Law Society Legal News Summary 25 October 2024


Criminal legal aid

The Justice Gap reports that over 100 law firms specialising in criminal legal aid have raised serious concerns about the bidding process for new contracts, which expired yesterday. 

Law Society president Richard Atkinson said: “Firms must bid without knowing the government’s response to the judicial review on the criminal legal aid fees.”

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SRA survey

Today’s Wills and Probate and Today’s Conveyancer report that a recent survey published by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) reveals the majority of legal professionals remain positive about the SRA – although a quarter are likely to express negative sentiments about it.

President Richard Atkinson said: “The SRA should have waited for the Legal Services Board to publish the outcome of its review of the regulator’s handling of the Axiom Ince and SSB Group cases before publishing this report.

“We have repeatedly said the SRA should concentrate on its core role by setting standards, assessing and acting on risk, taking action in response to non-compliance, protecting consumers from harm and protecting the reputation of solicitors. It should not be seeking to implement its existing fining powers** at the expense of the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal. Should the proposals go ahead, they would have serious repercussions for the legal profession and access to justice.”

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AI strategy

Lexology (£) reports that the Law Society of England and Wales has announced a new artificial intelligence (AI) strategy. The strategy focuses on three long-term outcomes:

Innovation: AI is used across the legal sector in ways that benefit both firms and clients in legal service delivery. This includes that firms have medium-to-long-term AI and technology strategies and are able to adopt AI and digital technologies suited for their needs.

Impact: there is an effective AI regulatory landscape that has been informed and influenced by the legal sector. This includes the legal profession helping to set global governance standards and understanding the regulatory environment.

Integrity: the responsible and ethical use of AI has been used to support the rule of law and access to justice. This includes legal professionals appropriately adopting technology to address legal need, and the legal sector improving data provenance, availability and quality.

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Civil justice council meeting

BusinessNewsWales reports that The Civil Justice Council convened in the Law Society Wales office in Cardiff for its first meeting outside London.  

Head of Wales Jonathan Davies said: “It gives us at the Law Society Wales office great pleasure to welcome the Civil Justice Council to our office. 

“We were able to share the concerns of our members working across the legal sector in Wales in Wales and look forward to continuing this close working relationship with the Council.”

UK Justice system

Jonathan Goldsmith, chair of our Policy and Regulatory Affairs Committee, writes in the Gazette about how the UK’s justice system compares with that of its European counterparts.

Also worth a read: 

  • SRA report: Over half of lawyers hold positive views on SRA – Legal Cheek
  • The Hearing: SRA finally hints at plan to tackle Post Office and Axiom Ince scandalsThe Lawyer (£)
  • Infected blood scandal: bereaved families offered interim £100,000Gazette
  • Anonymity for firearms officers on trial, following Chris Kaba shootingThe Justice Gap
  • Judge reduced to cleaning courthouse gutters amid justice funding crisis Evening Standard
  • Justice secretary urged to place Winchester prison into emergency measuresGuardian
  • Bullying and harassment cases rise at City firms, FCA finds – CityA.M
  • Lawyers and MPs warn UK workers’ rights push will fail without enforcement reformsFinancial Times (£)
  • US law firms in London hike City trainee solicitors’ pay to £70,000 – Times (£)

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