The impact of Brexit
Law Society President Lubna Shuja spoke to BBC Radio 4 about the impact of Brexit on the UK’s legal service sector. More specifically, Lubna tells listeners which EU markets are and aren’t easy to access post-Brexit and discusses the increase in cases coming through from countries around the world. You can listen to Lubna from 4:20, 8:11 and 11:40.
Women in Law Pledge
Global Legal Post continues coverage of the four-year anniversary of the Women in Law pledge.
Law Society President Lubna Shuja said: “We know, however, that we must continue to work collectively to enact positive change for gender equality in the profession.
“Women make up 53% of the practising profession and there has been slow steady growth in women partners over the past few years. Despite this, women continue to experience barriers when attempting to reach senior levels.”
SRA’s budget proposals
The Gazette, Solicitors Journal and Law360 (£) cover our reaction to the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s proposed budget increase.
Law Society President Lubna Shuja said: “The SRA propose a significant increase in their budget. Given that many firms are facing inflationary pressures, it is vitally important that the SRA is focused on efficiency savings and costs are controlled to avoid unnecessary pressure on the practising certificate fee.”
Jonathan Goldsmith, chair of our Policy & Regulatory Affairs Committee, writes in the Gazette about the role of AI in the legal profession, and notes that the impact of technology in law is absent in the SRA’s new Business Plan and Budget.
Unbundling
New Law Journal looks at the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s Unbundled services pilot: final report.
Law Society president Lubna Shuja said: “Some practitioners have already started to deliver forms of unbundled services.
‘However, concerns remain around the risk of being found negligent for things the solicitor believed fell outside the retainer. This risk needs to be addressed.”
London Legal Walk
Legal Futures reports that this year’s London Legal Walk was the most well-attended walk in its history.
Law Society President Lubna Shuja said: “It was wonderful to join so many others taking part in the London Legal Walk to raise funds for free legal advice charities.
“It’s inspiring to see the legal profession come together in huge numbers to show their support for such a worthy cause. It is important that free legal advice is available to vulnerable people who need it most. The funds raised by the London Legal Walk help to ensure there is provision for access to justice for all.”
Mandatory mediation
The New Law Journal looks at Ministry of Justice proposals for mandatory mediation in family cases.
Law Society president Lubna Shuja said: “We are pleased the government is seeking early resolution for families.”
However, she warned that “no form of dispute resolution should be mandatory”.
Assessing capacity to make a will
The Law Society is mentioned in a Today’s Wills & Probate piece about assessing capacity to make a will.
Equality, diversity and inclusion
Legal Futures reports on a Legal Services Board event at City firm Clifford Chance on equality, diversity and inclusion.
Reena Parmar, chair of the Law Society’s Disabled Solicitor Network, said she had “multiple intersectional identities” as a disabled South Asian woman.
She said sometimes it felt like a “competition” between different minority groups for resources, “almost like a fight”, which was a shame.
Also worth a read:
- Leading Post Office lawyer to appear before the statutory inquiry – Gazette
- Around 60% of non-practising solicitors apply to stay on the roll – Legal Futures
- Scrapping the ‘innocence tax’ may save the government money – Times (£)
- All-party parliamentary group on access to justice launched – Gazette