The Law Society has said justice secretary Alex Chalk can target short-term fixes to address what it calls a ‘system in crisis’.

Chalk will appear before the justice select committee this afternoon in his first opportunity to outline his priorities for the sector since being appointed in April.

The justice secretary has two major issues which may prevent him being able to make any fundamental changes: a general election within the next 18 months and a budget already failing to increase in line with inflation which needs to be stretched further to afford pay increases for prison staff and judges announced last week.

The Law Society of England and Wales has urged Chalk not to be put off by these challenges but instead to embrace short-term changes which can help to make an immediate difference.

These include ensuring courts are used to capacity. Daily updates on court rooms sitting consistently show that a fifth of capacity is not being used: today alone 93 out of the 498 (19%) Crown courtrooms in England and Wales are not sitting.

Alex Chalk, deputy prime minister and secretary of state for justice

The Law Society says Chalk must urgently address a system in crisis

Source: Tayfun Salci/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock

The Law Society also urged Chalk to fund criminal legal aid and restore legal aid for early advice – as the justice secretary himself advocated when he was a backbencher. The Society said the government giving defence solicitors the minimum 15% legal aid rates increase recommended in the Bellamy review would help stop the exodus from the profession. The organisation said there were already reports of suspects being released because police cannot find a duty solicitor to provide representation and it warned this will worsen if the system is not properly funded.

Finally, the Society suggested that Chalk’s new administration improves IT and efficiency in the courts and collects better data to show where investment is needed.

‘The justice system is in crisis with crumbling courtrooms, huge backlogs of cases and delays for court users and a chronic lack of personnel,’ said Law Society president Lubna Shuja.

‘There is no overnight solution to decades of neglect. However, the lord chancellor can make some short-term fixes which will help stabilise the system, cut the backlogs and improve access to justice. This will also save money in the long-term.’

Chalk will appear before the committee from 2.30pm, with full updates to follow in the Gazette.

 

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