Post Office scandal convictions
Guardian, Independent, Daily Mail, Evening Standard, Solicitors Journal, Daily Express, Oxford Mail, Eastern Daily Press, Shropshire Star, Dorset Echo, Oldham Times, Hampshire Chronicle and over 220 other regional outlets report that the UK government has introduced legislation to quash the wrongful convictions of hundreds of sub-postmasters in the Post Office Horizon scandal.
Law Society president Nick Emmerson said: “We all know that we need to speed up the process for quashing the wrongful convictions of the victims of the Post Office Horizon scandal.
“We recognise that the government has carefully considered the pressures facing our legal system and has set out some reasonable criteria. However, as always, the devil will be in the detail of such a complex proposal.
“An exceptional scheme such as this can only be justified by extraordinary circumstances. It cannot be treated as a precedent or justify further government intervention in the independence of our justice system.”
Risk of miscarriages of justice
Solicitors Journal, City A.M. and Gazette Ireland cover the Law Society’s urgent calls for investment in the legal system in order to prevent the miscarriage of justice caused by a critical shortage of duty solicitors.
President Nick Emmerson said: “Duty solicitors work tirelessly around the clock providing essential legal advice to suspects at police stations.
“Their presence allows investigations to move forward quickly and they are critical to ensuring victims and defendants alike get justice.
“However, across England and Wales, duty solicitor schemes are in crisis because governments continue to undervalue their work.
“Some schemes have fewer than seven members, making providing 24/7 access to a duty solicitor challenging.
“Without investment, more solicitors will be forced out of the criminal defence profession, representation will become difficult to provide and there is a serious risk of miscarriages of justice.”
The Big Legal Lesson
Solicitors Journal, Law360 (£) and Paradise continue coverage of the Law Society’s involvement in “The Big Legal Lesson” campaign to introduce lessons on the law in schools across England and Wales.
President Nick Emmerson said: “Ensuring young learners know their rights and responsibilities, whilst respecting the rule of law, is vital to securing access to justice for all. Whether or not they go on to practise law, The Big Legal Lesson is a fantastic opportunity for pupils and students to understand how our justice system works and why it matters to them.”
SRA in-house guidance
Gazette reports that the SRA has published new guidance for in-house solicitors.
A Law Society spokesperson said: “The competing pressures that often arise from the unique position occupied by in-house solicitors and their duties to the wider public interest and employer clients must not be underestimated. This is a good start, but further guidance and detail is needed to ensure the in-house community is adequately supported to navigate these challenges.”
Property Information Questionnaire
Estate Agent Today reports that the Law Society is investigating concerns that Propertymark's ‘Property Information Questionnaire’ (PIQ) puts agents at risk of legal issues.
A Law Society spokesperson said: “We are looking into concerns raised by one of our members and analysing any potential implications there may be for solicitors.”
Divorce and family lawyers
Daily Mail writes about various disputes during divorce and mentions the Law Society’s ‘Find a Solicitor’ tool to help readers find family lawyers.
Building Safety Act
Gazette cites the Law Society’s new guidance on the Building Safety Act in its latest roundtable discussion.
Also worth a read:
- Immigration solicitor was threatened by a man who cited the nature of the solicitor’s profession as his motivation for making the death threat - Gazette
- Alex Chalk extends early release scheme to lessen prison overcrowding - Evening Standard
- Domestic abuse commissioner warns government that early prison releases may put victims of abuse in danger - Times (£)
- SDT clears Denton of alleged breaches of anti-money laundering (AML) rules - Legal Futures
- AI may change the principles and practices of common law - Gazette
- Risk of “deepfake” clients – Legal Cheek
- Home Office has accepted calls for an inquiry into alleged mistreatment at asylum seeker processing centre - Guardian
- Andrew Tate to be extradited to the UK - Independent