Law Society issues legal challenge to criminal legal aid decision
The Times (£), City AM, Evening Standard, Daily Mail, Legal Cheek, Solicitors Journal, Gazette Ireland, Morning Star and Sutton & Croydon Guardian all cover the Law Society seeking permission from the High Court for a judicial review of the government’s criminal legal aid reform.
The decision to judicially review the government comes after the Ministry of Justice refused to increase criminal legal aid fees by the minimum 15% recommended by Lord Bellamy’s independent review.
Law Society President Lubna Shuja said: “We believe UK government’s decision not to increase criminal defence solicitors’ legal aid rates by the recommended minimum 15% is both unlawful and irrational. It has had, and will continue to have, dire consequences for access to justice and puts the future of the criminal justice system in jeopardy.
“The criminal justice system is collapsing around us due to wholly inadequate government investment and irrational policymaking. The Law Society will do everything in our power to get a fair deal for defence solicitors and ensure access to justice for all.”
Legal Futures mentions our legal challenge in a piece about Dominic Raab’s appearance before the House of Lords Constitution Committee.
Pay gap report
Law360 (£) covers our 2022 pay gap report. To provide greater transparency, the Law Society has also published disability, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation/identity and trans identity pay gap figures.
Law Society Chief Executive Ian Jeffery said: “The Law Society wants to make progress in narrowing our pay gaps and we know progress is not a linear journey.
“We’re committed to reducing our pay gaps by focusing on actions that are likely to have the widest impact.”
First 100 Years
LexisNexis mentions our support of the First 100 Years campaign in a piece discussing whether shifting the focus from billable hours can also support greater diversity and gender parity in the profession.
British Airways customer legal case
Law Society Council Membership Committee member Gary Rycroft speaks to Loyalty Lobby about the case of a woman with no legal training who won a legal case against British Airways.
Also worth a read:
- Conveyancing questions for ChatGPT - Gazette
- Artificial intelligence and the legal profession – Times (£)
- SRA seek permission to destroy 765,000 files - Gazette
- Salary increases expected after revenue growth - Legal Futures