Fall in number of duty solicitors
Doncaster Free Press, Hucknall Dispatch, Worksop Guardian and Chad (Ashfield) continue coverage of our statistics predicting a “perfect storm” in criminal justice as the number of duty solicitors has fallen by more than a quarter since 2017.
Law Society President Lubna Shuja said: "Across the country, duty solicitors are working day and night providing legal advice at the crucial earliest stage of cases at police stations, ensuring access to justice for all. But there simply aren’t enough of them to go around because the work is not financially viable.
"The government sees itself as the party of law and order, but the evidence points to the contrary as its decisions continue to put the future of our criminal justice system at risk."
Five short-term fixes for the justice system
The Law Society outlines five short-term fixes to help prevent the justice system from collapsing, as covered by the Gazette and Solicitors Journal.
President of the Law Society Lubna Shuja said: “There is no overnight solution to decades of neglect. However, the Lord Chancellor can make some short-term fixes which will help stabilise the system, cut the backlogs and improve access to justice. This will also save money in the long-term.”
Criminal legal aid fees
Legal Futures reports the justice secretary Alex Chalk supports a 15% pay rise for criminal legal aid lawyers, as the Lord Chancellor was questioned by the House of Commons justice committee yesterday. Chalk mentioned the Law Society’s judicial review on the issue and expressed his hope that it would not proceed to litigation.
Read our press release on the judicial review
Role of AI in legal sector
Jonathan Goldsmith, chair of the Law Society’s Policy and Regulatory Affairs Committee writes in the Gazette about the dangerous consequences of generative AI offerings in the legal profession.
Also worth a read:
- CILEX announces new president – Solicitors Journal
- Concerns about the SQE’s accessibility for aspiring solicitors from lower socio-economic backgrounds – Gazette
- Legal advice warns government that tougher transgender guidance for schools is unlawful – Times (£)
- Risk of AI deepening unequal access to legal information – FT (£)
- Cover-ups in Post Office scandal – Guardian, Gazette