Courts backlog
Local Government Lawyer reports that the Judicial Office has set out a plan to tackle court backlog.
President Nick Emmerson said: “The family courts are in a dire state. Children are forced to wait almost a year in limbo, as they are failed by a system that should aim to protect them.
“Our children must be prioritised by the next government. Last year saw more than 100,000 children trapped in the family courts backlogs. We cannot allow 25,000 more children to become collateral damage to a justice system in crisis.
“The next government must also commit to taking forward the early advice pilot, which will help people resolve their problems earlier and therefore reduce the court backlogs.”
Evictions and repossessions
Today’s Family Lawyer reports that the housing crisis continues to grow as more than 29,000 eviction claims leave tens of thousands at risk of losing their homes, according to new figures published by Ministry of Justice.
President Nick Emmerson 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.
“It is unacceptable that legal aid remains elusive for those who need it most. While we welcome Labour’s upcoming Renters Rights Bill, the UK government must use the legislation to expand access to housing legal aid and ensure the sector is sustainable.
“We urge the government to commit to wider reforms to the rental market, including the funding of legal aid. We also ask the government to adhere to their pledge to ban ‘no-fault’ evictions with immediate effect.”
Criminal sentences for rioters
Chair of the Law Society's Criminal Law Committee, Stuart Nolan speaks to BBC Merseyside (from 6:58-7:02) about the sentences being handed out at courts for rioters and the impact they are having on the overcrowding crisis.
Climate change guidance
Inside Conveyancing and Legal Support Network mention our climate change guidance in a piece about ESG reporting for commercial law firms.
Also worth a read:
- Nottingham attack preventable if NHS had ‘done its job’, health secretary says – Guardian
- UK inflation rises for first time this year to 2.2% - Times (£)
- Labour will find politics of immigration easier as net migration drops – Financial Times (£)
- Legal software providers preventing firms from integrating systems – Legal Futures
- Opinion: New Legislation on Data Sharing and Cyber Security – Solicitors Journal
- Are conveyancers prepared for Labour’s home building programme? – Today’s Conveyancer