,” saying that there is a balance between the diminishing advice around LPA’s and the focus on the digitisation.
Also worth a read:
- Asylum backlog at record high – BBC, FT (£)
- Cost of ‘Ghost tenants’ – Guardian
- Mediation unpopular in possession cases – Legal Futures
- Law firm workplaces ranked in new poll – Roll on Friday