Digitisation of the court system
The Gazette, Legal Futures, and Today’s Wills and Probate cover the Law Society’s new findings that show how digitisation of the court system has added to delays that plague the civil court system and undermine people’s access to justice.
Law Society President Nick Emmerson said: “We know that modernisation is a work in progress, but this is having a real impact on clients, especially as these portals are often used at an already challenging and difficult time, such as managing the estate of a deceased loved one, handling a child protection matter or getting help with an accident that wasn’t their fault. The increased delays and associated uncertainty these portals have created are causing additional stress.
“Some of these issues have come about because there simply wasn’t sufficient engagement with the solicitor profession, the advice sector and members of the public when these systems were being designed.”
Autumn Statement asks
Solicitors Journal reports the Law Society’s Autumn Statement asks, which urge the government to recognise the economic power of legal services.
President Nick Emmerson: “Legal services are an economic powerhouse, worth £60bn annually to the UK economy.
“A strong legal services sector underpins a strong economy across the board.
“As employers, law firms can be found in every region, city and town across England and Wales. Growing legal hubs can be found from Bristol to Newcastle, spreading the benefits of the sector throughout the UK.”
Prison crisis
Gazette continues coverage of the worsening crisis in the criminal justice system, as prisons reach capacity and the Justice Secretary announces plans to reduce pressure on the overcrowded prison system.
Law Society head of justice Richard Miller said: “Record backlogs of cases leaving victims and defendants waiting to be heard, crumbling courts and a shortage of judges and lawyers all reflect the urgent need to fund justice.”
Richard also spoke to ABC Radio National, a radio show based in Australia, about the prison crisis in England and Wales.
Also worth a read:
- Offenders quietly moved to open prisons - Guardian, Times (£)
- UK law firms are caught red-handed by staff cost inflation - FT (£)
- Significant minority of firms are not adherent to AML rules – Legal Futures
- Ban on no-fault evictions is unlikely this year - Guardian
- LSB calls for further action on misconduct of lawyers when dealing with NDAs – Legal Futures