Response to government targeting ‘lefty lawyers’
Coverage continues of our joint statement with the Bar Council, responding to the government targeting immigration lawyer Jacqueline McKenzie as a “lefty lawyer”, seen in Legal Futures, Politics Home, VN Explorer, Lexis Nexis (£) and Electronic Immigration Network.
Law Society President Lubna Shuja writes a letter in the Guardian about the alarming situation.
Joshua Rozenberg writes a piece in his substack which quotes our response.
Lubna Shuja, the President of the Law Society, and Nick Vineall KC, the Chair of the Bar Council, condemned the Tories’ behaviour in sending out the document, saying: “Political leaders know that lawyers represent their clients within the legal framework that parliament creates and CCHQ [Conservative central headquarters] should seriously reflect on what has happened in this case.
“Language and actions that unfairly undermine confidence in the independence of the legal professions, and potentially risk the safety of lawyers, will ultimately undermine confidence in our entire justice system and the rule of law.
“No lawyer should be criticised, or made the subject of a targeted campaign, for doing their job. Everyone is entitled to legal representation, and it is a United Nations basic principle that lawyers should not be identified with the causes of their clients as a result of representing them.
“That is why, as we have said repeatedly, it is wrong to describe lawyers as ‘lefty’ or ‘activist’ simply on the basis of the causes they advocate on behalf of their clients.”
The targeted lawyer, Jacqueline McKenzie, speaks to the Voice.
A Telegraph (£) comment piece takes a different view arguing that politicians are right to attack ‘Lefty lawyers’.
Government hints at leaving ECHR
Our statement on the suggestion that the government could exit the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) is mentioned in Sunday Express, Solicitors Journal and News Groove.
Law Society President Lubna Shuja said: “Leaving the ECHR would mean the UK would sit as an outlier in Europe, alongside only Russia and Belarus who are already outside of the Convention. This would be using a sledgehammer to crack a nut, when the Government already has a perfectly good nutcracker it can use.”
Housing legal aid
Property Industry Eye and Bold Legal Group report on the critical need for housing legal aid.
Law Society President Lubna Shuja said: “We have long voiced our concern about the lack of housing legal aid.
“The increasing cost-of-living and rising interest rates have heavily impacted people’s ability to afford their homes, so it is critical people are able to access legal help for their housing issues.”
Delays in family courts
EC1 Echo continues coverage on the delays in family courts which are causing children removed from parents to wait for over a year for a decision on where they will live.
Law Society President Lubna Shuja said: “What is often missed in the debate around the unacceptable backlogs in our family courts is the impact on children. They are suffering the very real consequences of months and sometimes years of uncertainty about their future, preventing them from having the stability they need to thrive.
Legal Heroes
The shortlist of 26 lawyers nominated for Legal Heroes 2023 that have been announced is covered in the Solicitors Journal.
“We are proud to announce a shortlist of amazing solicitors who have consistently gone above and beyond to make a lasting impact on colleagues and communities,” said Law Society President Lubna Shuja.
“I look forward to announcing the winners and celebrating their outstanding contributions at the Legal Heroes reception in September.”
Also worth a read:
- Government announces measures to help tackle the court backlog – Gazette and Telegraph (£)
- Report looks at mental health and stress levels of conveyancers – Legal Futures
- Research which reportedly shows which cities are best (and worst) to open a law firm in – Legal Cheek