Government grant for free early legal advice
Today’s Family Lawyer reports that a new government grant will allow thousands more vulnerable people to access free early legal advice and support services for welfare, housing, family or debt issues.
Law Society President Lubna Shuja said: “It is good to see the MoJ has acknowledged the importance of early advice, which can resolve problems before they escalate and therefore play a key role in preventing poor health, debt, homelessness and many other issues.
“However, the best way to ensure people can access that early advice is through a sustainably funded legal aid system, rather than expecting advice-providers to live hand-to-mouth on precarious government grants.”
Gazette reports that a four-year old government grant in Manchester and Middlesbrough to promote early social welfare advice received bad reviews from practitioners.
AI regulation
Today’s Conveyancer reports about our consultation response & key recommendations to the government white paper on AI regulation.
Law Society President Lubna Shuja said: “We encourage the government to adopt a nuanced, balanced approach to the development and use of AI with the legal sector, to enable the profession to make the most of these technologies.
“The rule of law and the legal profession will also have an integral role in shaping the future of AI regulation.”
Rwanda deportation ruling
AllAfrica continues coverage on the Court of Appeal ruling that said Home Office plans to send asylum seekers to Rwanda to have their claims processed is unlawful.
The Law Society’s response to the Rwanda policy was noted, as we raised "questions about the foundations of British justice by forcing them to make their claim for sanctuary in that country instead of in the UK."
Legal aid increase for deportation cases
Fifth Skill continues coverage of the government considering a pay rise of 15% for legal aid lawyers who take on asylum removal cases.
Law Society Head of Justice Richard Miller commented that “the government needs to make the sector more economically viable, not just this work.”
Legal duty and ethics
Jonathan Goldsmith, our Council member for EU & International, writes in the Gazette on public perceptions on lawyers and their unethical practices, pulling together international news stories from the week to highlight this.
Also worth a read:
- Post Office inquiry: Chief legal officer apologises for legal failure to disclose racist document – Gazette
- MoJ data reveals that fewer than one in 3,000 fraud offences committed last year resulted in prison time – Times (£)
- Home Office plans to overhaul the Met Police’s misconduct system - Times (£)