A round-up of the week’s news
4 April
Three former Supreme Court judges and more than 240 solicitors are among the 613 lawyer and legal academic signatories of a letter to the prime minister calling for UK weapons exports to Israel to cease. They claim that the UK’s current policy risks breaking international law.
3 April
Algorithm-based digital decision-making is already working behind the scenes in the justice system, the deputy head of civil justice has revealed. In an upbeat speech, Lord Justice Birss (pictured) said that algorithm-based decision-making – controversial because of the possibility of built-in bias – is already solving a problem at the online money claims service.
A longstanding criminal defence solicitor has quit the sector and resigned his seat on the Law Society’s Council over the government’s ‘decimation’ of the justice system. Ben Brown, who joined Bhatia Best in 2012, says he has had enough of seeing ‘dedicated and caring lawyers sweating their b****cks off to be derided, disregarded and abused by those in power’.
Family lawyers from different firms and chambers have joined forces to set up a specialist group dedicated to ensuring the neurodivergent community has equal access to justice. FLANC (Family Law Advice for the Neurodivergent Community) has been spearheaded by Duncan Lewis’s Alia Lewis (pictured) and Beck Fitzgerald’s Jenny Beck KC (Hon).
Furious conveyancers belonging to newly coined campaign outfit Property Lawyers Action Group demanded the Law Society withdraw the latest version of its TA6 property information form over controversial trading standards guidance on ‘material information’ required for property listings. The Society said it is investigating concerns that have been raised by some members.
2 April
An organisation which focuses on creating a mentally healthier workplace has written an open letter to the legal profession. Mindful Business Charter said the ‘tsunami of change hitting the legal profession, not least through the impact of AI, runs the very real risk of making the situation worse’, adding that ‘change is likely to mean more pressure and demands on individuals’.
1 April
General counsel at major UK companies including ITV and Taylor Wimpey have signed a pledge to demonstrate their support for pro bono work – and committed to asking external law firms to disclose details of their own pro bono contributions. The pledge, created by the In House Pro Bono Group, National Pro Bono Centre and GC100, asks GCs and heads of legal to commit to encourage 25% of their UK-based lawyers to do pro bono work each year, rising to 35% the following year and 50% the year after that.
28 March
Personal injury lawyers dropped legal action against the government after a series of concessions on when fixed recoverable costs would apply. The Association of Personal Injury Lawyers last year issued a judicial review claim over the FRC extension, prompting the Ministry of Justice to consult on certain details. The MoJ has now agreed to amendments.
MPs are to investigate the role of conveyancers, upfront information and referral fees as part of a major inquiry into the home buying and selling process. The Commons levelling up, housing and communities committee has called for written evidence on various aspects of the transaction process, information provision and conveyancers.
A £16m injection into police station fees is a 'drop in the ocean' of what is needed to safeguard the criminal legal aid system, the Law Society said in its response to a government consultation on how to distribute the money.
The government announced a crackdown on the misuse of non-disclosure agreements. Legislation will be introduced ‘as soon as parliamentary time allows’ to ensure victims are no longer prevented from accessing legal advice and other support. The law will clarify that NDAs cannot be legally enforced if they prevent victims from reporting a crime.
The Bar Council joined the debate over men-only clubs amid an ongoing row about judges being members of the Garrick – but stopped short of calling for barristers to resign. In a statement, the body appeared to be critical of exclusionary organisations, but said it is for practitioners to make their own minds up.
Partner promotions are down by a third this year at Linklaters, as the big City firms continue to bear the brunt of a decline in transactional activity. The magic circle firm announced the election of 27 new partners globally, including 14 in London. Last year Linklaters made up 41 new partners, including 16 in the UK.
