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Your weekly Law Society update 30 March 2020

31/3/2020

 
Dear colleague,

Your weekly Law Society update
​

As the professional body for solicitors, every week the Law Society is working hard to influence the legal and regulatory environment on behalf of our profession and to promote solicitors at home and abroad. We support practice excellence, are an informed source of legal sector news and support members at every stage of their career.

As your professional body we’re hearing a lot from our members on the ground. We’re using that insight as the voice of solicitors with government and regulators during the pandemic. We’re developing advice and support to help you through this difficult period.

Our priorities are:

These were our immediate priorities in the first days of the crisis. We're already starting to see results, and we're now turning to other issues that arise. To raise any issues, contact us. 
  • looking after our members’ safety – from protecting our members in courts to pushing for documents to be signed remotely
  • helping members keep their businesses going – from advice on government support to tips on remote working
  • helping members stay compliant – lobbying regulators to make changes
  • protecting the rule of law – scrutinising the emergency legislation

Stay up to date with our resources and support

The coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis is changing day by day. We're monitoring the situation and developing advice and support to help you through these unprecedented times.

Stay up to date by following us on Twitter and visiting our regularly updated online resources for our latest advice. Stay informed with what we're doing to help look after your safety, keep your businesses going and protect the rule of law.

> Read our latest advice and updates
> Follow us on Twitter
> Read our priority issues

The Law Society’s media profile during the last two weeks

Coronavirus and the justice system
 
Please note that decisions and events have in some cases superseded these reports

The lord chancellor has insisted courts must go on sitting – reported in the Gazette. This follows a decision by the lord chief justice to limit trials by jury.  
 
I said: “In these challenging times, it is vital the wheels of justice continue to turn. In order to preserve access to justice and the rule of law, courts need to operate and legal representation must be available. This means the health of those keeping the system functioning must be protected to the greatest extent possible.” 
 
I was also quoted in the New Law Journal and Solicitor’s Journal saying: “We are speaking continually with HM Courts and Tribunals Service, the MoJ and the LAA. They are trying keep the system of justice on the road whilst ensuring practitioners are not put at risk. They know what needs to be done.”
 
Practical Law reported that the Ministry of Justice has clarified which solicitors they consider to be key workers and cover our statement that solicitors must decide for themselves if they fit this description.

Ian Kelcey, co-chair of our criminal law committee, spoke to talkRadio (in the 8:30 – 9:00 slot from 11:42), where he discussed the government’s decision to lockdown prisons and suspend visits due to the coronavirus outbreak.  
 
The Metro and Legal Futures reported that solicitors have voiced concerns about police stations’ attitude towards prisoners with suspected coronavirus. Ian Kelcey said: “Currently, with police stations, we take the view the police are taking a very lax attitude to all of this.” 
 
The Law Society is pushing for policies and procedures to be implemented to protect our members when visiting clients in prison. 
 
Mark Davies, a criminal solicitor in Swansea and member of the wales committee, was on BBC Wales News last evening speaking about the issues faced by criminal lawyers due to coronavirus. 
 
Meanwhile, whiplash diagnosis is to be allowed via video link, reported The Gazette. It is the latest concession to the Covid-19 coronavirus crisis. The decision was prompted not only by safety concerns, but also by the financial impact on claimant lawyers, who faced being unable to progress any cases because clients could not be diagnosed remotely. 
 
Employment issues: 
 
Max Winthrop, chair of our employment law committee, spoke with BBC Radio Nottingham (from 1:36:37) where he was on a coronavirus panel of experts, answering employment questions from listeners.  
 
Max also spoke with TalkRadio (in the 10:30 – 11:00 slot at 04:41), about the impact on employers and employees of the UK’s coronavirus lockdown.  
 
He took part in a Q&A on LBC’s Shelagh Fogarty show (from 2pm) on rights during the coronavirus crisis and he spoke to BBC Radio Humberside (from 3:25:06) about self-employed and temporary workers’ rights, and also provided advice for employers in this uncertain time.
 
He was on BBC Radio Northampton (from 3:12:34) talking construction workers’ rights if they are ordered to stop work by the government and BBC Radio Merseyside (from 2:11:23) discussing the same topic.
 
Max was also on BBC Radio Newcastle (from 2:48:53) about the announcement by chancellor Rishi Sunak on self-employed workers’ rights.
 
Roy Daby, a partner at Giles Wilson, spoke with BBC Radio Essex (from 40.08 ) about employment rights in the context of being forced to take unpaid leave. He also discussed how sick pay works around coronavirus. 
 
Wedding cancellations and consumer rights 
 
Gary Rycroft, chair of our digital assets working group and a consumer law expert is quoted in Bride, Grazia, Wedding Ideas and Bride Magazine about how coronavirus will affect the weddings industry.  He also talked to about what people should do if they need to cancel their wedding during the Covid-19 outbreak. Gary also spoke to Good Housekeeping about what to do if an event you have already bought a ticket for is cancelled due to the virus. 
 
And he was on BBC Radio Leicester (from 2:38:30). BBC Radio Essex (3:49:48) and BBC Radio Merseyside (1:26:28) discussing weddings and on BBC Radio Northampton (1:23:00)  BBC Radio 4’s Moneybox (02:58) to talk travel and consumer rights during the coronavirus crisis. 

Melinda Giles, a member of the Law Society’s wills and equity committee spoke to LBC (starts from 01:05) and answered listeners questions on their employment rights, legal rights when cancelling their weddings and holidays, and the strain on businesses in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. 
  
Probate: 
 
The Telegraph (£) reported that the number of people seeking to grant power of attorney and write new wills has risen by at least 30% in the face of fears over death rates in the coronavirus pandemic.  
 
Ian Bond, chair of the Law Society’s wills and equity committee, said that his firm had seen a “huge spike” in the number of queries and requests, which were primarily from the elderly or vulnerable undergoing hospital or health treatment who wanted to “put their affairs in order”.  
 
BBC’s Moral Maze discussed the impact of the crisis on the demand for wills – citing Ian’s comments to the Telegraph.  
 
Today’s Wills and Probate cited Ian and his comment to the Telegraph about demand from people wishing to make wills being up 30%.
 
Melinda Giles spoke to BBC Radio Nottingham (from 2:07:56) , where she provided useful information about the importance of having a will, given the increase in new wills because of coronavirus.   
 
Conveyancing:
 
The Gazette reported our calls for clarity from government on the status of ongoing purchases following comments made by Michael Gove this week. Also in the Solicitors Journal (£), Inside Conveyancing, Today’s Conveyancer, Property Industry Eye and Estate Agent Today. I said: “We are seeking further clarity from government and will monitor closely as the situation develops. We are hoping for official guidance to be published in the next few days.”

Sarah Dwight, a member of our conveyancing and land law committee, was also cited in an advice column for the FT (£).

The Daily Mail namechecked the Law Society in a column on how the property market is likely to react to 80% of people being unable to leave their homes, putting sales on hold.
 
Business continuity and compliance: 
 
The Gazette looked at updated guidance from the Legal Aid Agency (LAA).  I said: 'We continue to push for either firm action or a clear statement of intent on a number of outstanding issues - including a need to address concerns around the means test and the cashflow implications for firms.”

The Times (£) has looked at the impact of the current crisis on the business of law firms across the country, and makes reference to our online guidance.

Council member Paul Bennett appeared on BBC Radio Shropshire (from 2:37:16) to chat about coronavirus, business continuity and law firms.  
 
The Solicitors Journal has a piece on the compliance challenges professionals face in this current situation and points out SRA and Law Society guidance to help them.
  
Junior lawyers 

The Lawyer reported that the Junior Lawyers Division of the Law Society has written to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) urging it not to delay final exams for the Legal Practice Course (LPC) until the coronavirus pandemic has passed. 
 
And in non-coronavirus news:

Legal Cheek and Practice Source cover our joint lawtech survey with Oxford University. The report found that while technology could boost productivity, only 41% of respondents were sufficiently trained to use new technology at work.

The German Federal Constitutional Court’s ruled last week that Germany’s participation in the Unified Patent Court (UPC) is void. Global Legal Post asked whether it is the end of the road for the court, or if it can be revived. I said: “There is a crucially important window of opportunity to make this investment before the UPC is off and running.”

Artificial Lawyer reported on a survey of a group of 353 anonymous respondents taken out of a random sample of 10,000 individuals selected by the Law Society of England & Wales across a very broad range of companies, which found that tech will boost productivity, but we’re just not using it. The survey was featured in the Law Society Gazette.

Legal Futures reported on our joint survey with Oxford University which shows many firms are not making the most of lawtech. Law Society chief executive Paul Tennant said: “This survey offers an important snapshot of lawtech adoption in England and Wales and highlights the training solicitors need to improve their expertise.”
   
In one of our columns for the Northern Echo, local solicitor Kayleigh Richardson, highlighted how widespread domestic abuse is in the UK and the need for legal aid in these cases.

Don’t forget you can read all Law Society press releases by clicking on this link. For live updates follow us on Twitter.

Regulation
 
New probate forms
We had our usual probate review meeting with HMCTS in which they confirmed the launch of new standard grant of representation application forms for legal professionals. These will see the old-style Statements of Truth become redundant after a four-week introduction period for the new forms. The new forms will enable HMCTS to digitise the information and insert it directly into their systems.

Given the current situation with coronavirus, members are also encouraged to sign up to MyHMCTS to ensure better continuity of service: https://www.lawsociety.org.uk/news/stories/new-grant-of-representation-application-forms-for-legal-professionals/

Parliamentary
 
Giving evidence to the Justice Select Committee on Tuesday (24 March), lord chancellor Robert Buckland QC MP referred to the Law Society’s work in response to the coronavirus pandemic three times. He stated: “Can I say, the Law Society, I’m so grateful for the support that they’ve given us through this very testing time. They’ve shown that professionals are prepared to step up to the plate and help deliver justice in a calm and measured way.”
 
On Wednesday 25 March, deputy vice president I. Stephanie Boyce appeared as a guest on the Legally Vocal podcast, hosted by Apperio, to discuss the in-house profession and the future legal environment.
 
On Thursday 26 March I attended a call with newly-appointed parliamentary under-secretary of state at the Ministry of Justice, Alex Chalk, around legal aid.

Our year in review
 
Every year we publish our business review, highlighting some of what we achieved for our members, the legal sector and the general public. Our review for 2018-19 is out now and our key facts and figures, as well as looking at how the profession has changed in the last ten years. We also look at what we see as they key issues the profession needs to respond to in the coming years.
 
It covers how we:
  • influenced for impact as the voice of the profession
  • kept our members up to date with the latest news, information and research
  • supported practice excellence through support and advice, practice notes, toolkits and events
  • were our members’ career companion, giving them the tools to develop their careers, expertise and businesses
  • made operational improvements to be more effective and efficient
The full business review is a really interesting read, and we’ve also made a two-page summary – find them both on our website.
 
Keeping members up to date
 
We have a number of newsletters for members. Below is a list, along with links for signing up to them.
 
Professional Update
Law Society newsletter page

You can also register for the Gazette daily update here.

As always, please feel free to share this update with your constituents unless otherwise specified.
 
Kind regards,
 
Simon
 
Simon Davis
President
The Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London. WC2A 1P

Your weekly Law Society update 23 March 2020

24/3/2020

 
Dear All
 
Covid-19
In these fast moving times and in a hectic week, our staff and elected and appointed members have been working full tilt to represent the interests of the profession and get advice and support to our members as they deal with this unprecedented situation.

Influencing
We are making representations to UK government departments, regulators and agencies. This includes calls with the lord chancellor, the lord chief justice and the secretary of state for business, enterprise and industrial strategy which have taken place this week. We have done all we can to keep the wheels of justice turning, while at the same time addressing concerns on member safety, business continuity and the rule of law.

Some of our latest results include:
  • HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has relaxed rules on bringing hand sanitiser in to court. Police guidance has been updated to reflect our concerns
  • Welsh government has now included small-to-medium law firms within the criteria for its recently announced £100 million grant scheme for businesses
  • Supported by HMCTS we have asked that our  practitioners be “key workers”  because it is we who are keeping the system of justice running. Guidance from the Lord Chancellor is expected imminently.
  • A letter from the Attorney-General acknowledging the contribution of the profession and complimenting the Law Society on our leadership

You can see our latest influencing work here. These pages will be regularly updated.

Supporting members
Our work to support members  includes answering a wide range of their practical questions, from “How should firms operate if the MLRO or COLP has coronavirus?” to “Our firm is likely to be in financial distress in the next few weeks due to cash flow. What support is available?”
 
These have been updated on a daily basis as the flow of information from our members has been brought together, prioritised and responded to.
 
We also have a risk and compliance podcast as the start of a series for members.

You can see our latest advice and support here.

We will continue to work on our four priority areas: 
  • member safety
  • business continuity
  • regulatory compliance
  • rule of law

Weeks to come

This is just the beginning of our response. We are reaching out to specific groups of members to understand the issues they are facing and identify the short and long term advice and support we can give. I will keep you updated through my regular President’s Update and other available routes. Also please see Twitter,  the Gazette Daily Update and weekly Professional Update for the latest information we are sharing with our members

On to more practical arrangements:

Subscriptions
Redirecting your weekly Gazette Magazine
Many Gazette readers are working remotely as a result of the coronavirus.  If you would like your weeklyprint issue delivered to your home rather than your firm, please contact our subscriptions team (with your SRA number here): 
gazette-subscriptions@lawsociety.org.uk

Face to face events for members 
The Law Society takes the health and safety of our staff, members, clients and other visitors to our offices and events very seriously. In light of the increasing number of people affected by the virus and acknowledging the role we all have to play in limiting its impact, we have taken the decision to cancel all face to face events until the end of July 2020.   

We are extremely grateful for the amount of work and incredible investment staff and members put into organising Law Society events. To ensure this is not wasted we are currently reviewing online alternatives including podcasts, webinars and live events. Your event organiser will be in contact with you soon to discuss the options available.  

Anyone who has already registered and paid to attend an event will be contacted and provided with a full refund. Speakers and sponsors will also be contacted about alternative formats and ways to remain involved.  

We do not know if events will be impacted beyond July 2020 nor how long the current situation will last. We will continue to monitor the situation daily and will keep staff and members informed as more information comes to light.

The Law Society's Hall at 113 Chancery Lane and the Bar and Restaurant
This will be closed until further notice.

See you next week
If ideas about support for our members during these difficult times occur to you, please e-mail Robert.print@lawsociety.org.uk
 
Warm wishes and stay safe.

Simon
 
Simon Davis
President
The Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London. WC2A 1P

Coronavirus: Lord Chancellor statement and new use of video guidance in court

19/3/2020

 
​For your information, the Lord Chancellor Robert Buckland put out a statement this afternoon on the running of the courts during the coronavirus pandemic.
 
In the statement, he refers to the steps that are being taken to enable as many hearings as possible to be conducted with some or all of the participants attending by telephone, video-link or online.
 
Subsequent to the statement, HMCTS has just published new guidance on how we will use telephone and video technology to support the justice system during the coronavirus outbreak.
 
The HMCTS coronavirus GOV.UK guidance page continues to be updated as regularly and quickly as possible and should remain the first port of call for court and tribunals information in regard to the pandemic please.

Update from the Lord Chief Justice - jury trials

18/3/2020

 
Last night The Lord Chief Justice announced that jury trials that last three days or less will continue to be listed in England and Wales, in light of the coronavirus outbreak.
 
All cases estimated to last longer than three days listed to start before the end of April 2020 will be adjourned. These cases will be kept under review and the position regarding short trials will be revisited as circumstances develop and in any event next week.
 
The LCJ also advised that as events unfold, decisions will be taken in respect of all cases awaiting trial in the Crown Court.
 
This HMCTS gov.uk coronavirus guidance page will be updated with more detail as soon as possible.
 
HMCTS' social media accounts are also carrying content about this and the outbreak more generally: @hmctsgovuk @judiciaryuk
 

Coronavirus update

17/3/2020

 
Dear all,

In these difficult times, I am sending this brief update to all our members. I would like to draw your attention to our evolving resources on Coronavirus.

As your professional body, we are taking up issues raised by our members with regulators and government departments where we need further action or guidance from them.

We are also basing our own guidance on issues raised by our members.

Current issues in our Q&A include:
  • What protection is there for solicitors working in police stations/prisons/courts?
  • What government support is available for sick pay?
  • What government support is available for cashflow?
  • What should I do if I can’t meet my tax bill?
  • Should I allow international travel?
  • What is the impact on residential conveyancing transactions?

This is a rapidly evolving situation and we will be updating our web pages with relevant links to the latest health advice to protect you and your clients. We will also add more specific support and guidance as it is developed.

To stay up to date on the impact on the sector and our latest support, please subscribe to our Gazette Daily News Update,  follow us on Twitter, and subscribe to our weekly Professional Update.

If you are planning to visit one of our offices or 113 Chancery Lane, please see the latest information. 

The Law Society takes the health and safety of our staff, members, clients and other visitors to our offices and events very seriously. In light of the increasing number of people affected by the virus and acknowledging the role we all have to play in limiting its impact, we have taken the decision to cancel all face to face events until the end of July 2020. 

We are extremely grateful for the amount of work and incredible investment members and staff put into organising Law Society events. To ensure this is not wasted we are currently reviewing online alternatives including podcasts, webinars and live events.   
 
Anyone who has already registered and paid to attend an event will be contacted and provided with a full refund. Speakers and sponsors will also be contacted about alternative formats and ways to remain involved.
 
We do not know if events will be impacted beyond July 2020 nor how long the current situation will last. We will continue to monitor the situation daily and will keep staff and members informed as more information comes to light. 

If you have any questions or issues to raise please contact us.

Simon Davis
President

Your weekly Law Society update 9 March 2020

9/3/2020

 
Dear colleague,
​
Your weekly Law Society update
As the professional body for solicitors, every week the Law Society is working hard to influence the legal and regulatory environment on behalf of our profession and to promote solicitors at home and abroad. We support practice excellence, are an informed source of legal sector news and support members at every stage of their career.

The Law Society’s media profile this week

The Guardian, Independent, Daily Mail, Gazette, Sun, BBC Radio 4 and 92 local publications reported on the government’s plans to increase criminal legal aid fees - the ‘accelerated items’ in the Criminal Legal Aid Review. I said: “The offer on the table from the government is woefully inadequate. It cannot hope to provide a solution.” Legal Action Group also quoted me. I argued “many defence lawyers are taking jobs with the CPS” due to the better pay and “that the very existence of criminal defence practitioners is under threat”.
 
Richard Atkinson, co-chair of the criminal law committee, meanwhile wrote two articles about the same subject – one for the Gazette in which he described the Ministry of Justice’s proposals as “crumbs from the table”. The other piece was in the Times (£). The Justice Gap also reported on the same subject.
 
 
Max Winthrop, chair of our employment rights committee, spoke to BBC Northampton (2:13:37), about entitlement to sick pay for employees self-isolating from coronavirus. Max also was on talkRadio (in the 11:00 to 11:30 slot from 10:00), again, on the effects of the coronavirus and also how employment tribunals work following coverage about Priti Patel.
 
The Gazette reported the ‘enhanced’ Domestic Abuse Bill has been introduced to parliament in a bid to end victims being cross examined by their alleged perpetrators in court. I said: “As the bill finally progresses through parliament, we urge the government to put the necessary funding into legal aid, support services, education and wider government policy - giving victims the access to justice they so deserve.”
 
The Gazette featured a look at Gwyneth Bebb, pioneer campaigner for women to be admitted as solicitor, 106 years after the courts told her she was not a ‘person’.
 
The Times (£) diary previewed the #facethefuture campaign – launched by the Law Society and government legal department to celebrate achievements of women in the legal profession.
 
Speaking to the Gazette about the Ministry of Justice’s plans to increase the small claims limit from £1,000 to £2,000 for employers’ liability and public liability claims, our head of justice Richard Miller pointed out that an increase in the limit would mean clients having to fund their medical reports.
 
The Gazette covered the Consumer and Markets Authority concerns about the leasehold housing market. I said: “We want the leasehold system to operate fairly for leaseholders and for it not to cause delays in the home buying and selling process.” Also reported by Inside Conveyancing News.
 
The Western Daily Press carried a report on making a will and references the Law Society's Find A Solicitor service, which can help you find a solicitor near to you. The article is by Matthew Cotton, a solicitor at Humfrys & Symonds.

In an agony aunt column, the Guardian and Yahoo! spoke to Penny Scott, the chair of our family law committee, about DNA testing and why it is illegal to send someone’s DNA to be tested without their permission.

Legal Cheek reported our recommended minimum salary for trainees has increased to £22,121 in London and £19,619 in the rest of the UK. I’m quoted: “I encourage all law firms to adopt this recommendation, pay their trainees a fair minimum salary for their hard work and encourage greater social mobility.” Also in Roll on Friday.
 
Legal Cheek profiled Jonathan Andrews – who is on the Law Society’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion committee. Jonathan has received much recognition, including junior lawyer of the year in the 2019 Excellence Awards, for promoting the positive characteristics of autism that he believes can help in a legal career.
Do not forget you can read all Law Society press releases by clicking on this link. For live updates follow us on Twitter.

Regulation

The future of legal services regulation

On Tuesday 25 February I spoke at the Westminster Legal Policy seminar on the future of legal services in England and Wales. The seminar discussed possible options to increase access to justice and improve consumer experience with the legal services market in the context of the recently published interim Mayson report on the Independent Review of Legal Services Regulation.
 
Other key speakers included Professor Mayson and representatives from regulators (CMA, LSB, SRA, Bar Standards Board, CILEx).

Public Law
 
Family
The Divorce Dissolution and Separation Bill had its Committee Stage in the House of Lords this week. The full transcript of the second reading in the Lords can be found in Hansard here. The Law Society provided a briefing which included suggestions for amendments to key members of the Lords late last week. The report stage of the Bill is scheduled for 17 March.
The Domestic Abuse Bill has its first reading in the House of Commons this week too. We will prepare a parliamentary briefing which we will then circulate to members of the Commons once the date for the second reading has been announced.
 
Justice
 
We held a very successful event for advocates and current and aspiring solicitor judges, with two inspiring and informative speeches and a well-received opportunity for networking.
Richard Miller spoke at an event in Parliament organised by USDAW, which is trying to persuade ministers to exclude employer’s liability and public liability cases from the forthcoming increase in the small claims limit. The Association of British Insurers confirmed that this is not a priority for them. We raised concerns about the access to justice implications of the small claims limit increase, with particular emphasis on the difficulties in obtaining and interpreting medical reports.
 
Speaking Engagements
 
Our CEO Paul Tennant spoke at a lunch for managing partners of Cambridge firms on Tuesday 3 March.
I spoke at GOOD Guys programme panel discussion on gender equality in the solicitor profession in London on Wednesday 4 March. Our deputy vice president (DVP), I. Stephanie Boyce, spoke at another GOOD Guys panel event in Birmingham on Thursday 5 March.
The DVP also took part in a panel as part of a 100 years women in law event at DLA Piper.

Parliamentary

Paul Tennant attended a reception in the House of Lords on Thursday 5 March, on the topic “Good homes for ageing well.”
 
We need your help for the Solicitor Brand Campaign 2020
 
Building upon the success of last year’s campaign, the Law Society Solicitor Brand Campaign 2020 will promote the value of solicitors to members of the public and business owners and decision makers right across England and Wales.
 
This national advertising campaign will include broadcast, outdoor, online and press advertising, raising the profile of the profession and endorsing the use of solicitors above other sources of legal advice.
 
The campaign will feature emotive testimonials from satisfied solicitor clients across consumer and business areas of law, focusing on the solicitor brand values shown below to highlight the good work that solicitors do and the positive outcomes achieved:
 
  • experts in your field
  • honest and honourable
  • client focused
  • approachable and accessible
  • value for money
  • adding value to society
 
The campaign will be brought to life with real client images and testimonials but it’s important that the people featured in the advertising campaign are as representative as possible of society as a whole.
 
We need your help to put us in touch with legal firms you think might be interested in getting involved and who have a diverse client base across England and Wales, with customers from varying ethnic, social and economic backgrounds.
 
If you know of appropriate legal firms who engage with you locally and who might be interested in talking to their clients about being involved in the campaign, please email lawsociety@dtw.co.uk with your name, the region you represent, the name of the legal firm(s) you think would be appropriate and contact details for the relevant person to speak to at the firm.
 
For further information about the campaign please visit the solicitor brand campaign page or email lawsociety@dtw.co.uk and ask for a member of the team to give you a call to discuss the campaign in more detail.
 
Your help will be greatly appreciated!
 
Our International Work:
 
Seizing the India Opportunity Panel Discussion - 03 March 2020
 
The Law Society, in collaboration with ASA and Associates LLP, hosted a panel discussion on 'Seizing the India Opportunity' moderated by Stephen Denyer, our director of strategic relationships. The panel consisted of expert speakers including: Piusha Bose, counsel, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Rupa Lakha, partner, Charles Russell Speechlys LLP, Joywin Mathew, partner, DLA Piper Global Law Firm. 
 
Ajay Sethi, managing partner, ASA & Associates LLP provided a keynote address on the recent economic and political developments in India and their likely impact on the economy. He also discussed how businesses can best meet market challenges and avoid regulatory pitfalls in India. The panel shared their experience within the region and discussed the legal business opportunities and challenges, including recent trends and practical aspects for legal regulation and current/ new opportunities in the market. It was followed by Q&A with the audience. The feedback we received after the event was very positive mentioning particularly that it was a high quality, thought provoking and expertly chaired session. This will eventually help TLS forge new relationships and strengthening the existing ones in the region.

On Tuesday 3 March, Rita Giannini, EU policy adviser spoke at the ERA (Academy of European Law) conference on post-Brexit criminal justice cooperation.

Supporting members at every stage of their career

Judicial appointments: interview training for solicitors - Friday 20 March 2020  
Location: The Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London, WC2A 1PL
In view of increasing competition for judicial appointments, this interactive course will equip delegates with the skills to help enhance your application and interview performance. This workshop has been developed specifically for solicitor applicants but the content is relevant for anyone serious about submitting a credible judicial application.

Unpausing the conversation on menopause - Tuesday 24 March, 2020
Location: The Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London, WC2A 1PL
Join us on Tuesday 24 March to challenge taboos and erase the stigma around the menopause. We will be joined by a line up of fantastic speakers who will be discussing the menopause from a medical perspective and how the legal landscape is changing in regards to discrimination. Book your place

Lexcel consultant training - Wednesday 25 March 2020
Location: The Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London, WC2A 1PL
This course provides an in-depth understanding of Lexcel England and Wales v6.1 and what evidence is required to meeting the Standard requirements.

Advocacy and the Vulnerable Training, Monday 6 April 2020, Liverpool - Afternoon session
Location: Liverpool Law Society, 2nd Floor, Helix, Edmund Street, Liverpool, L3 9NY
The Advocacy and the Vulnerable Training was developed in conjunction with the Bar to help solicitor advocates and barristers strike the balance between advancing their client’s case effectively in court whilst ensuring vulnerable witnesses are not subjected to undue stress.
 
Supporting practice excellence

Competition Section seminar: UK mergers update – Tuesday 10 March 2020
Location: The Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London, WC2A 1PL
This seminar will provide an overview of substantive and procedural developments in UK merger control in 2019-20 and a look ahead to the challenges ahead, providing insight into what’s at the forefront of the CMA’s thinking in what is likely to be a pivotal year in UK merger control.
 
Risk and Compliance annual conference 2020 – Friday 13 March 2020
Location: Etc Venues 155 Bishopsgate, Liverpool Street, London, EC2M 3YD
The conference focuses on mitigating risk in law practices and upcoming changes to the way risk practitioners will be working. For instance, new regulations to make their pricing more transparent to clients, changes to the SRA Handbook, maturing data protection laws, etc.

Cyber security update 2020 – Webinar 25 March 2020 inclusive to LMS

The challenges facing small legal practices – Webinar 27 March 2020 what you need to know - 20% discount to LMS and risk and compliance
 
Property Section Seminar: The 5th Anti-Money Laundering Directive, Manchester -Thursday 16 April 2020
Location: CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang LLP, 1 The Avenue, Spinningfields, M3 3AP
Join one of three seminars to learn more about the 5th Anti-Money Laundering Directive. Our expert speaker, Alison Matthews, director of quality and risk at Shoosmiths, will guide you through what it means for firms, the SRA’s approach to money laundering and the challenges facing firms.
 
Keeping members up to date
 
We have a number of newsletters for members. Below is a list, along with links for signing up to them.
 
Newsletter
Sign-up method

Advocacy Update
Update My Law Society preferences

Anti-money Laundering Update
Law Society newsletter page

City Update
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Kind regards,
 
Simon
 
Simon Davis
President
The Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London. WC2A 1P

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