Council met remotely on 15 July

Covid-19 policy work

Council heard how the Society’s membership and policy teams have continued to address urgent issues, as well as looking forward to the longer-term effects of Covid-19 on members, their businesses, access to justice and the rule of law. We announced the release of the ‘Return, Restart, Recover’ campaign.

Access to justice

The pandemic has dominated and we have focused on member safety and business support. Positive moves included the protocol to ensure that our members’ safety in police stations has been embedded in the Police and Criminal Evidence Act codes, which gives the protocol added force.

Courts are now required to complete a risk assessment and make it available to users. We are working with HM Prison & Probation Service on how face-to-face prison visits can be safely restarted, as well as with the judiciary and other stakeholders on increasing the number and type of face-to-face hearings that can be held in courts.

Meanwhile we are monitoring the longer-term effects of the pandemic on access to justice and the rule of law. We have contributed so far to inquiries by the Women and Equalities Committee on the impact of people with protected characteristics under the Equality Act, the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee on homelessness and the private rented sector, and the Joint Committee on Human Rights inquiry on the human rights implications of the Coronavirus Act 2020.

Covid business support

Among other issues, we have focused on the accessibility of existing support measures for members – as well as pushing for additional support. We have produced and contributed to guidance to support members in many aspects of running their business during the pandemic, including guidance on return to the office and virtual execution. On crucial issues relating to legal aid firms and business rates we have not seen the sort of support from the Ministry of Justice that we would have liked. So, we have stepped up communications highlighting the issues and criticising the failure to act.

We have pushed for restarting of the pre-existing criminal legal aid review and work on civil sustainability. We have had meetings with officials to discuss both issues. We have also engaged with the Legal Aid Agency. Meanwhile the stay on possession hearings has been extended until the end of August and the Law Society is currently in talks with the relevant bodies about making legal aid available for tenants once hearings restart.

HMCTS

The courts service is conducting an evaluation of the rapid roll-out of technology as a result of the pandemic. We are on a working group overseeing this.

Public affairs

Council was told of successes in our parliamentary and public affairs work, with the Law Society and its campaigns mentioned in Hansard 17 times and 32 times on social media. The team organised high-level stakeholder engagement with the lord chancellor, key ministers and the shadow justice team (among others).

Law Society president Simon Davis made written representations to the lord chancellor, chancellor and housing secretary on legal aid firms, business rates and access to justice.

Regulation

In addition to our Covid work, work on regulatory issues has continued, including influencing in relation to the SQE, engaging on the economic crime levy and responding to the Mayson report, as well as preparing to engage on the LSB’s three-year strategy.

Wales

Our response to ‘Making Justice Work in Wales’ welcomed the Thomas Commission’s long-term vision for the future of justice and noted that as the body of Welsh law grows, it is important that due consideration is given to the distinct needs of the Welsh public and the legal profession in Wales.

International rule of law

The team has been very active during the Covid period – work has included a joint statement on Hong Kong and a statement on Egypt delivered before the UN human rights council.

Governance

Robert Bourns, chair of the Law Society Board, was confirmed in post for a further three years.

The AGM has been postponed until October. Simon Davis will therefore stay as president until then. Of course, that also has implications for council elections which have also been moved back, such that new council members will take office at the AGM. Also that month, council will elect a new deputy vice-president and the existing office holders will each move up a rung as Simon Davis steps down.

Internal governance regulations

A compliance statement on the alterations to our regulatory arrangements has been submitted to the Legal Services Board. Council also agreed further amendments to our general regulations, strengthening the governance support provided to our board, and confirming the agreed terms of reference of the membership and communications committee. IGR compliance work continues as we move toward the establishment of the Solicitors Regulation Authority as an incorporated sub-entity with the Law Society Group.

New website

My Law Society and our new website are now live. The new system has a simpler registration journey and will allow us to generate better data so content can be more tailored.

Meanwhile the beta launch of ‘Law Society Learning’, our new learning management system, will continue over the summer. The LMS hosts brand new bite-sized learning modules as well as full digital risk and compliance accreditation.