Criminal court backlog
The Gazette covers significant court backlog in the criminal justice system and mentions the Law Society’s judicial review challenge against the government’s refusal to increase criminal solicitor fees.
The piece also cites Law Society research on the decline of duty solicitors across the country. The numbers have plummeted by more than 1,400 (26%) since 2017 and we estimate that a further 618 (11%) could be lost by 2027.
Read our press release on duty solicitors
Find out why we're taking the government to court on legal aid funding
UK lawyers to practise in Luxembourg
Solicitors Journal reports that UK qualified solicitors will now be able to practise law in Luxembourg, following a new law passed by Luxembourg’s parliament on 29 June.
President of the Law Society Lubna Shuja said: “We are pleased that the bill has been introduced following a series of productive conversations we have been having with representatives in Luxembourg, the UK government and the European Commission.
“The new law will benefit not only our members but also the wider economy and sets an important precedent for the TCA to be implemented in other EU member states.”
Climate risk advice
Lexis Nexis (£) writes about an environmental model that helps solicitors meet duty to advise on climate risks and mentions an article that the Law Society has published that guides solicitors on how they can transition into the era of climate risk advice concerning conveyancing.
Practising fees
Legal Futures reports an increase in individual practising certificate fees for the 2023/24 year, set by the SRA and Law Society.
Lasting Power of Attorney
The Times (£) writes an in-depth article into why setting up a Lasting Power of Attorney is important. The Law Society’s Find a Solicitor tool is cited.
Also worth a read:
- Irish barristers will strike over criminal legal aid fees – Jurist
- Role of lawyers deepens in the Post Office Horizon scandal – Gazette
- Illegal Migration Bill is altered to limit detention periods for children and pregnant women – BBC
- Commentary on UK privacy laws as BBC presenter row continues – Times (£)
- Home Office only saves £10 per person by housing asylum seekers in barges – Guardian
- 5,000 empty hotel beds reserved to avoid overcrowding at migration processing centres – Times (£)