President's Covid 19 Update - for local law societies

Dear colleague,

Your weekly Law Society update

During the pandemic I will use this weekly update to keep you informed of our latest influencing work as we represent the interests of the profession and the public during these difficult times. I will also let you know about the latest support advice and guidance we have for our members.

Influencing achievements this week

This is a very fast moving situation, but during the last week, our work, based on priorities raised by our members has focused on:

Keeping business afloat

We need to support firms, to make sure that they can stay open, continue to support employees, and keep the wheels of justice turning. We have been speaking to the government about ensuring its business support package is fit to address the issues affecting our members and the measures put in place are accessible and workable for them. We have written formally to the chancellor.

We have been pushing the Government and the Legal Aid Agency for urgent action to address cash flow problems legal aid firms are experiencing. Some steps have been taken, but we hope to see more. We know there is more to do to prevent some firms and business models from falling through the cracks of a rapidly developed scheme and anticipate further announcements. The details of what is available are on our website and we are working on a tool to help you understand what support is available.

Keeping compliant

We are holding continued dialogue with the SRA and other regulators to ensure that our members are supported to comply with the rules in this unprecedented period. We have been seeking practical solutions to compliance with rules which require physical presence, wet signatures or hard copy documents. We will let you know when we can say more about this. We know that many of our members are under particular pressure due to the need to renew professional indemnity insurance at this time.  We will say more about this soon following discussions with the SRA.

Protecting our members’ health and safety

This issue has been raised by many members. It is never acceptable for members to experience less than hygienic conditions in their work in courts, prisons and police stations. Where we have had reports of such conditions, we have raised concerns with Ministry of Justice (MoJ), HM Courts and Tribunal Service (HMCTS), Prisons and Police. This has informed a number of government decisions this week, including the announcement to consolidate part of the court estate.

We have also reminded firms that they should not require their staff to attend the office unless they are key workers during this time.

Supporting future solicitors

The SRA listened to our concerns and developed proposals to ensure the majority of students can still sit their exams. It has also helped to clarify the situation for trainees. We know there will be anxiety from those trying to enter the profession about the impact on training contracts and from those already in training contracts about the impact of furlough. We are seeking more clarification on this.

Work in specific sectors

Members from specific sectors have raised many issues with us.

Conveyancing market

We heard from members the issues they were facing and worked with government and partners to publish industry-wide guidance to conveyancing firms advising clients on house moves during the Coronavirus crisis.

Wills

We have had conversations with the MoJ and SRA around the regulatory requirements for solicitors involved in the execution of wills and a discussion on best practice for members acting in this area. Following our discussion, the SRA have updated their guidance for solicitors who practice in this area, and the MoJ are reviewing options for possible further measures.
 
Mental Health
 
We responded to a request from the Department of Health and Social Care to provide input into forthcoming guidance on the Coronavirus Act 2020 relating to the temporary amendments of the Mental Health Act 1983 (not yet in force). We emphasised that should the provisions be brought into force, this should not be an invitation to depart from normal practice unless absolutely necessary – and then to be corrected as soon as possible afterwards.

Criminal Justice

We have worked with the CPS and the NPCC on a Covid-19 Interview Protocol. This guidance is intended to assist investigators and prosecutors in deciding whether suspects should be interviewed as part of a police investigation during the Covid-19 pandemic.
 
Immigration

We raised practical issues with the Home Office relating to the lack of recourse to public funds for people with leave to remain, and guidance that was published on extending leave due to Covid-19.
 
Legal Aid

We got guidance last week from the LAA on allowing digital signatures. They have agreed to suspend audit and recoupment activity. They have acknowledged that failure because of the pandemic to meet contractual provisions such as keeping an office open to the public, and meeting certain hours requirements, will not be treated as matters attracting contract sanctions. There is guidance on current provisions allowing solicitors to act without evidence of means in exceptional circumstances, which would apply in the current situation. The LAA also highlighted existing underused measures to help cashflow.
Further, the LAA amended its rules so that solicitors can claim a full attendance fee in the police station where they attend an interview remotely.
 
Ongoing work

We are holding daily telecons with the Ministry of Justice and other relevant stakeholders to discuss issues in the criminal justice system. Key issues are: 

• Safety in the police stations
• Safety in courts
• Establishment of processes for progressing cases remotely
• Prioritisation of listing for cases, whether face to face or for remote hearings
• Re-establishing legal visits/videolinks for clients in custody
• Amending the legal aid system to adapt to remote working
• Legal aid cashflow and sustainability issues

 
We are also attending meetings every other day on family, civil and tribunals issues. The key issues we’re discussing are broadly similar (excluding the police station and prison issues), but with particular focus on: 

Working with government

Our strong links with government departments and ministers mean that while we don’t have all of the answers to your questions and issues ourselves, we are working with or lobbying government departments, regulators and others to provide them. We will keep you updated through all of our channels as we get the clarity we are seeking.

 Lord Chancellor Robert Buckland QC MP 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.”

You can see our latest influencing work here. These pages will be regularly updated.
 
We have also published advice help and guidance for our members including:

A dedicated Covid 19 hub on our website here

• Dedicated e-mails to all of our members 
• Gazette news coverage 
• Social media updates 
• Podcast  
• Melinda Giles, a member of our Wills and Equity Committee, has written a blog on the issues that have arisen with wills with the current social distancing and isolation requirements. 

You can see our latest advice and support here 

We have been in the media this week to promote the role and value of the profession in difficult times
Ian Bond, chair of our wills and equity committee, was widely quoted in an article in the Sun about the challenges of putting your affairs in order amid the coronavirus pandemic. The article included some tips for overcoming the problem of witnessing wills and Law Society advice for minimising the risk of contagion. Melinda Giles, also on the wills and equity committee, meanwhile was quoted by CNBC and France-24. Our talks with government on executing wills were also in Evening Standard, Guardian, the FT (£), the Telegraph (£) and the Daily Mail.

The Independent reported that the coronavirus has caused chaos for the justice system – with a huge backlog of cases. Richard Atkinson, co-chair of our criminal law committee, said: “The capacity of the courts is physically limited – even if you man every court when this is over you’re still going to have an extended backlog, plus the new stuff coming through.”

Peter Rodd, Law Society council member, spoke to LBC’s Shelagh Fogarty show on Friday from 2.30pm, about conveyancing rights during the coronavirus crisis.
 
Legal Week and the Gazette cover our recent correspondence with the Bank of England where we asked it to clarify if law firms were eligible for the Covid Corporate Financing Facility, which helps struggling businesses with financial support.  
 
Please feel free to share this information with your members. Please stress that we have ongoing engagement with regulators and government and that these are fast moving issues. Encourage them to check our website and social media for the latest updates. 
 
Kind regards,
 
Simon
 
Simon Davis
President
The Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London. WC2A 1P

Dear Member,
 
The London & South East Relationship Management team are keen to ensure that key updates and information of relevance are communicated to you, and your local law society, periodically. 
 
Please feel free to share the information below more widely with your committees and your membership.
 
Coronavirus (COVID-19)
 
We know members will have questions about the implications of coronavirus (COVID-19) for their clients, their businesses, their professional obligations, their own wellbeing and that of their employees.

In response to questions from our members, our latest advice for firms is listed on our designated Covid-19 page. This information will be updated regularly to reflect the most recent guidance.
As well as updates and advice, we're influencing government, regulators and other stakeholders on behalf of our members.

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.
 
Please get in touch to share any concerns you have relating to coronavirus and your business and the practice of law. Your feedback is essential in order for us to keep our guidance as up-to-date and relevant as possible. Contact beth.quinn@lawsociety.org.uk
 
Coronavirus (COVID-19) interview protocol
 
We have worked with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) on a coronavirus interview protocol.
 
This guidance is intended to assist investigators and prosecutors in deciding whether suspects should be interviewed as part of a police investigation during the coronavirus pandemic.
 
It will be reviewed monthly from 1 April 2020 and is intended for use only during the coronavirus crisis.
 
Read more and download the protocol
 
Changes to the asylum and immigration appeals process
 
Due to the coronavirus there have been some temporary changes to the asylum and immigration appeals process.
 
First-tier Tribunal
From 25 March 2020 there will be no face-to-face appeal hearings at the First-tier Tribunal.
 
Case management review hearings
Case management review (CMR) hearings will be conducted by phone until at least 30 April 2020. If the CMR shows that a full hearing is needed, this will be done by video.
 
Upper Tribunal
The Upper Tribunal has cancelled almost all listed hearings, including judicial reviews.
 
More information
The Immigration and Asylum Tribunal Chamber presidential practice statement note about COVID-19
 
Coronavirus and data protection
 
Coronavirus is having a significant impact on workplaces globally as governments and organisations are encouraging employees to work from home. But as organisations expand and embed their remote working capabilities, the overall surface area of risk widens.
 
Read more from our Policy Advisor, Andrew McWhir.
 
Support for our members' wellbeing and their businesses
 
With the continued spread of coronavirus we're focusing on supporting our members' safety and wellbeing. We're monitoring the situation and listening to your concerns.
 
With the move to remote working and cancellation of face-to-face events, we'll be providing more online support and virtual events.
 
There are a range of resources available to help you:
 
Support services for solicitors
 
Stress and mental health
 
Advice for firms facing financial difficulty
 
Cybersecurity guidance
 
LawCare: support on working from home 
 
Open Consultations
 
Consultation on Mental Health Tribunal reforms- closing date for responses 7th April 2020- Link to consultation
 
The Tribunal Procedure Committee (TPC) is inviting views on a proposal to change the way that the First-tier Tribunal lists hearings in relation to applications by patients detained under section 2 of the Mental Health Act 1983 (MHA), dealt with in the Health, Education and Social Care Chamber (HESC).
 
Drug offences consultation- closing date for responses 17th April 2020- Link to consultation
 
The Sentencing Council is consulting on a new guideline for sentencing drugs offences.
 
Family Procedure Rule Committee Consultation : Legal Bloggers- Private consultation, link not available- closing date for responses 20th April 2020- Policy Advisor Jessica.Mearns@lawsociety.org.uk
 
The Family Procedure Rules Committee is looking to understand the wider views on the attendance of legal bloggers at hearings in family proceedings and is interested in hearing from the wider community.
 
Protecting users of legal services - prioritising payments from the SRA Compensation Fund: Consultation- closing date for responses 21st April 2020- Link to consultation  Policy Advisor Simon.Thomson@lawsociety.org.uk
 
The key issues include:
 
• Litigation costs and application fee support
• Circumstances where a solicitor has failed to have PII cover in place
• Maximum payments from the Fund
• Barristers and experts
• Conduct and behaviour of the applicant
• Contributions to the Fund
 
Revisions to the Attorney General's Guidance on disclosure and the CPIA Code of Practice- 
closing date for responses 22nd April 2020- Link to consultation
 
The Attorney General’s Office is consulting on changes to the guidelines and Code of Practice for disclosure.
 
If you have any questions in relation to any of the above, please do not hesitate to contact us at London&SouthEastTeam@lawsociety.org.uk         
 
Best wishes,
 
Beth, Bhavni and Stuart.

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

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

​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.

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
 

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

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
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 Update
Sign up to the Campaigns Update newsletter

Parliamentary report
Sign up to the Parliamentary report newsletter

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

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 Gazette and Yahoo! News reported on Suella Braverman’s appointment as attorney general. I said: “An independent judiciary is fundamental to the rule of law and underpins the UK’s reputation for fairness and impartiality. I look forward to working with the lord chancellor and attorney-general with these principles front and foremost.”
 
The BBC and Dundee Messenger covered the human cost of ‘no-fault’ evictions. I said section 21 is "one of the leading causes of family homelessness in the UK".

The FT (£), Valor International and Business Mayor reported city firms have ditched dress codes and using ‘Dear Sir(s)’ to create a more inclusive workplace. Immediate past Law Society president Christina Blacklaws said: “Making changes to the way we address each other and what we are allowed to wear to work are relatively easy and make a huge and positive impact on inclusion and law firm culture.”
 
Following the government’s announcement of a new ‘points-based’ immigration system after Brexit, Zeena Luchowa on our immigration law committee, spoke to Channel 5 News about the new system.  

Natasha Williams, a member of our immigration law committee, also discussed her concerns about the new legislation with BBC Radio Tees (from 1:03:57). 
 
New Statesman covered the Technology and Law Public Policy Commission’s report into algorithmic systems in the criminal justice system, which also recommended measures for oversight, registration and risk mitigation in the justice system.
 
The Gazette, Legal Futures, Today’s Conveyancer and Today’s Will & Probate reported on our opposition to the planned 20% rise in the Legal Ombudsman’s (LeO) budget due to our concern about its overall performance.
 
Legal Support Network, Legal Futures and Modern Law Magazine reported that Insight Legal Software has become one of the Law Society’s strategic partners. I said: “Their in-depth knowledge of the legal profession allows our members to benefit from their award-winning legal accounts, case management and practice management solutions.”
 
The Gazette covered the launch of our 2020 Diversity Access Scheme (DAS). I said: “I encourage any aspiring solicitor who is facing particular challenges on their way to qualification to consider applying for a place on the scheme.”

The New Law Journal covered the Law Society Group gender pay gap report which shows there is a 10.6% mean gap. A spokesperson said: “There is still much more to be done. The Law Society and SRA have targeted action plans in place to address this challenge and the Group is committed to being a fully inclusive workplace.”

The Gazette reported the Law Society's immediate past president Christina Blacklaws was one of several signatories who signed a letter calling for wider action over a judge’s comments on rape.

The co-chair of our criminal law committee, Ian Kelcey, also spoke to LBC about the story and laws around consent.

Legal Futures reports on the Legal Services Board (LSB)’s push for regulators to have more independence. The Law Society said this is “a potential to be a destabilising factor at a time when the sector is going through a period of unprecedented change and uncertainty.”
 
Legal Futures reported that the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) could be faced with a cash shortage if the new anti-money laundering (AML) rules expand to include firms offering tax advice.

Netanya Clixby, a member of our LGBT+ lawyers’ division, wrote a comment piece for the Gazette on a decade of the Equality Act. She said: “The act has been a great step forward in the protection of vulnerable communities, but there is room for improvement.”
 
Masood Ahmed, a member of our civil procedure rule committee, provided a helpful legal update in the Gazette about interim payment on account of costs in personal injury and high-value negligence claims. 

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

Regulation
 
Response to the Legal Service Board (LSB) Consultation
The Law Society responded to the Legal Services Board’s (LSB) consultation on its 2020/21 Business Plan. We are broadly supportive of the proposed work plan, but urge the LSB to focus the vast majority of its resources on discharging its core statutory function laid out under the Legal Services Act (LSA) 2007 and hold front line regulators to account to ensure that high standards of regulation are maintained, rather than diverting resources to work which is outside of its core regulatory remit. 

Response to the Office of Legal Complaints (OLC) Corporate Strategy
On Friday 14 February, we submitted our response to the Office of Legal Complaints (OLC) corporate strategy 2020-23. The strategy revealed three new strategic objectives and proposed a substantial increase (20%) to the Legal Ombudsman’s (LeO) current budget. It said that this would be used to fund more operational staff, invest in feedback to the profession and for IT costs/ inflation. Whilst feedback to members to prevent complaints arising is supported, there is a lack of detail about the level of additional resources and their deployment. Funding such a budget would undoubtedly impact on practising certificate fees and we are unable to support the increase at the level sought.

SRA Accounts Rules
Representatives of the regulatory processes committee (RPC) met with the SRA to discuss issues raised by members about the SRA Accounts Rules 2019. The meeting was productive and a number of matters have been clarified or have been taken away for further consideration by the SRA. The SRA indicated that it will consider issuing further guidance to the profession on some of the issues discussed and we hope to share information with members in due course.

Private Law
 
Tax
On Thursday 13 February, members of the capital taxes sub-committee met with HM Revenue & Customs and HM Treasury to discuss the current technical consultation on the Fifth Money Laundering Directive and the Trust Registration Service.
 
On Wednesday 19 February, members of the tax law committee met with HM Revenue & Customs to discuss the implementation of the EU directive known as DAC 6 in the UK, which imposes reporting requirements on lawyers and others involved in certain cross-border arrangements.
 
Justice

Justice week 2020
Championed by the Law Society, the Bar Council and CILEx, Justice Week aims to boost the profile of justice and the rule of law, placing them at the centre stage of public and political debate. Taking place from Monday 24 to Friday 28 February, Justice Week 2020 will focus on young people’s experiences and understanding of the justice system in England and Wales. To see the full list of Justice Week activities, please visit Justice Week 2020

As part of Justice Week, the Law Society is assembling a 'hacking justice' team to help fix our crippled justice system. If you are a solicitor, barrister, programmer, student, professor or passionate about increasing access to justice, we need you! Prior to the start date you will be sent a brief, including the defined user group, user characteristics and problem statements. Sign Up Here
 
Speaking engagements
 
CEO Paul Tennant met with permanent secretary to the Ministry of Justice Richard Heaton on Wednesday 19 February.
 
On Tuesday 18 February, deputy vice president I. Stephanie Boyce spoke at “An evening with the deputy vice president of the Law Society,” and at a member event with the Buckinghamshire, Berkshire & Oxfordshire Law Society.
 
Parliamentary
 
On Wednesday last week (12 February) the Law Society was mentioned three times during a House of Lords debate on algorithmic decision-making in the public sector by peers citing findings from our report on algorithms in the criminal justice system. Lord Clement-Jones referenced the concerns raised in the Law Society’s report and highlighted our recommendations on oversight, registration and mitigation of risks in the justice system. Lord Taylor of Warwick (non-affiliated) stated that he was “most worried about the Law Society’s concerns”, highlighting the risk of unconscious bias affecting the outcomes of data-based predictive policing tools and leading to discriminatory outcomes for BAME communities. Lord Stunell (Lib Dem) meanwhile noted that the Law Society, among other organisations, had concluded that it is difficult to know the full extent of the use of AI in the public sector.
 
Last Thursday (13 February) the solicitor general responded to questions in the House of Commons on behalf of the government’s law officers. In response to a question on the public’s understanding of the law, the solicitor general Michael Ellis QC MP noted events which will take place as part of the forthcoming Justice Week (24-28 February). Later in the session, Stuart C. McDonald MP (SNP) said that public understanding of the law is vital for the rule of law, and noted remarks made by myself on the importance of judicial review, and called for the government to stop attacking judges.
 
Join our LGBT+ lawyers division committee
 
We are looking for enthusiastic, passionate members of the legal profession with an interest in LGBT+ issues, or who are a part of the LGBT+ community, to join the committee. Submit your application by Friday 28 February. Apply here

Our international work:
 
I led a business development mission to Tokyo on Monday 17 and Tuesday 18 February 2020 together with the Dai Ichi Tokyo Bar Association. The programme included visits to the national regulatory body: the Japan Federation of Bar Association (JFBA); the Tokyo and Japan Chambers of Commerce; and law firms Yuasa and Hara,  Nagashima, Ohno & Tsunematsu and Atsumi & Sakai. The delegation also met with Supreme Court Justice Kohichi Kusano and participated in a joint seminar with the Dai Ichi Tokyo Bar Association, where our delegates spoke on international arbitration, artificial intelligence and immigration law.
 
The visit also provided a good opportunity to engage with the British Embassy and members on the ground in light of Japan and UK beginning to negotiate a new bilateral agreement using the existing EU agreement as a base, looking for opportunities to enhance areas of mutual interest. On Monday morning, I chaired a roundtable with member firms in Tokyo, hosted by the British Embassy, to identify the key asks of the legal services sector. This was then discussed directly with Japanese counterparts and will form the basis of the Law Society’s submission to government for these discussions.
 
During the meetings, we also received a useful update on proposed amendments to the Act on Special Measures concerning the Handling of Legal Services by Foreign Lawyers (foreign lawyers Act) that will substantially lessen procedural burdens for foreign registered lawyers and international arbitration in Japan. We strongly welcome the news that the bill amending the foreign lawyers Act is expected to pass the Diet later this year.
 
This week I am also attending the European Presidents’ Conference in Vienna where I met with all European Bar leaders, including from other UK jurisdictions and legal professions. The topic for the 48th Conference is ‘Democracy and Rule of Law – Keeping up the pressure’. This was an opportunity to strengthen bilateral relationships and to share information about our work at the European level.
 
On Tuesday 18 and Wednesday 19 February the Brussels office participated in the PBSC Brussels programme. Marcus Corry, EU policy advisor participated in the delegation and met with French Permanent Representation, Business Europe, European Services Forum, City of London Corporation, Trade Commissioner, Phil Hogan’s Cabinet, UK Mission, UK Taskforce of the European Council.

On Wednesday 19 February Rita Giannini, EU policy adviser was speaking at an event: democracy drinks on Brexit and the rule of law

Supporting members at every stage of their career
 
Fighting for Your Rights Hackathon -Tuesday 25 February 2020
Location: The Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London, WC2A 1PL
On the 25 February 2020, The Law Society is assembling a hacking justice team to help fix our crippled justice system in partnership with Access to Justice Foundation.
 
Solicitor Judges and Advocacy Networking Drinks 2020 - Thursday 27 February 2020
Location: The Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London, WC2A 1PL
Join us for The Law Society's annual solicitor judges and advocacy networking drinks 2020; an excellent opportunity to meet solicitor advocates and solicitor judges
  
Unpausing the conversation on menopause - Tuesday 24 March, 2020
Join us on Tuesday 24 March to challenge taboos and erase the stigma around the menopause. We will be joined by a line 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
 
Supporting practice excellence

Capital markets in the 21st century 2020 - Friday 28 February 2020
Location: The Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London, WC2A 1PL
We are delighted to announce that the sixth Law Society and American Bar Association capital markets conference will take place on 28 February 2020.

Money Matters and Misconceptions for Women in Law -Tuesday 03 March 2020, London
Location: The Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London, WC2A 1PL
In collaboration with the Law Society, our strategic partner and specialist provider of financial planning advice, Wesleyan Financial Services, are hosting a series of free to attend seminars. Hear key speakers from within the legal profession talk about the importance of making your money work as hard as you are.
 
Law Management Section People in Practice Conference 2020 - Wednesday 04 March 2020
Location: The Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London, WC2A 1PL
We are delighted to announce that registration is now open for the 2019 law management section people in practice conference on Wednesday 4 March 2020 at the Law Society in London.

Money Matters and Misconceptions for Women in Law - Birmingham - Wednesday 04 March 2020
Location: Wesleyan Assurance Society, Colmore Circus, Birmingham B4 6AR
In collaboration with the Law Society, our strategic partner and specialist provider of financial planning advice, Wesleyan Financial Services, are hosting a series of free to attend seminars. Hear key speakers from within the legal profession talk about the importance of making your money work as hard as you are.
 
Section 106s and planning conditions (Planning law update 2020) - Webinar 04 March 2020 inclusive to Property

Sexual misconduct in law firms - Webinar 04 March 2020 20% discount to risk and compliance
 
Money Matters and Misconceptions for Women in Law - Manchester – Thursday 05 March 2020
Location: DLA Piper, 1 St Peter’s Square, Manchester M2 3DE
In collaboration with the Law Society, our strategic partner and specialist provider of financial planning advice, Wesleyan Financial Services, are hosting a series of free to attend seminars. Hear key speakers from within the legal profession talk about the importance of making your money work as hard as you are.
 
New SRA Handbook compliance updates – what’s new for in-house lawyers? -Thursday 05 March 2020,  Birmingham
Location: Pinsent Masons, 55 Colmore Row, Birmingham, B3 2FG
The new SRA handbook published later this year brings changes for in-house lawyers. Gain clarity and get an understanding of what these updates mean for you practically. Come with any questions you may have and join us for an interactive session.

Private Client Section: cross border conference 2020 - The new international landscape - Friday 06 March 2020
Location: The Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London, WC2A 1PL
The 2020 cross border conference will help you to keep on top of the increasingly complex and changing environment of international private client work.
 
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 Update
Sign up to the Campaigns Update newsletter

Parliamentary report
Sign up to the Parliamentary report newsletter

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

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.

Council

Following our Council meeting last week, the usual council report is being circulated to local law societies and the Gazette. Council considered a paper with specific proposals about a maximum term length for Council membership. This was not approved. Almost half of Council members have served 4 years or fewer, 23 members have served 12 or more years. Consideration of various aspects of Law Society governance will continue to be reviewed by the Council Membership Committee and Council.

The Law Society’s media profile this week
 
The Evening Standard, Southern Daily Echo and the Western Mail all quoted my response to the appointment of Suella Braverman as attorney general and the reappointment of Robert Buckland as justice secretary in the reshuffle. I said: “We look forward to working with them to ensure that the rule of law is upheld in this country, that justice is available to all and that our strengths as a jurisdiction are maintained: an independent judiciary, a talented legal profession and laws which uphold business and human rights.”

Meanwhile iNews reported suggestions by the attorney general that supreme court judges could be interviewed by politicians. I said: “Justices of the Supreme Court are rightly subjected to a rigorous appointments process and are successful because of their merit, probity and outstanding knowledge of the law. We expect them to interpret and apply the law without fear or favour and this can only be achieved if they are free from political interference."
 
The Guardian and The Gazette provided insight into the importance of judicial review, following a Court of Appeal ruling stopping the government from deporting some individuals to Jamaica. I said: “Judicial Review is a vital part of the checks and balances necessary to protect people from powerful institutions. It underpins the rule of law.”
 
The Terrorist Offenders (Restriction of Early Release) Bill went through the House of Commons yesterday, meaning prisoners who would have been automatically been released half-way through a sentence will now have to spend two-thirds in prison before they are referred to the Parole Board.
 
Richard Atkinson, co-chair of our criminal law committee, warned of the dangers of applying legislation retrospectively on BBC Radio 4 PM (13:38) and BBC Wales (1:16:30).

Meanwhile, I told the Gazette earlier this week: “Applying this bill retrospectively will change the rules for many prisoners mid-sentence, meaning that time on licence will actually be spent in prisons. More prisoners will choose to appeal their sentences, placing an additional burden on our already overstretched justice system.”
 
Business desires ‘bolder’ legislation on human rights and environment according to a survey released by the British Institute of International and Comparative Law – covered by the Times. (£). Sue Willman, chair of our human rights committee, described the proposals as a “strengthening of tort law to change the burden of proof so companies would have to show they had taken steps to prevent human rights harms”.
  
Dr Marina Brilman, of our international team, spoke to Polish news programme Fakty TVN about changes to the judiciary which could undermine its independence.
 
Jonathan Radcliffe, a partner at Reed Smith, was on talkRadio (in the 12:30 to 1:00pm slot from 07:02) discussing recent inventions and how to register your intellectual property. 
  
The Gazette, Today’s Wills and Probate, the Justice Gap, Today’s Conveyancer,  and Family Law Week all cover Law Society calls for the government to follow through on their promises in the LASPO review made a year ago.

I said: “One year on from the LASPO review, the government must follow through on their commitment to reassess the availability of legal aid and give the public the access to justice they so clearly support. Our legal needs survey with the Legal Services Board shows a huge 92% of adults support legal aid. The Ministry of Justice’s recognition of these problems in their post-implementation review of LASPO was welcome”. 

Law Society head of justice Richard Miller was interviewed by the International Bar Association on the crisis in our justice system. He said: “Since LASPO, nothing is covered by legal aid unless it’s specifically listed in the Act. The system is now very constrained, the service that’s left is very fragmented and it can’t really work towards a holistic solution for the individual.”
 
Gary Rycroft, a member of our digital assets working group, spoke to BBC Radio 5 Live (1:10:16) about compulsory purchase orders for the HS2 route.
 
Legal Business cited our UK-EU future partnership – legal services sector report, which found that Britain could take a £3.5bn hit from a no-deal Brexit.
 
Legal Futures reported on our legal aid deserts campaign, where our analysis found that 79% of local authorities in England and Wales do not have a single community care legal aid provider. View our heat map.
 
Our updated TA6 conveyancing forms on Japanese Knotweed were covered in House Ladder, Property Industry Eye, Today’s Conveyancer. The Negotiator, Mortgage Introducer, Mortgage Solutions, Inside Conveyancing and Estate Agent Today. I said: “We have updated the form following a recommendation that we review this question by the House of Commons Select Committee on Japanese knotweed. The changes reflect the increased scientific knowledge about this species. Other sections, including flood risk, have also been updated.”
 
Workplace Insight, Legal Futures and Tech Register continued coverage of the Technology and Law Public Policy Commission’s report into algorithmic systems in the criminal justice system.
 
Inside Conveyancing and Roofing Today report on the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has launched a new professional statement – Code for Leasing Business Premises – which will be mandatory for all UK RICS members to follow.
 
Property Week also cited RICS’ plans to launch a review of valuation practices to ensure surveyors remain ‘relevant and trusted’.
 
The Gazette covered our response to the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s three-year strategy, where it has proposed becoming involved in raising public awareness of legal services, looking in more detail at unmet legal need and investigating consumer concerns.
 
The Law Society said: “The SRA should therefore focus on its core regulatory function of ensuring high, professional standards of competence rather than diverting too high a proportion of its resource to other strands of work.”
 
Legal Cheek reported that research by legal recruiter Douglas Scott has found 30% of trainees across England and Wales are paid below the Law Society’s recommended minimum salary.
 
Ahead of Justice Week 2020, Educator UK and Legal Action Group outline some of the events.
 
The Times (£) reported that recorders may be facing disqualification for not spending enough in court. Ian Kelcey, the co-chair of our criminal law committee, said there was a “massive underuse” at certain courts.

The FT (£) looked at the proposed increase to intestacy rates for spouses whose partners die without a will. “This increase is very welcome but many people are unaware that under intestacy laws, unmarried partners and close friends cannot inherit,” I said. 

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

Justice
 
We held the first Means Test Focus Group for practitioners to talk to Ministry of Justice officials about their and their clients’ experiences with the means test in Newcastle on Wednesday 05 February.
 
On Thursday we attended a Quality of Youth Court Advocacy Working Group meeting. These meetings are hosted at the Ministry of Justice but are profession-led and chaired by Kate Aubrey-Johnson, until recently of Just For Kids Law.
 
Justice Week 2020
Championed by the Law Society, the Bar Council and CILEx, Justice Week aims to boost the profile of justice and the rule of law, placing them at the centre stage of public and political debate. Taking place from Monday 24 to Friday 28 February, Justice Week 2020 will focus on young people’s experiences and understanding of the justice system in England and Wales. To see the full list of Justice Week activities, please visit Justice Week 2020

As part of Justice Week, the Law Society is assembling a 'Hacking Justice' team to help fix our crippled justice system. If you are a solicitor, barrister, programmer, student, professor or passionate about increasing access to justice, we need you! Prior to the start date you will be sent a brief, including the defined user group, user characteristics and problem statements. Sign Up Here

Family
The Divorce Dissolution and Separation Bill had its second reading in the House of Lords this week. The full transcript of the second reading in the Lords can be read on Hansard here. The Law Society received 10 positive mentions and there was expressions of support from the Lords for some of our suggested improvements to the Bill.  Our briefing was quoted by Baroness Burt of Solihull (Lib Dem), and referenced by Lord Marks of Henley, Lib Dem Lords spokesperson on justice, and shadow attorney general Baroness Chakrabarti. 
 
Speaking engagements

The deputy vice president spoke at a careers event for the Law Society’s In-House Division on Tuesday 11 February, and at the OECD’s Friends of Gender Equality meeting on Friday 14 February.
 
I spoke at a British Italian Conservatives event on Brexit and the Law, alongside Alberto Costa MP, the architect of various citizens’ rights measures in early 2019. Council Member Maria Memoli also spoke, and together myself and Maria outlined the importance of legal services to the UK economy and to the proper functioning of the rule of law, as well as key civil judicial co-operation measures that will be necessary in the future relationship. 
 
Carey Street
 
I hosted a dinner discussion on ethics in the profession, guests included representatives from Clifford Chance, DAC Beachcroft, Hogan Lovells, and Kingsley Napley.
 
Join our LGBT+ Lawyers Division Committee
 
We’re looking for enthusiastic, passionate members of the legal profession with an interest in LGBT+ issues, or who are a part of the LGBT+ community, to join the committee.
Submit your application by Friday 28 February.
Apply here
 
Our international work:
 
Updates from our Brussels office as follows:

On Monday 10 February Marcus Corry, EU policy advisor attended the UK Mission New Year reception with the British Ambassador Sir Tim Barrow.
On Tuesday 11 February Helena Raulus, head of the Brussels office, attended a meeting with Alan Beattie, FT reporter.

On Thursday 13 February Anna Drozd, EU policy advisor attended together with Pavel Klimov, Chair of Technology Working Group, a European Data Protection Supervisor workshop on Artificial Intelligence.

On Friday 14 February, Helena Raulus chaired the Diversity Awareness Committee hosted by the British Chamber of Commerce.
 
Stephen Denyer and Ben Stevenson were in Austin, Texas for the ABA and NABE midyear conferences, engaging with a wide range of ABA bodies and state bar associations. Key topics of discussion included developments in legal regulation, UK-US trade in legal services, non-lawyer ownership and access to justice. They developed plans for joint events for members with some of our US partners in London and New York later this year. 
 
Supporting members at every stage of their career
 
Fighting for Your Rights Hackathon -Tuesday 25 February 2020
Location: The Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London, WC2A 1PL
On the 25 February 2020, The Law Society is assembling a Hacking Justice Team to help fix our crippled justice system in partnership with Access to Justice Foundation.
 
Solicitor Judges and Advocacy Networking Drinks 2020 - Thursday 27 February 2020
Location: The Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London, WC2A 1PL
Join us for The Law Society's annual Solicitor Judges and Advocacy Networking Drinks 2020; an excellent opportunity to meet solicitor advocates and solicitor judges
  
Unpausing the conversation on menopause - Tuesday 24 March, 2020
Join us on Tuesday 24 March to challenge taboos and erase the stigma around the menopause.
We will be joined by a line 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

Supporting Practice excellence

New Accounts Rules – How is it for you so far?-  Webinar 20 February 2020  20% discount to risk and compliance
 
Capital markets in the 21st century 2020 - Friday 28 February 2020
Location: The Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London, WC2A 1PL
We are delighted to announce that the sixth Law Society and American Bar Association capital markets conference will take place on 28 February 2020.
 
Law Management Section People in Practice Conference 2020 - Wednesday 04 March 2020
Location: The Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London, WC2A 1PL
We are delighted to announce that registration is now open for the 2019 Law Management Section People in Practice Conference on Wednesday 4 March 2020 at the Law Society in London.
 
Money Matters and Misconceptions for Women in Law - Birmingham - Wednesday 04 March 2020
Location: Wesleyan Assurance Society, Colmore Circus, Birmingham B4 6AR
In collaboration with the Law Society, our strategic partner and specialist provider of financial planning advice, Wesleyan Financial Services, are hosting a series of free to attend seminars. Hear key speakers from within the legal profession talk about the importance of making your money work as hard as you are.

Section 106s and planning conditions (Planning law update 2020) - Webinar 04 March 2020 inclusive to Property

Sexual misconduct in law firms - Webinar 04 March 2020 20% discount to risk and compliance

Money Matters and Misconceptions for Women in Law - Manchester – Thursday 05 March 2020
Location: DLA Piper, 1 St Peter’s Square, Manchester M2 3DE
In collaboration with the Law Society, our strategic partner and specialist provider of financial planning advice, Wesleyan Financial Services, are hosting a series of free to attend seminars. Hear key speakers from within the legal profession talk about the importance of making your money work as hard as you are.

Private Client Section: cross border conference 2020 - The new international landscape - Friday 06 March 2020
Location: The Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London, WC2A 1PL
The 2020 Cross border conference will help you to keep on top of the increasingly complex and changing environment of international private client work.

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.
 
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City Update
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In-house Forum
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International Update
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Junior Lawyers Update
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Legal Aid Update
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Professional Update
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Risk & Compliance Update
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Small Firms Focus
Contact the Small Firms Division

Solicitor Judges Update
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Campaigns Update
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Parliamentary report
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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