Renters (Reform) Bill
The Gazette and Today’s Conveyancer cover our response to the Renters (Reform) Bill, which abolishes ‘no fault’ evictions.
Law Society of England and Wales president Nick Emmerson said: “With the cost of living crisis and high interest rates, renters may be unable to afford legal advice if they face eviction. For renters at risk of losing their home, access to housing legal aid becomes vital.
“Many renters on low incomes cannot receive the advice they are legally entitled to, with 42% of the population unable to access a legal aid provider in their local area. Without legal aid, the bill’s new measures will be far less effective than they should be.”
Lack of judges
The Independent writes about the shortage of judges in the UK, after a record number of trials have been delayed last minute because no judge an be found to hear them. The piece covers delays in the criminal justice system, including how prisoners are forced to wait on remand for their trial date.
Law Society president Nick Emmerson said: “The lack of judges and lawyers has been caused by years of neglect of the criminal justice system, and can’t be rectified overnight.”
The piece is also covered in Aol.com and Yahoo!.
Family courts overwhelmed
A member of the Law Society’s Access to Justice committee, Jenny Beck, speaks to The Economist about the long delays in the family courts, including how funding legal aid for advice in the early stages of a separation would improve the backlog.
Also worth a read:
- Judge Rinder weighs in on the Post Office inquiry – Mirror
- Drug spiking reports increase, no. charges fall – Guardian
- Charity reports about employees fear of speaking out – Gazette
- Past president interview – Thomson Reuters
- “Constitutionally wrong” Court of Appeal: Professor says – Justice Gap
- Rozenberg on the Online Safety Bill – Gazette
- Law-income private renters being pushed out of UK’s biggest cities – Guardian
- Emmerdale storyline covers pitfalls of the criminal justice system – Mirror