Nick Emmerson becomes 179th President of the Law Society
The Times (£), Gazette, Inside Conveyancing and Law360 (£) all cover Nick Emmerson becoming 179th President of the Law Society.
“I am honoured to serve as Law Society president. It is critical that we continue to focus on improving the justice system, upholding the rule of law and supporting members,” he said.
“I am eager to lead a profession that is both outward-facing and internationally minded. In an increasingly interconnected world, I have adopted a global approach to my work. I have coupled this approach with both regional experience and time in the City. This triangle of experience will allow me to bring a fresh perspective to the Law Society and strengthen the future of the profession.
“Solicitors play an essential role in our economy and society. During my presidency I look forward to promoting the legal services sector as an economic powerhouse and the profession benefiting local communities and wider society as well.”
Prison crisis
The Times (£) and multiple regional publications including Manchester Evening News, Nottingham Post, Wales Online, Gloucestershire Live, Times and Star and Lancashire Telegraph report that judges have been told not to send some convicted criminals to jail due to prisons nearing capacity.
Richard Miller, our Head of Justice, said: ““The prison spaces crisis is a consequence of the government’s approach to justice including over a decade of underfunding of our criminal justice system, which also sees chronic shortages of judges and lawyers, huge backlogs of cases and crumbling courts,” said Richard Miller, Head of Justice at the Law Society of England and Wales.
“Where the courts have decided it is appropriate and necessary to imprison a defendant, it is essential in a civilized society that there are adequate, humane and hopefully rehabilitative facilities to accommodate them.
“Recruiting more police officers and talking tough on law and order will only be successful if matched by investment across the entire criminal justice system.”
Reforming mental health legislation
New Law Journal and Local Government Lawyer continue coverage of our call for urgent reform of the Mental Health Act.
Immediate Past President of the Law Society Lubna Shuja said: “The current legislation is outdated. It does not provide mental health patients with enough agency or choice in their care and treatment, or ensure they are always given the dignity and respect they deserve.
“We urge the government to include a commitment to introduce a Mental Health Bill in the King’s Speech in November and hope World Mental Health Day reminds the government of the need to ensure mental health patients can access justice.”
Climate change
Gazette reports a new practice note on climate change for conveyancers is being developed, which was discussed at our National Property Law Conference.
Jonathan Goldsmith, Chair of our Policy and Regulatory Affairs Committee, writing in the Gazette about seven key challenges facing the legal profession, also notes how climate change was on the agenda at the conference.
Law Society publishes proposals to reform civil justice
New Law Journal covers our Green Paper which was published as part of our 21st Century Justice Project.
The Green Paper outlines policy proposals to fix the justice system. One proposal could save the justice system £72 million over the course of the next parliament, according to independent analysis.
Law Society President Nick Emmerson said: “A properly functioning civil justice system is vital to economic growth and a fair society. It’s how businesses make sure they get paid on time and how people assert their rights.
“Yet the current system is not fit for future purpose. As the membership body representing more than 160,000 practicing solicitors in England and Wales it is vital that the Law Society is leading the debate about how to create a modern, efficient civil justice system.”
Qualifying work experience
Legal Practice Management mentions the Law Society in a piece about how the legal industry is responding to the qualifying work experience (QWE) requirement of the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE).
Redefining diversity
Karl Brown, a Law Society social mobility ambassador, speaks to Business Leader about the importance of redefining diversity in the legal world.
Avoiding financial instability while you grieve
Gary Rycroft, a member of our Council Membership Committee, speaks to the Telegraph (£) about steps to take with your finances when your partner dies.
Access to legal aid
The Oxford Mail mentions our research that found that two-thirds of the population of England and Wales do not have access to an immigration and asylum Legal Aid provider.
The State of the Nation podcast mentions our legal aid desert data on social care.
Carey Street
The Times (£) reports that the presidential residence in Carey Street could be sold.
Lasting Power of Attorney
Blogarama mentions the Law Society in a piece about how early you should create a Lasting Power of Attorney.
Also worth a read:
- Women being disproportionately mistreated by the justice system – Gazette
- Less than half (49%) of lawyers are satisfied with their work-life balance – Legal Cheek
- Chartered legal executives would have “no role” in running SRA – Legal Futures