JUSTICE report on the rule of law
The Gazette, Today’s Family Lawyer and Today’s Wills & Probate cover legal reform charity JUSTICE’s report on the rule of law, which outlines that law-making has become less transparent, less accountable, less inclusive and less democratic.
Law Society President Lubna Shuja said: “We share the concerns of JUSTICE over what has been a gradual and worrying trend towards the erosion of fundamental principles of the rule of law.
“Successive pieces of legislation, including the Illegal Migration Act and the now aborted Bill of Rights Bill, have sought to disregard our obligations under international law. They have rolled back legal protections for human rights and created undue barriers to accessing justice.
“We are also concerned about the government’s attacks on lawyers. No lawyer should be criticised, or made the subject of a targeted campaign, for doing their job.
“Lawyers who represent their clients are not only doing nothing wrong, they are doing exactly what they are supposed to do, in playing their part to ensure that the rule of law is upheld.”
Criminal court backlog in Thames Valley
Oxford Mail, Witney Gazette and This is Oxfordshire cover the news that a fatal crash trial has been adjourned until 2024.
Ministry of Justice statistics show that as of March 2023, 172 criminal cases had been unresolved for two years or more across the Thames Valley.
Law Society President Lubna Shuja said: “The figures show that more people – the accused, victims, defendants and their families – are waiting to see justice and are left to cope with unresolved cases hanging over them for years.”
Taskforce launched to stop SLAPPs against journalists
Scottish Legal News, Irish Legal News, Legal Futures, Nation Cymru, Asian World News and Yahoo! News continue coverage of the Law Society’s participation in a new government taskforce which aims to put a stop to Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) against journalists.
Legal Heroes
Coverage continues in Solicitors Journal of our inaugural Legal Heroes ceremony.
Law Society President Lubna Shuja said: “Congratulations to all our nominees, both winners and those shortlisted, at the Law Society’s first Legal Heroes ceremony.
“It is a great pleasure to be able to recognise their efforts, and hugely uplifting to read every single letter of recommendation from grateful clients and proud colleagues.
“Solicitors are the backbone of the justice system, but they are also very committed individuals who give so much of themselves to helping people in their local communities and beyond. These are people who use their skills, expertise and drive to put the interests of others first, demonstrating the core values which are at the heart of our profession: helping others in need.”
Practising fee rise
Today’s Conveyancer reports that the Legal Services Board (LSB) has confirmed that the annual practising fee for solicitors will rise to £307 for 2023/2024, a 7% rise from this year.
Law Society President Lubna Shuja said: “We welcome the LSB’s sensible decision for a small increase in the PC fee (PCF), which will underpin support for the profession and enable the Law Society to serve solicitors in England and Wales better.”
“The income we receive from the PCF determines what we can do to support the profession and wider society. We have ambitious plans to deliver more of what our members have told us is important to them, including addressing threats to the rule of law and defending the profession from political attacks.”
British prison conditions
Lex Blog continues coverage of British prison conditions, as a German court refuses extradition of an Albanian man to the UK.
Law Society Council member for EU & International, Jonathan Goldsmith, wrote in the Gazette: “This is an embarrassment for the UK. There have been similar court decisions before under the European arrest warrant framework, but in relation to member states whose records on prisons and human rights the UK would not wish to compare itself with.”
Also worth a read:
- UK wages grew by 7.8% in July – LBC & Financial Times (£)
- Half of voters say they won’t back Conservatives, according to YouGov poll – Times (£)
- Wilko stores begin to close – BBC News
- Research shows three in five suffering from workplace stress – Today’s Wills & Probate