Rwanda Bill
The Daily Mail reports the Home Office has published its official legal position on the proposals outlined in the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill.
It cites our chief executive officer, Ian Jeffery, who has said that the new Bill could end by being challenged by the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.
Electronic wills
The Gazette Ireland covers our response to the Law Commission’s consultation on wills reform.
Law Society president Nick Emmerson said: “It is important that the requirements for an electronic will provide the right level of protection.
“It is also essential to maintain a paper process for will-making. This will ensure that anyone who struggles to make a will electronically is not disadvantaged.
“We hope that if electronic wills are introduced, more people will be encouraged to write wills. However, it is vital that there is an opportunity for detailed examination of what is being proposed.”
Leasehold Reform Bill
Inside Conveyancing, Today’s Conveyancer and Property Industry Eye cover our response to the second reading of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill.
“Once the missing provisions have been included, the Bill could impact millions of homeowners and home buyers in England and Wales and could make improvements to the home buying and selling process,” said Law Society president Nick Emmerson.
“We would have been pleased to see more provisions in relation to the regulation of all kinds of property agents to assist the home buying and selling market.
“We support the general commitment to make it cheaper and easier for existing leaseholders to extend their lease or buy their freehold.
“However, the Bill does not yet deliver on the government’s commitment to ban the sale of new leasehold homes.
“We welcome the government’s commitment to deliver on these proposals by amending the Bill as it makes its way through Parliament.”
Legal Hero on women’s rights
The Law Society’s Legal Hero winner Shabina Begum features on the Legally Speaking podcast, where she discusses gender-based violence, women’s rights and her Legal Hero award.
Judges at risk of harm
Family Law Week (£) continues coverage of the news of a family court judge being attacked by a litigant in person.
Law Society President Nick Emmerson said: “We are extremely sorry to hear of the attack of the family court judge in Milton Keynes it is sadly another example of how lack of investment has put the system under extreme pressure and exposes how the safety of those working as part of the justice system continues to be at risk.
“With analysis showing the Ministry of Justice could face further cuts, the impact of this on an already overstretched and understaffed justice system are unthinkable.”
New Justice of the UK Supreme Court
LawCareers.Net covers the recent appointment of Dame Ingrid Simler as the new Justice of the Supreme Court.
Law Society president Nick Emmerson said her appointment was an important step forward for “women’s representation within the judiciary” and “it is a sign that times are continuing to change.”
Social mobility in the legal sector
LawCareers.net runs an in-depth piece into social mobility in the legal sector, citing our former president I. Stephanie Boyce, who said she was told: “You don’t look like a solicitor, you’ll never make it.”
Statistics by the Solicitors Regulation Authority show than 57% of solicitors come from a professional socio-economic background, compared to 37% of the general population.
A range of initiatives are seeking to support aspiring solicitors from lower socio-economic backgrounds into their chosen career in the legal profession.
Law Society president Nick Emmerson added: “Talented, intelligent, tenacious solicitors can be found in every corner of England and Wales. We all need to prioritise diversity and inclusion, including social mobility, so our profession accurately reflects the society we serve.”
Professional ethics
Legal Futures runs a piece by Dana Denis-Smith, founder and chief executive officer of Obelisk Support and our Council member for Women Lawyers.
On workplace culture, she highlights our three-year project on ethical standards, which has found the profession wants more support in relation to culture change, client selection and onboarding, environment, social and governance issues, corporate structures and the independence of in-house counsel.
Immediate past president Lubna Shuja said that workplace culture could be a root cause for unethical behaviour and conduct and highlights the importance of leadership and creating an “environment that that supports, rather than prevents or suppresses, ethical behaviour.”
Find out more about our professional ethics hub
Also worth a read:
- Rwanda Bill second reading: Sunak to persuade Tory MPs before vote – BBC News Live
- Rwanda Bill outcome: What could it mean for the PM? – Times (£)
- Legal sector revenue climbing, but growth fell last year, according to report – Gazette
- Axiom Ince director drops challenge to SRA intervention – Legal Futures
- UK lawyers’ earnings up 5.6% – Times (£)