Law Society response to bill to tackle small boats
Muhunthan Paramesvaran, Chair of the Law Society’s Immigration Committee, writes in the Times (£) and speaks to the The i about the new Illegal Migration Bill.
In the top letter to the Times today, Muhunthan wrote: “The lack of public consultation for the drafting of this bill means there has been very little scrutiny of whether measures in it are workable, lawful and provide due process for asylum-seekers. If it passes into law independent judges will probably be asked to consider whether it is compatible with domestic and international law.
“Lawyers will represent clients on both sides of any legal challenge – they are part of the machinery that holds government to account and makes sure it stays within the law. The Government has said it does not intend for the UK to leave the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), which is welcome news. Britain is part of the international community, which is underpinned by agreements – whether about trade or rights. Trust in Britain rests on trust in it as a nation that keeps its word.”
The Gazette Ireland, Scottish Legal News, Irish Legal News, Public News Time, News Concerns, New York Folk, Lawyer Monthly and LBC continue coverage of our response to the unveiling of the Bill and its potential impact on the rule of law.
Law Society president Lubna Shuja said: “As with all legislation our lens will be the rule of law and access to justice… So, we will be looking carefully at whether Britain will uphold its international obligations and whether the Home Office can deliver a fair and workable process.”
International Women’s Day
The Times (£) looks at research published to coincide with International Women’s Day which shows women are still experiencing discrimination that prevents them from rising to the top jobs in the legal profession.
Law Society President Lubna Shuja said there have been “positive signs or progress” but more needs to be done to prevent firms “losing brilliant solicitors on the cusp of senior leadership”.
Today’s Family Lawyer, Today’s Conveyancer, Today’s Wills and Probate, Global Legal Post and International Employment Lawyer cite our call to use International Women’s Day to make the legal profession more inclusive for female solicitors. The Gazette also reflects on what International Women’s Day should mean in the legal profession.
Lubna speaks on the University of Law Podcast about her experience as a woman in law and what she hopes to achieve in her year as President of the Law Society, in celebration of International Women’s Day. Sussex Business Times mentions our celebration of Carrie Morrison, in honour of International Women’s Day.
Legal Cheek reveals that a Twitter bot is tweeting law firms’ pay gaps in response to International Women’s Day.
Employment Tribunal backlog
The Times (£) looks at the backlog of outstanding cases in the Employment Tribunals.
Law Society President Lubna Shuja said: “The Employment Tribunal backlog means employees and employers aren’t getting the swift resolution they should.
“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.”
Iran: lawyers at risk
The Law Society’s report on the Iranian government’s ill-treatment of lawyers who represent those arrested and charged in connection to protests is covered in the Gazette, Gazette Ireland, Business Fast and Dispatchist.
Law Society Deputy Vice President Richard Atkinson said: “There is an almost complete lack of access to legal representation of one’s choice for anyone arrested and charged in connection with protests in Iran. Protestors’ confessions have been obtained by coercion and torture and used as evidence against them.”
Law Society legal challenge to criminal legal aid decision
The New Law Journal reports that we have issued a judicial review of the Ministry of Justice’s refusal to increase funding for criminal legal aid by the recommended 15%.
Changes to legal aid for domestic abuse victims
New Law Journal and Today’s Family Lawyer cover our support of the UK government’s decision to remove hurdles for domestic abuse victims who apply for legal aid.
Law Society President Lubna Shuja said: “Victims used to have to produce a letter from a health professional, but it would only be accepted by the Legal Aid Agency if the meeting had been face-to-face, at a time [when] medical appointments are increasingly online. This change to legal aid recognises the additional hurdle created by the requirement for evidence of face-to-face medical appointments.”
Pay gap report
Legal Futures covers our 2022 pay gap report.
Law Society Chief Executive Ian Jeffery said: “We’re committed to reducing our pay gaps by focusing on actions that are likely to have the widest impact. Our actions are also designed to further understanding of what’s causing our pay gaps and strive towards better equality, diversity and inclusion.”
The climate crisis and the courts
Our Policy and Regulatory Affairs Committee Chair Jonathan Goldsmith views on the climate crisis and the courts are referenced in the Yorkshire Bylines.
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