Law Society Legal News Summary 4 October 2024


 Reimagining justice in Wales 

Carmarthenshire News Online covers 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.
 

Anti-money laundering 

Australasian Lawyer and Canadian Lawyer report that the UK’s Office for Professional Body Anti-Money Laundering Supervision (OPBAS) has identified gaps in anti-money laundering (AML) supervision. 

The pieces mention that the Law Society has criticised OPBAS for failing to name underperforming regulators.
 

Practising Certificate fees 

Gazette reveals a new spread payment portal for Practising Certificate fees, which enables firms who would like to spread the cost of paying their SRA fees over 10 months. 

The new payment portal is a strategic partnership between the Law Society, SRA, and Shire Professional Funding.
 

Law Society Bicentenary

Gazette magazine (p.20-22) reports on the accounts of solicitor contribution to the public good across England and Wales and the Law Society is about to celebrate its bicentenary year.
 

Solicitor incomes 

The Times Money Mentor (£) reports on the highest paying jobs in the UK and mentions the Law Society’s estimation of average solicitor incomes, including regional variation.
 

Membership 

Stroud Times publishes an interview with former member of the Law Society’s Conveyancing and Land Law Committee, Simon Thomas, on the housing market and buyer-seller behaviour.
 

Also worth a read: 

  • Boris Johnson calls for UK referendum on ECHR – Telegraph (£)
  • Opinion: Family courts must prioritise safety - Guardian
  • Post Office inquiry hears that chair was ‘abusive’ to general counsel - Gazette
  • Declining standards in young offender institutions – Solicitors Journal
  • Easier migration for under-30s will be part of Brexit reset talks – inews (£)
  • MPs to get historic vote on England and Wales assisted dying bill – FT (£)
  • Amazon sellers launch legal action against the e-commerce company - Gazette
  • Tesco boss says new workers’ rights laws must not hurt growth - Guardian
  • Murder trial of officer who shot Chris Kaba begins – Justice Gap
  • Law Commission calls for updated laws on burial and cremation, due to shortage of burial space - Standard
  • IBA has endorsed the Council of Europe’s first AI governance treaty - Solicitors Journal

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