News focus: Generative AI – law students call for guidance – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted February 12th, 2024 in artificial intelligence, codes of practice, Law Society, legal education, news by tracey

‘Law students and academics need guidance on how to discern whether AI applications “pass the smell test”. A roundtable in Leeds heard that a “massive education programme” is needed.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 12th February 2024

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Qualified legal representatives will now get expenses but Law Soc says fees ‘still too low’ – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The Law Society has welcomed the announcement that expenses will be added to the qualified legal representative (QLR) scheme in domestic abuse cases, but says fees are still too low.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 11th December 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Consolidation of legal regulators “may be a good thing” – Legal Futures

‘Consolidation of legal regulators “may be a good thing” if designed to achieve “the pulling together of knowledge, lessons, consumer research and engagement”, the Legal Services Consumer Panel has said.’

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Legal Futures, 22nd November 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Online probate process “taking longer than paper” – Legal Futures

Posted October 18th, 2023 in damages, families, internet, Law Society, news, probate, solicitors by sally

‘A majority of private client lawyers believe the new online probate process is taking longer than the old paper-based system, a survey by the Law Society has found.’

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Legal Futures, 18th October 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Law Society urges reform of “outdated” mental health legislation – Local Government Lawyer

Posted October 12th, 2023 in bills, civil justice, Law Society, mental health, news, tribunals by sally

‘The Law Society has called for urgent reforms to the Mental Health Act, which it has described as “outdated”.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 11th October 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Law firm culture key to ethical practice, says Law Society president – Legal Futures

Posted September 6th, 2023 in codes of practice, law firms, Law Society, news, solicitors by sally

‘Law firm cultures where solicitors are able to admit and learn from mistakes are central to ensuring adherence to professional ethics, the president of the Law Society said yesterday.’

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Legal Futures, 6th September 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

UK would be outlier with Russia if it left ECHR, Law Society says – The Guardian

Posted August 10th, 2023 in asylum, human rights, Law Society, news, treaties by tracey

‘The UK would be an international outlier along with Russia and Belarus if it left the European convention on human rights, a leading law body has warned, after a senior minister signalled that the move could be an option to stop small boat crossings.’

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The Guardian, 9th August 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Court delays leave tens of thousands of children in limbo after parents split – The Guardian

‘Tens of thousands of children in England and Wales have been left in limbo by delays in the family court that have meant many waiting over a year for their future to be resolved.’

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The Guardian, 1st August 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Legal aid JR to be heard in run-up to Christmas – Law Society’s Gazette

‘A judicial review of the lord chancellor’s decision not to raise criminal legal aid fees for solicitors by the minimum 15% recommended by a government-commissioned review will be heard in the weeks leading up to Christmas, the Gazette has learned.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 24th July 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Susskind: AI could crack the problem of unmet legal need – Legal Futures

Posted July 14th, 2023 in artificial intelligence, Law Society, legal services, news by sally

‘Artificial intelligence (AI) will open up the world of legal services to a new generation of consumers by helping them work out how lawyers can help with their problems, according to Professor Richard Susskind.’

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Legal Futures, 13th July 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Boosted UK legal aid rates ‘not enough’ to deal with Rwanda asylum cases – The Guardian

‘The Law Society has warned that a proposed 15% increase in legal aid rates will not be enough to ensure that there are sufficient immigration lawyers to deal with the government’s controversial scheme to send asylum seekers to Rwanda.’

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The Guardian, 5th July 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Retired judges ‘should get a practising certificate’ before returning – report – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted June 30th, 2023 in barristers, judges, judiciary, Law Society, Ministry of Justice, news, retirement by tracey

‘Retired judges wishing to return to legal work should obtain a practising certificate from the Law Society or Bar Standards Board, an academic report has suggested.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 29th June 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Society secures JR permission over criminal legal aid fees – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The Law Society has been granted permission to take the government to court over its decision not to raise criminal legal aid fees by the minimum 15% recommended by the Bellamy review.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 22nd June 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Society warns on Finance Bill changes – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The Law Society today reminded private client solicitors that the Finance Bill is set to restrict charitable tax reliefs to UK charities only, with donations located in the EU and the European Economic Arena (EEA) no longer qualifying for UK charitable tax reliefs from April 2024. This will impact individuals who claim income tax or capital gains tax relief on donations to non-UK charities and those who expect inheritance tax exemption on lifetime gifts or on legacies to such organisations.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 15th May 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Law Society: Climate change a “valid” reason to reject clients – Legal Futures

‘Climate-related issues may be “valid considerations” for law firms in deciding whether to act for potential clients, the Law Society has said.’

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Legal Futures, 19th April 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

‘Wrong people, time and attitude’: Society’s warning over mediation reforms – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted March 24th, 2023 in children, dispute resolution, divorce, families, family courts, Law Society, news by tracey

‘Compulsory mediation could force the wrong people into a process at the wrong time with the wrong attitude, the Law Society has warned in response to government plans to get more family disputes resolved away from court.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 24th March 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Migration bill ‘would rock the UK’s standing as a reliable nation’ – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Law Society speaks out as measure aimed at tackling small-boat crossings goes before House of Commons.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 13th March 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Raab faces judicial review over criminal legal aid fees – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The Law Society has issued an ultimatum to lord chancellor Dominic Raab over criminal legal aid fees: increase them by the minimum amount recommended by the government-commissioned Bellamy review or face a judicial review.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 11th January 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Poor state of English and Welsh courts worsening backlog, says Law Society – The Guardian

Posted December 19th, 2022 in courts, delay, Law Society, news, solicitors by tracey

‘Broken heating, sewage, mould, asbestos and leaking toilets and roofs are among the problems encountered by solicitors in courts in England and Wales, a survey by the Law Society has found.’

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The Guardian, 19th December 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Solicitors fury at “real-terms cut” in criminal legal aid fees – Legal Futures

Posted December 1st, 2022 in fees, Law Society, legal aid, news, solicitors by sally

‘The Law Society yesterday reacted with fury to the government’s failure to deliver the 15% increase in criminal legal aid fees that its own report said was needed as a bare minimum.’

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Legal Futures, 1st December 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk