Economic value of legal services
Financial Times (£) reports on the positive impact that professional services have had on the UK economy, as they have been recognised as the key driver for economic growth this year.
Law Society president Richard Atkinson said: The legal industry was “Without question a key contributor to the UK economy, is consistently growing and remains resilient even in challenging economic conditions.
And that English law is being “Recognised as the international standard in many sectors and chosen by clients around the world for their commercial contracts.”
Lawyers at risk
Practice Source reports that lawyers in Iran are systemically persecuted by the state, as we express our concerns regarding the dismantling of the justice system and stand in solidarity with targeted Iranian lawyers.
President Richard Atkinson said: “We are deeply concerned that human rights and criminal defence lawyers in Iran are targeted and persecuted for defending their clients. Iranian lawyers face harassment, illegitimate prosecutions, unfair trials, and arbitrary deprivation of liberty.
“This is not justice, and the legal system is not working. The targeting of lawyers by the state interferes with the independence of the legal profession and integrity of the rule of law in Iran. The right to a fair trial is eroded, and access to justice is undermined.
“We hope the UN recognises the climate of terror that lawyers face in Iran and uses this evidence to call for an end to the harassment of lawyers. Iran must comply with human rights norms and end its perpetual campaign of intimidation against lawyers.”
Autumn budget
Gazette analyses what impact the Budget will have on law centres and small firms.
Anthony Earl, chair of our Small Firms Network Committee said: “This change will be challenging and inevitably result in an increase in fees or a reduction in staff, neither of which will be beneficial to our clients.”
The Law Society’s research on legal aid fees is also mentioned.
Also worth a read:
- Axiom Ince administration set to cost £3m and last four years - Gazette
- From the Rule of Law to the Rule of Lawyers? The Problem with the Attorney General’s New Legal Risk Guidelines – Policy Exchange
- Post Office scandal victims set compensation deadline ahead of legal action – Sky News
- Assisted dying bill splits UK cabinet ahead of vote - Financial Times (£)
- MPs to vote on smoking ban and vape sales ‘targeted at children’ – ITV News
- Home Office issues ‘common sense’ guidance for non-crime hate incidents - Times (£)
- ‘Business cash cow has been milked,’ CBI chair tells ministers – Guardian
- Lack of legal aid lawyers poses threat to Starmer’s asylum pledge, experts say - Guardian
- Government pledges millions in legal aid to clear asylum backlog – Times (£)
- Arresting Netanyahu in UK would be unlawful, shadow attorney general and lawyers warn – Telegraph (£)
- Employment rights bill ‘not fit for purpose and could lower wages’ – Times (£)
- Starmer to launch online ‘dashboard’ to let public track policy targets – Financial Times (£)
- London Mayor’s rent-controlled homes to be available to solicitors and barristers – Telegraph (£)