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.
Here are some highlights from this week.
Influencing on behalf of the profession and promoting the profession
The Law Society’s media profile this week
The Gazette and The Times (£) reported the Law Society’s reaction to Sajid Javid's spending review. Although dwarfed by other events at Westminster last week, he announced a 4.9% increase in the budget for the justice ministry in 2021. I said: "In England and Wales, almost half of civil and criminal courts have closed. More than half of local authorities in England and Wales have no publicly funded legal advice for housing.
“Likewise, criminal legal aid fees for solicitors have not increased since the 1990s – in five years, there will be regions with no duty solicitors at all.
“Investment solely for prisons or prosecution, beneficial though it may be, does not address these problems. The courts, criminal defence and civil legal aid must also receive desperately needed additional funds.”
Two decades after the British government gave legal validity to electronic signatures, the Times (£) and UK Authority report its expert law reform body has concluded that most documents executed digitally have the same legal force as those on paper.
The Lawyer (£) reports on the Law Society's English Law week in Colombia. Find out more about the programme here.
Portsmouth News reported on problems solicitors faced with the Defence Solicitor Call Centre (DSCC). The service was handed over to a new provider. David Greene, vice-president of the Law Society of England and Wales, said the call centre “appears to have undergone a complete system meltdown... denying suspects the right to legal advice risks miscarriages of justice”.
The Gazette reports the Law Society and HMCTS disagreement over the cause of ongoing probate delays. HMCTS claims delays are due to errors in applications whilst Ian Bond, chair of our wills and equity committee, says the figures around the delays are “disingenuous to say the least”. Meanwhile HMCTS apologised for the delays in the probate service since March – it’s reported here in Today’s Wills and Probate.
The Gazette explores turbulence in the professional indemnity insurance market. Paul Bennett, former chair of our small firms division said: “Two- to three-partner firms doing 25%-30% conveyancing need to be aware that prices have gone up and that they will have to demonstrate they are actively managing the risks.”
Alison Hall, a local Newcastle-based solicitor, spoke to BBC Radio Tees (1:19:00) about Alzheimer’s month and granting lasting powers of attorney.
The Shropshire Star led with comments from criminal lawyer, Stephen Scully, on the state of the criminal justice system. Circuit Judge Anthony Lowe claims the justice system is ‘breaking at every point.’ The comments are also reported in the Times (£).
I. Stephanie Boyce, deputy vice president of the Law Society, said: “Solicitors and lay applicants across the country are still reporting waiting longer than six to eight weeks for a grant of probate.”
Paulette Mastin, BAME representative on the Law Society Council and Counsel at Linklaters LLP, is one of the inspirational women in the City profiled by Brummell.
Regulation
Immigration
This week the Immigration Law Committee wrote to the Home Office in joint correspondence with UKCISA (the UK Council for International Student Affairs) and the Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association (ILPA) regarding the visa application processes for students in the UK. A significant increase in the volume of applications is expected over the next few weeks as the new academic term starts, and practitioners have raised concerns the system may be unable to manage the demand.
NDA leaflet
Our Non-Disclosure Agreements leaflet has generated interest outside the legal profession, and has led to requests for meetings from UK Hospitality, the Recruitment and Employment Confederation, and the Association of Model Agents.
Of the 11,000 members who indicated employment law to be of interest to them, 43% of recipients opened the email we sent out with the leaflet, and 10% clicked through to our webpage. This is a high rate of engagement.
The NDA leaflet was also the highest rated story in the previous week’s Professional Update, generating almost 3,000 click-throughs to our website, and more than 20 of our firms have asked us to supply them with hard copies of the leaflet.
As Westminster comes back from its Summer holidays we will be sharing the leaflet with politicians and officials who are interested in this area. We also hope to promote it to advice organisations, such as Citizens Advice and law centres.
Conveyancing
We are in the process of reviewing the question on Japanese knotweed in our TA6 form in response to the report published by the Select Committee on Japanese knotweed.
Parliamentary
Justice committee chair Robert Neill referred to the Law Society during questions in the House of Commons this morning. Neill described the United Kingdom’s legal services market as the second largest in the world, which he credited to the access British lawyers currently have to EU legal markets. He asked the parliamentary under-secretary of state for exiting the European Union, James Duddridge MP, if he recognised that in order to avoid the 10% hit to the country’s income from legal services in the event of a no deal Brexit, as estimated by the Law Society, the government must preserve maximum access to EU markets and develop a comprehensive, cross-departmental strategy to market British legal services as “a world centre of excellence”.
In answer, Duddridge said “given that 6.5% of global legal services pass through the United Kingdom and three out of 15 top firms are based internationally in the UK, it is essential for us to work on a cross-departmental basis.” He referenced the Legal Services are GREAT campaign, launched in Singapore in 2017, as an example of this cooperation.
Our influencing work internationally:
On Friday 6 September, The Brussels Office will host the BBUKOO Legal Issues meeting. Meeting will focus on no deal planning in Belgium for UK citizens, immigration, employment and citizenship rights as well as procurement contracts for third country organisations.
Mickael Laurans, head of international, and Alex Storer international policy adviser attended the International Conference of Legal Regulators in Edinburgh this week where we are having bilateral meetings with our foreign counterparts.
Our VP David Greene, led a delegation of 20 solicitors and barristers along with chairman of the Bar Richard Atkins, QC for our English Law Week events in Mexico and Colombia, which was organised by Ben Stevenson in the international department.
David chaired a session on human rights while our solicitors presented sessions on fintech, anti-corruption, human rights, international arbitration, insurance/reinsurance, energy and infrastructure, exchanging experience and expertise with our counterparts in Mexico and Colombia.
We held a number of side meetings on human rights and Lizzette Robleto de Howarth led two of the Law Society's international women in law roundtables.
We were kindly hosted by the British ambassador to Mexico and the acting ambassador to Colombia for networking receptions with local lawyers.
There was a great deal of interest from both the local professions to continue to deepen the relationships and to improve levels of legal business between our jurisdictions. We hope to be back again next year.
Supporting members at every stage of their career
Our new early career learning and development package is now live, including:
Solicitor Judges' Division Seminar: Breaking Down Barriers, London - Tuesday 10 September 2019
Location: The Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London, WC2A 1PL
This autumn, the Solicitor Judges' Division is hosting a panel discussion on judicial diversity and how we can progress it.
Judicial appointments: interview training for solicitors, London - Saturday 21 September 2019
Location: The Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London, WC2A 1PL
This course - specially developed for solicitor applicants - will equip delegates with the skills to help enhance application and interview performance.
Making the right choices at retirement, September 2019, Birmingham -Tuesday 24 September 2019
Location: Mazars, 45 Church Street, Birmingham, B3 2RT
In partnership with Mazars, leaders in the area of financial planning provision, the Law Society is offering a complementary workshop aimed particularly at people who are within two years of retirement.
In-house Division seminar: How to implement a D&I strategy in your legal team, Manchester -Wednesday 25 September 2019
Location: Weightmans, Hardman Square, 1 Spinningfields, Manchester, M3 3EB
Recent press coverage around how the in-house community can drive change has put a spotlight on this topic and we are keen to explore how the Law Society can help.
Making the right choices at retirement, Leeds -Thursday 26 September 2019
Location: Mazars, 5th Floor, 3 Wellington Pl, Leeds, LS1 4AP
[See above]
To Network or Not Work? How employee diversity network groups can add value to your business, London - 26 September 2019
Junior Lawyers International Weekend, London 27-29 September 2019
Make sure you save the date and book your place for this year’s International Weekend, which will take place between 27 September and 29 September 2019 in London. International Weekend provides delegates with a mix of technical and legal presentations, skills-based seminars, an overview of the legal system in England and Wales, and an introduction to the City of London.
International Weekend gala dinner London - Saturday 28 September 2019
This black-tie event forms part of the larger International Weekend 2019. The gala dinner, which will be held on Saturday 28 September at the Law Society in London, is aimed at junior lawyers in England and Wales and young lawyers from overseas jurisdictions but is open to all. For further information click here.
Advocacy and the Vulnerable Training, Bristol - Afternoon session, Friday 27 September 2019
Location: Bristol - Venue TBC
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.
Black History Month inspirational evening - Friday 4 October 2019
Location: The Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London, WC2A 1PL
The annual Black History Month Inspiration evening brings together an impressive line up of inspiring lawyers. In a highly competitive profession which presents innumerable challenges we profile and celebrate lawyers who have faced and overcame obstacles on their professional journey.
Supporting practice excellence
Competition Section seminar: CPD compliance for Irish practising certificate holders London - Tuesday 10 September 2019
Location: The Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London, WC2A 1PL
This two-hour seminar will cover essential CPD requirements for Irish practising certificate holders, with a particular focus on the regulatory element of Irish professional development.
Risk and Compliance autumn conference 2019: Mitigating risk in a changing regulatory landscape - Bristol Thursday 12 September 2019
Location: Mercure Bristol Holland House Hotel and Spa, Redcliff Hill, Bristol, BS1 6SQ
In this popular one-day event speakers will provide invaluable advice for shaping the future of compliance in your firm and offer practical guidance to help you cultivate a best practice culture throughout your firm or department. The autumn conference will be held in Bristol.
Doing Business in Brussels - Tuesday 17 September 2019
Location: The Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London, WC2A 1PL
The Law Society would like to invite you to a discussion on the opportunities and obstacles in setting up a Brussels office and requalifying into the Flemish speaking Brussels Bar.
Law Tech
Our TechTalk series is going national! The next ‘introduction to LawTech’ event will take place on 18 September 2019 in Cardiff. This event aims to inform practitioners on the fundamentals of legal technology, the type of products available and opportunities for their business: Please book here: https://events.lawsociety.org.uk/ClientApps/Silverbear.Web.EDMS/public/default.aspx?tabId=37&id=2486&orgId=1&guid=1389fe18-d987-413b-9114-693a4a0420a9
Our joint event on ‘Demystifying LawTech’ with Barclays Eagles Lab and the City of London Corporation - Wednesday 18 September 2019
Will look at the adoption of legal technology by law firms and businesses and pressure points preventing businesses from embracing technology. More information and free tickets are available here.
Future of Law lecture - Lawtech with Shruti Ajitsaria, Head of Fuse at Allen & Overy - Tuesday 24 September 2019
Location: The Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London, WC2A 1PL
We invite subject matter experts to explore the most pressing legal questions facing the profession and aim to bring together leaders from across the legal profession, members, policy makers and key stakeholders to discuss how to maintain a successful legal services sector for the future.
Small Firms Annual Conference 2019 - Thursday 19 September, London and Thursday 3 October, Leeds
Joshua Rozenberg QC (hon) will be this year’s keynote speaker. He will discuss changes in the legal sector and the future for small firms. The programme will also cover topics such as small firm business models, cost effective ways to market your firm and the latest updates from the SRA handbooks. Secure your place on or before Tuesday 3 September to save up to £50.
Property Section workshop: risk and negligence in property transactions - problems and pitfalls for practitioners, Leeds - Thursday 19 September 2019
Location: Shulmans LLP, 10 Wellington Pl, Leeds, LS1 4AP
As the residential property market slows and returns on commercial property are threatened by the decline of the High Street, the risk that property owners will look to the professionals who advised them to recoup their losses returns.
Private Client Section seminar: Professor King and topical issues in Private Client Practice, Birmingham- Thursday 19 September 2019
Location: Birmingham - Venue TBC
This one-hour seminar from Professor King will both educate and entertain you with practical guidance on topical issues in Private Client Practice. Lesley will bring you her unique insight and clarity on recent case law and statutory developments and will focus on avoiding traps and pitfalls.
New frontiers in data protection, ePrivacy and workplace surveillance, London -Thursday 26 September 2019
Location: The Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London, WC2A 1PL
This conference will explore some major data protection challenges faced by solicitors, identify the danger spots in introducing new technologies and offer practical advice on mitigating risk.
Small Firms Division annual conference 2019 Leeds, - Thursday 3 October 2019
Location: DoubleTree by Hilton Leeds City Centre, Granary Wharf, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 4BR
The Small Firms Division is dedicated to meeting the needs of all smaller legal businesses, including sole practitioners. The Division's flagship annual conferences will take place in London and Leeds, and will provide practitioners with a half-day of small firms-focused conference sessions, practical tips and networking opportunities.
Seminar on human trafficking - Wednesday 24 October 2019
Location: The Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London, WC2A 1PL
https://events.lawsociety.org.uk/ClientApps/Silverbear.Web.EDMS/public/default.aspx?tabId=37&id=2471&orgId=1&guid=7283ab7f-fc8e-4a0a-86fe-441c66c76081
Webinars
9 September - Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) on commercial property transactions update 2019 – Inclusive for Property Section members
10 September - Risk update 2019 – recent changes and hot topics in risk and compliance - Standard fee of £54 with a 20% discount for Risk and Compliance Service members
11 September - Make crime (and civil law) pay (Tikit sponsored) – sponsored
17 September - SRA Standards and Regulations - changes and opportunities – Inclusive for Risk and Compliance Service members with a 20% discount to LMS members
19 September - Understanding SuDS: The importance of sustainable urban drainage systems and adaptation of water pipes – Standard fee of £54 with a 20% discount for Property Section members
26 September - From emotional intelligence to authentically speaking – Inclusive for LMS members
30 September - Changes to the rules on reporting concerns, the SRA Enforcement Strategy and the new SDT rules – Standard fee of £54 with a 20% discount for Risk
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
Contact the City relationship management team
Diversity & Inclusion Update
Update My Law Society preferences
In-house Forum
Update My Law Society preferences
International Update
Law Society newsletter page
Junior Lawyers Update
Law Society newsletter page
JLD sign-up page
Legal Aid Update
Law Society newsletter page
Professional Update
Law Society newsletter page
Risk & Compliance Update
Join the Risk and Compliance Service
Small Firms Focus
Contact the Small Firms Division
Solicitor Judges Update
Join the Solicitor Judges Division
Campaigns newsletter
Sign up to the Campaigns newsletter
Parliamentary report
Parliamentary report
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
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.
Here are some highlights from this week.
Influencing on behalf of the profession and promoting the profession
The Law Society’s media profile this week
The Gazette and The Times (£) reported the Law Society’s reaction to Sajid Javid's spending review. Although dwarfed by other events at Westminster last week, he announced a 4.9% increase in the budget for the justice ministry in 2021. I said: "In England and Wales, almost half of civil and criminal courts have closed. More than half of local authorities in England and Wales have no publicly funded legal advice for housing.
“Likewise, criminal legal aid fees for solicitors have not increased since the 1990s – in five years, there will be regions with no duty solicitors at all.
“Investment solely for prisons or prosecution, beneficial though it may be, does not address these problems. The courts, criminal defence and civil legal aid must also receive desperately needed additional funds.”
Two decades after the British government gave legal validity to electronic signatures, the Times (£) and UK Authority report its expert law reform body has concluded that most documents executed digitally have the same legal force as those on paper.
The Lawyer (£) reports on the Law Society's English Law week in Colombia. Find out more about the programme here.
Portsmouth News reported on problems solicitors faced with the Defence Solicitor Call Centre (DSCC). The service was handed over to a new provider. David Greene, vice-president of the Law Society of England and Wales, said the call centre “appears to have undergone a complete system meltdown... denying suspects the right to legal advice risks miscarriages of justice”.
The Gazette reports the Law Society and HMCTS disagreement over the cause of ongoing probate delays. HMCTS claims delays are due to errors in applications whilst Ian Bond, chair of our wills and equity committee, says the figures around the delays are “disingenuous to say the least”. Meanwhile HMCTS apologised for the delays in the probate service since March – it’s reported here in Today’s Wills and Probate.
The Gazette explores turbulence in the professional indemnity insurance market. Paul Bennett, former chair of our small firms division said: “Two- to three-partner firms doing 25%-30% conveyancing need to be aware that prices have gone up and that they will have to demonstrate they are actively managing the risks.”
Alison Hall, a local Newcastle-based solicitor, spoke to BBC Radio Tees (1:19:00) about Alzheimer’s month and granting lasting powers of attorney.
The Shropshire Star led with comments from criminal lawyer, Stephen Scully, on the state of the criminal justice system. Circuit Judge Anthony Lowe claims the justice system is ‘breaking at every point.’ The comments are also reported in the Times (£).
I. Stephanie Boyce, deputy vice president of the Law Society, said: “Solicitors and lay applicants across the country are still reporting waiting longer than six to eight weeks for a grant of probate.”
Paulette Mastin, BAME representative on the Law Society Council and Counsel at Linklaters LLP, is one of the inspirational women in the City profiled by Brummell.
Regulation
Immigration
This week the Immigration Law Committee wrote to the Home Office in joint correspondence with UKCISA (the UK Council for International Student Affairs) and the Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association (ILPA) regarding the visa application processes for students in the UK. A significant increase in the volume of applications is expected over the next few weeks as the new academic term starts, and practitioners have raised concerns the system may be unable to manage the demand.
NDA leaflet
Our Non-Disclosure Agreements leaflet has generated interest outside the legal profession, and has led to requests for meetings from UK Hospitality, the Recruitment and Employment Confederation, and the Association of Model Agents.
Of the 11,000 members who indicated employment law to be of interest to them, 43% of recipients opened the email we sent out with the leaflet, and 10% clicked through to our webpage. This is a high rate of engagement.
The NDA leaflet was also the highest rated story in the previous week’s Professional Update, generating almost 3,000 click-throughs to our website, and more than 20 of our firms have asked us to supply them with hard copies of the leaflet.
As Westminster comes back from its Summer holidays we will be sharing the leaflet with politicians and officials who are interested in this area. We also hope to promote it to advice organisations, such as Citizens Advice and law centres.
Conveyancing
We are in the process of reviewing the question on Japanese knotweed in our TA6 form in response to the report published by the Select Committee on Japanese knotweed.
Parliamentary
Justice committee chair Robert Neill referred to the Law Society during questions in the House of Commons this morning. Neill described the United Kingdom’s legal services market as the second largest in the world, which he credited to the access British lawyers currently have to EU legal markets. He asked the parliamentary under-secretary of state for exiting the European Union, James Duddridge MP, if he recognised that in order to avoid the 10% hit to the country’s income from legal services in the event of a no deal Brexit, as estimated by the Law Society, the government must preserve maximum access to EU markets and develop a comprehensive, cross-departmental strategy to market British legal services as “a world centre of excellence”.
In answer, Duddridge said “given that 6.5% of global legal services pass through the United Kingdom and three out of 15 top firms are based internationally in the UK, it is essential for us to work on a cross-departmental basis.” He referenced the Legal Services are GREAT campaign, launched in Singapore in 2017, as an example of this cooperation.
Our influencing work internationally:
On Friday 6 September, The Brussels Office will host the BBUKOO Legal Issues meeting. Meeting will focus on no deal planning in Belgium for UK citizens, immigration, employment and citizenship rights as well as procurement contracts for third country organisations.
Mickael Laurans, head of international, and Alex Storer international policy adviser attended the International Conference of Legal Regulators in Edinburgh this week where we are having bilateral meetings with our foreign counterparts.
Our VP David Greene, led a delegation of 20 solicitors and barristers along with chairman of the Bar Richard Atkins, QC for our English Law Week events in Mexico and Colombia, which was organised by Ben Stevenson in the international department.
David chaired a session on human rights while our solicitors presented sessions on fintech, anti-corruption, human rights, international arbitration, insurance/reinsurance, energy and infrastructure, exchanging experience and expertise with our counterparts in Mexico and Colombia.
We held a number of side meetings on human rights and Lizzette Robleto de Howarth led two of the Law Society's international women in law roundtables.
We were kindly hosted by the British ambassador to Mexico and the acting ambassador to Colombia for networking receptions with local lawyers.
There was a great deal of interest from both the local professions to continue to deepen the relationships and to improve levels of legal business between our jurisdictions. We hope to be back again next year.
Supporting members at every stage of their career
Our new early career learning and development package is now live, including:
Solicitor Judges' Division Seminar: Breaking Down Barriers, London - Tuesday 10 September 2019
Location: The Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London, WC2A 1PL
This autumn, the Solicitor Judges' Division is hosting a panel discussion on judicial diversity and how we can progress it.
Judicial appointments: interview training for solicitors, London - Saturday 21 September 2019
Location: The Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London, WC2A 1PL
This course - specially developed for solicitor applicants - will equip delegates with the skills to help enhance application and interview performance.
Making the right choices at retirement, September 2019, Birmingham -Tuesday 24 September 2019
Location: Mazars, 45 Church Street, Birmingham, B3 2RT
In partnership with Mazars, leaders in the area of financial planning provision, the Law Society is offering a complementary workshop aimed particularly at people who are within two years of retirement.
In-house Division seminar: How to implement a D&I strategy in your legal team, Manchester -Wednesday 25 September 2019
Location: Weightmans, Hardman Square, 1 Spinningfields, Manchester, M3 3EB
Recent press coverage around how the in-house community can drive change has put a spotlight on this topic and we are keen to explore how the Law Society can help.
Making the right choices at retirement, Leeds -Thursday 26 September 2019
Location: Mazars, 5th Floor, 3 Wellington Pl, Leeds, LS1 4AP
[See above]
To Network or Not Work? How employee diversity network groups can add value to your business, London - 26 September 2019
Junior Lawyers International Weekend, London 27-29 September 2019
Make sure you save the date and book your place for this year’s International Weekend, which will take place between 27 September and 29 September 2019 in London. International Weekend provides delegates with a mix of technical and legal presentations, skills-based seminars, an overview of the legal system in England and Wales, and an introduction to the City of London.
International Weekend gala dinner London - Saturday 28 September 2019
This black-tie event forms part of the larger International Weekend 2019. The gala dinner, which will be held on Saturday 28 September at the Law Society in London, is aimed at junior lawyers in England and Wales and young lawyers from overseas jurisdictions but is open to all. For further information click here.
Advocacy and the Vulnerable Training, Bristol - Afternoon session, Friday 27 September 2019
Location: Bristol - Venue TBC
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.
Black History Month inspirational evening - Friday 4 October 2019
Location: The Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London, WC2A 1PL
The annual Black History Month Inspiration evening brings together an impressive line up of inspiring lawyers. In a highly competitive profession which presents innumerable challenges we profile and celebrate lawyers who have faced and overcame obstacles on their professional journey.
Supporting practice excellence
Competition Section seminar: CPD compliance for Irish practising certificate holders London - Tuesday 10 September 2019
Location: The Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London, WC2A 1PL
This two-hour seminar will cover essential CPD requirements for Irish practising certificate holders, with a particular focus on the regulatory element of Irish professional development.
Risk and Compliance autumn conference 2019: Mitigating risk in a changing regulatory landscape - Bristol Thursday 12 September 2019
Location: Mercure Bristol Holland House Hotel and Spa, Redcliff Hill, Bristol, BS1 6SQ
In this popular one-day event speakers will provide invaluable advice for shaping the future of compliance in your firm and offer practical guidance to help you cultivate a best practice culture throughout your firm or department. The autumn conference will be held in Bristol.
Doing Business in Brussels - Tuesday 17 September 2019
Location: The Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London, WC2A 1PL
The Law Society would like to invite you to a discussion on the opportunities and obstacles in setting up a Brussels office and requalifying into the Flemish speaking Brussels Bar.
Law Tech
Our TechTalk series is going national! The next ‘introduction to LawTech’ event will take place on 18 September 2019 in Cardiff. This event aims to inform practitioners on the fundamentals of legal technology, the type of products available and opportunities for their business: Please book here: https://events.lawsociety.org.uk/ClientApps/Silverbear.Web.EDMS/public/default.aspx?tabId=37&id=2486&orgId=1&guid=1389fe18-d987-413b-9114-693a4a0420a9
Our joint event on ‘Demystifying LawTech’ with Barclays Eagles Lab and the City of London Corporation - Wednesday 18 September 2019
Will look at the adoption of legal technology by law firms and businesses and pressure points preventing businesses from embracing technology. More information and free tickets are available here.
Future of Law lecture - Lawtech with Shruti Ajitsaria, Head of Fuse at Allen & Overy - Tuesday 24 September 2019
Location: The Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London, WC2A 1PL
We invite subject matter experts to explore the most pressing legal questions facing the profession and aim to bring together leaders from across the legal profession, members, policy makers and key stakeholders to discuss how to maintain a successful legal services sector for the future.
Small Firms Annual Conference 2019 - Thursday 19 September, London and Thursday 3 October, Leeds
Joshua Rozenberg QC (hon) will be this year’s keynote speaker. He will discuss changes in the legal sector and the future for small firms. The programme will also cover topics such as small firm business models, cost effective ways to market your firm and the latest updates from the SRA handbooks. Secure your place on or before Tuesday 3 September to save up to £50.
Property Section workshop: risk and negligence in property transactions - problems and pitfalls for practitioners, Leeds - Thursday 19 September 2019
Location: Shulmans LLP, 10 Wellington Pl, Leeds, LS1 4AP
As the residential property market slows and returns on commercial property are threatened by the decline of the High Street, the risk that property owners will look to the professionals who advised them to recoup their losses returns.
Private Client Section seminar: Professor King and topical issues in Private Client Practice, Birmingham- Thursday 19 September 2019
Location: Birmingham - Venue TBC
This one-hour seminar from Professor King will both educate and entertain you with practical guidance on topical issues in Private Client Practice. Lesley will bring you her unique insight and clarity on recent case law and statutory developments and will focus on avoiding traps and pitfalls.
New frontiers in data protection, ePrivacy and workplace surveillance, London -Thursday 26 September 2019
Location: The Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London, WC2A 1PL
This conference will explore some major data protection challenges faced by solicitors, identify the danger spots in introducing new technologies and offer practical advice on mitigating risk.
Small Firms Division annual conference 2019 Leeds, - Thursday 3 October 2019
Location: DoubleTree by Hilton Leeds City Centre, Granary Wharf, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 4BR
The Small Firms Division is dedicated to meeting the needs of all smaller legal businesses, including sole practitioners. The Division's flagship annual conferences will take place in London and Leeds, and will provide practitioners with a half-day of small firms-focused conference sessions, practical tips and networking opportunities.
Seminar on human trafficking - Wednesday 24 October 2019
Location: The Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London, WC2A 1PL
https://events.lawsociety.org.uk/ClientApps/Silverbear.Web.EDMS/public/default.aspx?tabId=37&id=2471&orgId=1&guid=7283ab7f-fc8e-4a0a-86fe-441c66c76081
Webinars
9 September - Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) on commercial property transactions update 2019 – Inclusive for Property Section members
10 September - Risk update 2019 – recent changes and hot topics in risk and compliance - Standard fee of £54 with a 20% discount for Risk and Compliance Service members
11 September - Make crime (and civil law) pay (Tikit sponsored) – sponsored
17 September - SRA Standards and Regulations - changes and opportunities – Inclusive for Risk and Compliance Service members with a 20% discount to LMS members
19 September - Understanding SuDS: The importance of sustainable urban drainage systems and adaptation of water pipes – Standard fee of £54 with a 20% discount for Property Section members
26 September - From emotional intelligence to authentically speaking – Inclusive for LMS members
30 September - Changes to the rules on reporting concerns, the SRA Enforcement Strategy and the new SDT rules – Standard fee of £54 with a 20% discount for Risk
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
Contact the City relationship management team
Diversity & Inclusion Update
Update My Law Society preferences
In-house Forum
Update My Law Society preferences
International Update
Law Society newsletter page
Junior Lawyers Update
Law Society newsletter page
JLD sign-up page
Legal Aid Update
Law Society newsletter page
Professional Update
Law Society newsletter page
Risk & Compliance Update
Join the Risk and Compliance Service
Small Firms Focus
Contact the Small Firms Division
Solicitor Judges Update
Join the Solicitor Judges Division
Campaigns newsletter
Sign up to the Campaigns newsletter
Parliamentary report
Parliamentary report
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
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