Civil legal aid research
Gazette covers the Law Society’s calls to family law practitioners to partake in our research on the sustainability of civil legal aid.
Law Society president Nick Emmerson said: “In February, the Law Society published the results of its analysis of data from housing legal aid providers.
“It provided us with vital information as we continue to lobby the Ministry of Justice to make real and lasting changes to the civil legal aid market and ensure its future.
“Now we are embarking on the next stage of our research – family law providers – and we are calling on the profession to help us with this.
“We want family law practitioners to sign-up to take part in this research, so we can get a fuller picture of the issues facing the sector and continue to provide evidence as to why the UK government should invest in civil legal aid.”
Register of Overseas Entities
Legal Futures reports that only 31 law firms have become regulated agents to verify entries on the Register of Overseas Entities. The piece mentions the Law Society’s guidance on the matter.
The Law Society said: “A critical element of the ROE regime is the requirement to verify independently intangible elements such as the exercise of control. That verification is to be confirmed to Companies House and will subsequently appear on its public record.
“Given the drafting of the verification regulations, the Law Society considers that any law firm acting as a verifier will face significant challenges and expose itself to significant risk, including possible criminal prosecution, regulatory sanction and reputational damage.”
Section 21 and housing legal aid
Intermediary and News on the Block cover parliamentary debate on Section 21 and mention the Law Society’s demands for increased housing legal aid for those facing eviction.
SRA appeal case
City A.M. reports on the appeal case of Sophia Khan, a former member of the Law Society’s civil justice committee, who has been in a long-running legal fight with the SRA.
Also worth a read:
- Survey finds that law students believe nepotism and connections are important to progress in the legal profession – Legal Futures
- “Perma-backlog” emerges in asylum courts - Guardian
- New problem-solving approach is being piloted in the criminal justice system, with the introduction of “intensive supervision courts” - Gazette
- Law Commission launches consultation on regulating “advanced air mobility vehicles” - Legal Cheek
- Insurers propose extension of whiplash reform – Gazette
- Key witnesses give evidence to MPs in Post Office scandal enquiry - Times (£)