No evidence Rwanda is yet a safe country for asylum seekers
Gazette Ireland continues coverage of the Law Society’s response to the Safety of Rwanda Bill.
Law Society president Nick Emmerson said: “The bill would state that Parliament judges Rwanda to be a safe country immediately and forever. But there is no evidence of this.
“The UK government says that the existence of the December 2023 Rwanda Treaty is sufficient – but we are deeply concerned that the government does not know whether the safeguards in the treaty are yet operational, or even when they will be.”
Spring Budget: Warning against further justice cuts
Gazette covers the Law Society’s call for the government to take the steps needed to enhance growth in legal services ahead of today’s Spring Budget.
President Nick Emmerson said: “The spring budget is an opportunity for the government to increase growth in legal services. By allowing legal partnerships to access full expensing, boosting legal apprenticeships and changing the National Skills Fund so employees can access legal retraining, the government can unleash the legal sector.
“A strong legal services sector underpins a strong economy across the board. Law firms can be found in every region, city and town across England and Wales. Growing legal hubs can be found from Bristol to Newcastle, spreading the benefits of the sector throughout the UK.
'We hope the budget will be used to invest in legal services, so the existing economic strengths of our profession can be unleashed, at minimal cost to the government.”
Criminal legal aid rates
Legal Futures reports that Ministry of Justice permanent secretary Antonia Romeo refused to state whether the government will increase criminal legal aid rates for solicitors by the minimum 15% recommended by Lord Bellamy as she gave evidence to the Justice Select Committee.
Committee chair Sir Bob Neill said: “Beyond saving the department’s face, on the substantial issue the Law Society won (in the High Court), so are you going to pay them the money?”
Human rights violations in Turkey
Australian Lawyer and Canadian Lawyer cover the Law Society’s concerns about the violation of human rights in Turkey.
Vice president Richard Atkinson said: “There is a worrying pattern of human rights violations in Turkey. Our findings conclude that the treatment of lawyers in Turkey demonstrates a blatant disregard for international norms.
“By prohibiting lawyers from fulfilling their professional duties, the Turkish government seeks to dismantle the rule of law and access to justice.”
Broken Britain
Jonathan Goldsmith, chair of the Law Society’s Policy and Regulatory Affairs Committee, writes in the Gazette about Broken Britain and the legal profession.
He mentions our High Court victory over criminal legal aid and our 21st Century Justice Project.
Also worth a read:
- What to expect from the Spring Budget - Guardian
- Government decides to push back the timetable for its review on civil legal aid - Gazette
- Rape cases more than two years old will be cleared within the next five months, in efforts to clear the unprecedented backlog – Times (£)
- Former Afghan judge wins judicial review challenging the decision to refuse his relocation to the UK – Gazette
- Reform UK leader believes Rwanda plan is never going to work and UK should leave the ECHR - Telegraph (£)
- Former Axiom Ince lawyer rebuked after failing to take client instructions - City A.M.
- Refusal to use AI in profession may be seen as negligence – Legal Futures
- Campaign argues that reform is urgently needed to avoid misuse of NDAs – Gazette