Mental Health Act
Surrey World, Manchester World, Bristol World, Newcastle World, London World, Barnet Post, Cornish & Devon Post, Liverpool World and 100 other regional outlets cover new statistics from the NHS on the number of detentions under the Mental Health Act.
Law Society vice president Richard Atkinson said: “The current system means there is a risk that compulsory detention and treatment is used too often and that patients do not have enough involvement in decisions about their care.
“The Mental Health Act should be used in the least restrictive way possible and people who are detained against their will should have their views and choices respected.”
He added that reforming the Mental Health Act should be a “priority” for the UK government.
Find out more about our position on the Mental Health Act
Mandatory mediation abandoned for separating couples
The Gazette, Solicitors Journal, Today’s Family Lawyer and Today’s Family Lawyer report that the UK government has abandoned plans to force separating couples to mediate.
Law Society vice president Richard Atkinson said: “The government has listened to our concerns and implemented policies which will help families seeking justice.
“Mandatory attendance for mediation could negatively affect the outcome of a dispute. Making mediation voluntary means that domestic abuse victims can be referred to services that can guide them through the right dispute resolution process for them.
“Getting a divorce can be a stressful and highly emotional time for separating couples and for those with children. It’s important that a case is heard in the right place, so they can quickly and sensitively sort out their living arrangements. We are pleased the government will be using early legal advice to ensure families get the justice that’s right for them, whether it’s mediation, litigation or non-court dispute resolution. Having the conversation early could mean a dispute is settled sooner.”
BBC News also speaks to Sir Andrew McFarlane, President of the Family Division, about the issues facing the family courts.
It cites our concern that the system is in crisis, with thousands of children left in limbo due to court delays.
Spring Budget submission
The Gazette covers our submission to HM Treasury ahead of the Spring Budget on 6 March.
We have called on the UK government to remove the investment penalty by extending corporation tax relief investment to legal partnerships and an immediate £30m injection in criminal legal aid.
International Day of the Endangered Lawyer
The Gazette reports from an event held at Chancery Lane marking the Day of the Endangered Lawyer.
Law Society president Nick Emmerson said: “Across the world, lawyers continue to face harassment, surveillance, detention, torture, enforced disappearance and arbitrary arrest and conviction.”
Debra Long, our international policy manager, also speaks to Kayhan Life about why we have focused on the plight of Iranian lawyers for Day of the Endangered Lawyer.
The decision to select Iran “occurred because of concerns with the escalation of attacks against lawyers since the nationwide protests in 2022.”
“We felt that we were all being involved with interventions around lawyers in Iran being targeted. So for that reason, we thought Iran would be a good choice for the Day of the Endangered Lawyer also in terms of the range of intimidation and kinds of attacks against lawyers, both in person but also through the law as well.”
Justice imagery
Jonathan Goldsmith, our council member for EU and international, writes in the Gazette in a personal capacity about justice imagery.
He mentions the Law Society’s coat of arms – which was granted in 1845 – and includes an image of Lady Justice.
Also worth a read:
- Post Office chairman steps down – Sky News
- Kemi Badenoch on forcing out Post Office chairman – Telegraph (£) & ITV News
- UK granted asylum to Rwandan refugees while arguing country was safe – Guardian
- European judges ‘will continue to humiliate Britain unless we quit the ECHR’ – Telegraph (£)
- Train drivers will keep striking, says Aslef boss – Guardian
- EU urges ‘gendered language’ to be scrapped – Telegraph (£)
- Bank of England: Interest rates expected to hold, say analysts – FT (£)
- Civil legal aid survey: analysis – Gazette
- The human toll of Axiom Ince – Gazette
- BT class action case to test new ground in English courts – FT (£)