Lawyers at risk from far-right groups
BBC, MSN US, Yahoo! News Australia, Yahoo.com, Yahoo! Canada, Mirror (from 06:39), Today’s Wills & Probate, Today’s Family Lawyer, Barking & Dagenham Post and four other media outlets cover our reaction to lawyers and firms being targeted by rioters.
Law Society president Nick Emmerson said: "We thank the UK government and the police for their efforts and support in recent days to keep solicitors and legal advice centres safe. The threats have been incredibly distressing for those targeted.
"We also commend those in the community who came out to peacefully defend their local area and businesses last night.
"These threats against our legal profession were an attack on our democratic values.
"Now is the time for our country and our leaders to reaffirm their commitment to the rule of law. They must ensure that all those who have committed crimes in recent days face swift justice."
President Nick Emmerson continued: “The criminal defence profession is also depleted and overworked and the goodwill of the solicitors who are being called on to work additional anti-social hours is fast running out.”
Evictions and repossessions
Property 118, Landlord Zone, Property Industry Eye and Letting Agent Today cover the Law Society’s response to rising numbers of evictions and mortgage repossession claims, as the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) publishes its latest statistics.
President Nick Emerson said: “The scale of our housing crisis is staggering. The rising number of eviction claims in England and Wales means that more people are at risk of being made homeless.
“Many individuals and families struggle with rent and mortgage payments as the cost-of-living crisis continues to bite.
“When threatened with eviction or repossession, legal aid is often the only hope a family or individual has to keep their home. Unfortunately, legal aid has become increasingly unavailable, as 25 million people do not have a local legal aid provider for housing advice.
“Without legal aid, many families do not have a fair chance in court. Some will be forced into temporary accommodation, while others will be left on the street.”
Sentencing for rioters
Former President of the Law Society of England and Wales, Stephanie Boyce speaks to
Good Morning Britain and 19 other broadcast outlets about the potential 10 year sentences that rioters may receive for their actions.
Family law
Chair of Law Society’s Family Law Committee, Karen Dovaston is cited as a specialist in a family query about a five-year-old granddaughter being allowed to ride pillion on her dad’s motorbike in an article in the Guardian.
The justice system
Guardian reports that the significant number of arrests made after violent rioting will delay attempts to rebuild the crisis-hit criminal justice system.
According to the Law Society there is a backlog of more than 68,000 cases in the crown courts.
Sham Marriage conviction
The Indian Panorama reports that a solicitor has been struck off for organising sham marriages for migrants to the UK. The solicitor was admitted to the UK's Roll of Solicitors in February 2013, according to an order filed with the Law Society.
Also worth a read:
- Opinion: The justice system is rising to challenge of UK riots – despite dire Tory legacy - Guardian
- Priti Patel: Tory civil war meant public stopped listening to us – Telegraph (£)
- The role of regulators in promoting EDI in the legal profession – Solicitors Journal
- US sends additional forces to Middle East as tensions mount – Financial Times (£)
- Peers to probe court interpreting services – Gazette
- Justice review calls for end to child imprisonment in England - Guardian
- MI5 to scrutinise Tommy Robinson funding and checks ‘may extend to Farage’ – Times (£)