Civil legal aid desert maps
Today’s Family Lawyer, Today’s Conveyancer, Today’s Wills & Probate and the Solicitors Journal cover the Law Society’s recently published data on civil legal aid, which includes legal aid desert maps that show declining availability of civil legal aid across the country.
This leaves millions of people unable to access justice in housing, welfare, education community care and immigration. We use this research to respond to the Ministry of Justice’s call for evidence for the Civil Legal Aid Review, and we urge the UK government to increase funding of civil legal aid.
Law Society president Nick Emmerson said: “Ultimately, when this happens, it’s the public who pay the price – unable to access their right to free legal advice. In the middle of a cost-of-living crisis, this is a serious concern.
“Starving the system of resources is penny wise and pound foolish. It would not take a huge sum of money in terms of overall public expenditure to tackle the crisis and the savings in other areas from solving people’s problems early would more than offset the cost.
“We urge the government to use its Civil Legal Aid Review to invest in the system and ensure there is a future for this vital public service.”
LSB publishes report on regulators’ performance
Solicitors Journal covers the Legal Services Board’s (LSB) Regulatory Performance Assessment report.
President Nick Emmerson said: “In May the SRA took over the management of the Solicitors Indemnity Fund, demonstrating a commitment to maintaining high professional standards and long-term consumer protections.
“While the report shows progress being made, it does also recognise that the SRA’s intervention in Axiom Ince and the LSB’s subsequent review into the regulator's actions leading up to it, have not been accounted for as part of the assessment.
“If the LSB’s review were to identify any failings by the SRA before the intervention, it would be appropriate for the ratings given to the SRA to be reviewed.”
Nightingale courts to stay open for another year
BBC Radio Gloucestershire (from 1:02:08) mentions the Law Society’s response to the Ministry of Justice’s announcement that a handful of nightingale courts will stay open for another year in England and Wales amid efforts to cut case backlogs.
Law Society president Nick Emmerson said: “The most pressing issue is there are not enough lawyers, court staff or judges to cover all the outstanding cases. If no immediate action is taken, courts will be even less able to cope, with potentially damaging consequences for society. A significant injection of funding is urgently needed to prevent this collapse.”
Anti-social behaviour law
Stuart Nolan, chair of the Law Society’s Criminal Law Committee, spoke to BBC Radio Kent (from 2:16:26) about the law around anti-social behaviour at car meets.
New CEO of the Judicial Office
Solicitor Michelle Crotty has been named as the new chief executive (CEO) of the Judicial Office, reports the Gazette and Today’s Family Lawyer. She will take up her post on 22 April.
President Nick Emmerson said: “We’re happy to see a solicitor appointed to the role. We look forward to working with the new CEO to ensure the best and the brightest from all backgrounds are given a real chance at a judicial career.”
Selling property
The Telegraph (£), Yahoo UK and MSN run a piece about selling property without an estate agent and saving thousands in the process. It includes reference to our Find a Solicitor online search tool.
Also worth a read:
- Value of legal services market will hit £50 bn this year – Legal Futures
- Employment tribunal dismisses racial discrimination claims made against JAC by solicitor who unsuccessfully applied to be a deputy High Court judge – Gazette
- High Court rejects legal challenge over UK arms sales to Israel – Guardian
- Windrush compensation scheme claimant takes government to High Court for its refusal to grant legal aid – Gazette
- High Court hears Julian Assange extradition appeal case – Independent
- Post Office memo is revealed – Times (£)