Professional indemnity insurance
The Gazette covers the trends found in the professional indemnity insurance market as revealed in Law Society research. The Gazette, Solicitors Journal and Law360 (£) focus on fewer than one in three (28%) firms having taken out cyber security insurance.
Law Society President Lubna Shuja said: “As firms look to renew their insurance for October, our research provides useful information and market analysis.
“We encourage firms to give serious consideration to purchasing cyber insurance.
“Our research shows that just 28% of firms have purchased cyber insurance. This is a small increase from the 21% who bought it in 2018.”
Non-disclosure agreements
Financial News and Solicitors Journal report our response to a call for evidence on non-disclosure agreements (NDAs).
“We urge the government to commit to making it harder for NDAs to be misused when they involve settling issues around workplace harassment or discrimination,” Law Society President Lubna Shuja said.
“The government needs to fulfil its promise to legislate so that no provisions in a confidentiality clause can prevent disclosures to the police, health, legal or care professionals. This will make it harder to bury unacceptable behaviour.”
Duty solicitors
Penarth Times, Barry & District News, Kidderminster Shuttle, Eastern Daily Press and Norwich Evening News continue coverage of our projections about the demise of the duty solicitor.
Law Society President Lubna Shuja said: “Our projections show the widescale collapse of duty solicitor schemes across England and Wales is ever more likely.
“Combined with more police officers and cases, this is creating a perfect storm in criminal justice that will affect victims of crime, witnesses and society as a whole.
Judicial diversity
Global Legal Post covers the latest statistics on judicial diversity.
Law Society President Lubna Shuja said: “The proportion of the judiciary from a non-barrister background remains persistently low despite solicitors making up the majority of applicants.
“The selection process needs to be urgently reformed. The requirement to consult sitting judges on candidates’ suitability, known as ‘statutory consultation’, must be reviewed with serious consideration given to removing it altogether, as it is not working fairly or transparently at the moment.”
Crown Court backlog
The Sunday Express (print) reports on the backlog of outstanding cases in the Crown Court.
Law Society President Lubna Shuja said: “Each of these cases involves victims, witnesses and defendants whose lives are in limbo as they wait years for trials to come to court.”
Judicial review over criminal legal aid rates
The Gazette covers a case management hearing in the Law Society’s judicial review challenge of the government’s decision not to raise criminal legal aid rates for solicitors by the recommended minimum 15%.
Also worth a read:
- The experience of jury service – Gazette
- Fixed recoverable costs to be increased – Legal Futures
- The long wait for justice – Standard
- Senior Tories urge PM to go for May 2024 election – Guardian
- Footage of inside asylum barge – Independent