Mandatory mediation
The BBC speaks to our Head of Justice, Richard Miller, about news that separating parents in England and Wales could face fines for refusing to try mediation under new proposals.
Family Lore and Today’s Family Lawyer also cover the story.
“The best way to get couples into mediation is to provide them with early legal advice, but the government has not taken this on board,” said Law Society President Lubna Shuja.
“Mediation can be a vital tool for resolving many family disputes, but compulsory mediation in family cases is not a substitute for funded early advice, which can provide people with a reality-check and confidence that mediation is in their best interests.”
India opens up legal services sector
The Times (£) covers news the Bar Council of India publishing regulations to allow the establishment of foreign lawyers and law firms in India.
“The council’s decision followed years of lobbying by the Law Society, the body that represents solicitors in England and Wales, whose officials had been in India for the fortnight immediately prior to the announcement.”
Court reform
Solicitors Journal and Legal Futures cover HM Courts and Tribunals Service’s update on the court reform programme.
“We are reassured to see HMCTS has listened to our and other stakeholders’ concerns in their work to modernise and redesign court services,” Law Society President Lubna Shuja said.
“Mistakes were made early on and HMCTS’ acknowledgement that it tried to ‘change too much, too quickly’ should help restore some confidence in the next steps of the reform.”
LSB reserved legal activities list
Today’s Wills and Probate reports that the Legal Services Board is to park the issue of amending the list of reserved legal activities after concluding there was not a case to consider reform at this stage.
Law Society President Lubna Shuja said: “The Law Society agrees this is not the right time to review reserved legal activities (RLAs). Currently, RLAs can only be carried out by qualified legal professionals regulated by one of the approved regulators under the Legal Services Act 2007.”
Fly-tipping fines
Sebastian Charles, Chair of our Planning and Environmental Law Committee, speaks to the Sun about the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and fines for fly-tipping.
Also worth a read:
- Warning about crowing online over court victories – Gazette
- Muslim lawyers offer tips for observing a healthy Ramadan – Legal Cheek
- SRA criticised for ‘understating’ the severity of risk faced by in-house solicitors - Gazette and Legal Futures