AI in the legal profession
City.A.M publishes Law Society president Richard Atkinson’s opinion piece about the use of AI in legal services, promoting our new AI strategy.
August budget
Gazette Ireland covers the Law Society’s reaction to the Autumn budget.
Law Society president Richard Atkinson said: “It is clear the lord chancellor made a strong case to the Treasury and secured investment for the justice department.
“What remains uncertain is whether the vital funding needed in civil and criminal legal aid and to address growing court backlogs will be forthcoming. Rebuilding the justice system will not be possible unless there is sustained investment in all parts of it including legal aid and courts, not just prisons and probation.
“Increased funding for all these elements is a must if the system is to avoid collapse and access to justice for ordinary people is to be protected. Our research has shown that a well-funded justice system will save public money down the line. The message that the lord chancellor should be hearing is spend to save.”
Today’s Family Lawyer also reports on the Autumn budget.
President Richard Atkinson said: “We were pleased to see the Chancellor has said there will be no return to austerity but are concerned by reports of cuts.
“More cuts to the justice budget are untenable and will make the Prime Minister’s mission on crime impossible to achieve.
“The Chancellor must give the Ministry funding to address the courts backlog, address the crisis in civil and criminal legal aid and to implement stalled reforms to the legal aid means test.
“Unless investment is forthcoming, criminals will feel emboldened and victims will lose faith in our justice system.”
LSB review of SRA handling Axiom Ince
Scottish Legal News reports on the Legal Services Board’s (LSB), independent review of the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s (SRA) handling of the Axiom Ince fallout. It revealed a catalogue of errors and missed opportunities on the part of the SRA.
President Richard Atkinson said: “The independent review paints a vivid picture of the SRA’s inadequate and ineffective handling of Axiom.
“As a result of the SRA’s failure to take all the steps it could or should have taken, Axiom was able to act without intervention, leading to money going missing and huge distress to their clients. Ultimately, it has fallen to the profession as a whole – solicitors and law firms – to shoulder the cost through a substantial increase in contributions to the Compensation Fund, which is a vital protection for clients and consumers.
“While the events leading to Axiom’s collapse were happening, the SRA was focused on increasing its fining powers and proposing regulatory expansion rather than tackling the known risks from accumulator style firms and ensuring its operations were joined up and laser focused on protecting consumers. The report makes it clear the SRA had the funding, staff and powers to take the necessary action to prevent the alleged wrongdoing.
“The problems identified in the report can be fixed, but the LSB must insist that the SRA puts its house in order and that the SRA’s management and governance concentrates on its core responsibilities.”
Richard also writes in the Gazette about the SRA’s mishandling of the Axiom Ince collapse and our response to findings in the LSB’s report.
Employment tribunals
Gazette reports that employment judges will be able to sit alone in tribunal cases.
President Richard Atkinson said: “We support improvements introduced which maximise the ability to utilise judicial resources. However, our primary concern is to make sure that an increasing employment tribunal backlog is tackled so that workers and employers can protect their rights and access justice.
“At its core, the Employment Rights Bill seeks to provide workers with new employment rights and remove barriers for enforcement. However, workers who are unable to access the employment tribunals in a timely manner will not be better off. If the outcomes intended by the government are to be achieved, investing in employment tribunals is paramount.”
Justice Select Committee
Global Legal Post reveals that MPs from a range of legal backgrounds have been appointed to the Justice Select Committee.
Andy Slaughter is the committee chair and reflecting on the appointment, previous Law Society president Nick Emmerson commented that Slaughter’s committee should examine the protracted case backlogs that “leave victims, witnesses and defendants in limbo for years”.
He also pointed out a critical exodus of professionals from the legal system, which compounds the instability of the criminal justice system, a theme which has been taken up by current president Richard Atkinson.
Also worth a read:
- Client bias “not a factor” in complaints about BAME solicitors – Legal Futures
- Bar Standards Board issues AML report – Solicitors Journal
- Legal ombudsman seeks 10.2% budget rise next year – Gazette
- Post Office: MPs to hold inquiry into compensation ‘unfinished business’ – City.A.M
- More than 16,000 prisoners released early in a year – half with theft and violence convictions – Telegraph (£)
- Prison self-harm at record high as deaths, assaults and staff attacks surge in overcrowding crisis – Independent
- Comment: Litigation funding reform will leave businesses vulnerable to more claims – Times (£)
- Reeves told she will have to raise further £9bn to avoid UK public service cuts – Guardian
- Independent schools to sue over Labour’s VAT on school fees – Times (£)