Presidential interview
Modern Law Magazine (pgs. 10-11) publishes an interview with Law Society president Nick Emmerson about the role of the Law Society in the profession, as well as the strength of the legal sector.
Law Society president Nick Emmerson said: “Since I become president in 2023, I have tried to highlight the importance of our sector as an economic powerhouse. Solicitors help power the UK economy by underpinning our international and domestic trade and being a core part of our international reputation as a great place to do business. In 2023, the total turnover from legal activities in the UK was £60 billion.”
Family court statistics
New Law Journal and LawCareers.Net report that an increasing number of domestic abuse survivors in the UK are being forced to represent themselves in family court proceedings, highlighting a troubling gap in access to justice.
President Nick Emmerson said: “Our research shows 19% of legal aid firms have closed in the last five years.
“Unable to afford representation, many are forced to appear in court on their own, navigating complex court processes and procedures to seek protection for themselves and their children.
“The UK government’s failure to expand the legal aid means test has also meant that people living in poverty are unable to meet the income threshold. We must expand the means test and invest in legal aid, so that survivors of domestic violence can access the legal help they need. Only then can survivors of domestic abuse get the justice they deserve.”
Compensation Fund levy
New Law Journal covers the Law Society’s response to news that the Legal Services Board (LSB) will increase the contributions solicitors must pay to the Compensation Fund.
Chief executive officer Ian Jeffery said: “The SRA’s request for additional funds is largely the result of the collapse of Axiom Ince and the cost of compensating its victims.
“We expect the independent review of the SRA’s performance on this matter commissioned by the LSB to be published as f the SRA’s performance on this matter commissioned by the LSB to be published as soon as possible, so that the lessons can be learned.
“We also strongly encourage the SRA to prioritise its focus on core activities and only undertake additional workstreams based on evidence of regulatory need, or specific gaps in responding to consumer needs, rather than looking for additional fining powers.”
Read our press release
SRA fines
Global Legal Post covers the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s (SRA) proposals set out in its financial penalties framework consultation, which could lead to solicitors being made bankrupt and firm closures.
Vice president Richard Atkinson said: “The Law Society maintains its strong opposition to the SRA’s ambitions for any further extension to its fining powers and is strongly opposed to these unfair, disproportionate and potentially unlawful proposals.
“Should they go ahead, they would have serious repercussions for the legal profession and access to justice. Higher fines do not necessarily provide a credible deterrent or maintain public trust and the SRA has not provided empirical evidence to support this claim.”
LASPO Act
LawCareers.Net reports on the damaging impact that Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPO) had on availability of legal aid and access to justice.
The piece mentions the Law Society’s campaign on legal aid and legal aid deserts, as well as our climate change guidance.
Reimagining justice in Wales
Nation Cymru, Wrexham.com and Deeside.com cover the challenges facing access to justice in Wales, as the Law Society publishes its ‘Reimagining justice in Wales’ paper, which highlights serious concerns around legal aid deserts, solicitor recruitment and crumbling court infrastructure in Wales.
Conservative party conference
Gazette and Business Mayor report that former lord chancellor Alex Chalk spoke at a fringe event at the Conservative party conference on access to justice. The former lord chancellor suggested that courts should be restructured to tackle the backlog of outstanding cases. The fringe event was hosted by Society of Conservative Lawyers, Law Society, Bar Council and all-party parliamentary group on access to justice.
Gazette also reports that Alex Chalk attended a reception, hosted by the Law Society and Bar Council, to celebrate the legal sector's contribution to the economy during the Conservative party conference.
Women King’s Counsel
Gazette reports that more than 350 women KCs and judges came together to mark 75 years since women first became King’s Counsel.
Lady chief justice Baroness Carr mentioned the Law Society’s work in coordinating efforts to ensure the judiciary is an inclusive and welcoming place to work for judges.
Post-election landscape
Chair of the Law Society’s Policy & Regulatory Affairs Committee, Jonathan Goldsmith, writes in the Gazette about the legal landscape following July’s election.
The piece mentions the Law Society’s High Court ruling challenge on criminal legal aid fees and refers to our comments on the shortage of law firms to handle criminal cases.
Residential conveyancing
Gary Rycroft, a member of our Council Membership Committee, writes in the Telegraph (£) about compensation in the process of buying and selling a home. The piece mentions the Law Society’s ‘Standard Conditions of Sale’ for the residential conveyancing process.
‘Walk the Thames’ event
Gazette mentions the Law Society’s participation in ‘Walk the Thames,’ an event taking place this weekend to raise money for free legal advice.
Legal aid fraud
Times (£) and Legal Futures report that human rights lawyer Phil Shiner, who was named Law Society solicitor of the year, has pleaded guilty to three counts of fraud over legal aid applications.
Also worth a read:
- Prison education failing young offenders - BBC
- Home Office asylum queue stretches back almost 17 years – Times (£)
- Migrants will continue to be housed in hotels for up to three years because the asylum backlog will take longer to clear than Labour expected - Times (£)
- Former chair of the Post Office, Henry Staunton, has told a public inquiry there was no interest at all in the exoneration of post office operators - Guardian
- Post Office minister says sub-postmasters exonerated in Horizon IT scandal will not receive compensation payments by March next year - BBC
- Victims of second Post Office scandal could have convictions quashed – inews (£)
- Britain’s media regulator will take “strong action” against tech companies that break new rules on content moderation to stop the spread of lies online - FT (£)
- Children are being held in solitary confinement for more than three months in a “serious indictment” of Britain’s youth custody regime - Telegraph (£)
- EU to demand concessions on migration, fishing and youth mobility - Independent
- Robert Jenrick likely to be the next Tory leader – FT (£)
- Julian Assange describes plea deal with US authorities - Guardian