LSB sets out regulators’ role in ensuring ongoing competence
Legal regulators must ensure standards of competence are met and maintained under new rules published by the LSB The Legal Services Board (LSB) has today published a new statutory statement of policy requiring legal services regulators to ensure that lawyers have the necessary skills, knowledge and behaviours to maintain standards of competence on an ongoing […]
Domestic abuse victims to avoid cross-examination by abusers in court
Victims of domestic abuse can be spared from being cross-examined by their alleged attackers in family and civil courts under measures brought into force last week. It follows concerns that perpetrators were using the process as a means of extending their abuse, and victims were being retraumatised by their experiences in court. The change is […]
Abortion erased from UK Government human rights statement
The words “bodily autonomy” and “sexual and reproductive health and rights” have been removed from a multinational statement. The statement, which was organised by the UK Government, originally centred on a fundamental rights for women and girls, and aimed eradicate archaic laws restricting women’s sexual and reproductive health. However, this document has now been altered, […]
Relief for divorcing couples as tax rules set to change
The government has set out changes to the rules that apply to transfers of assets between spouses and civil partners who are in the process of separating. It provides that they be given up to three years in which to make no gain or no loss transfers of assets between themselves when they cease to […]
Compulsory mediation set to reduce hearings – and solicitors’ caseloads
The Ministry of Justice announced this week that legal disputes over claims up to £10,000 are to be resolved through free mediation. Whilst this may cut down the amount of civil court cases, the government has conceded that it could see solicitors lose some of their work. In an impact assessment of increased use of […]
Parent’s of Archie Battersbee lose appeal over life support
The parents of the Archie Battersbee have lost an appeal against a decision to allow life support treatment to end. Appeal judges have supported a High Court ruling to end the 12-year-old boy’s life support. The appeal found ending the life support was in the child’s best interests. However, a 48-hour delay to ending treatment […]
Inaugural Reshaping Legal Services conference set for October
Reshaping Legal Services conference 2022: “the public deserves a strong, ethical and diverse profession” The Legal Services Board and the Legal Services Consumer Panel are holding the inaugural annual Reshaping Legal Services conference on Thursday 13th October 2022 at the King’s Fund in London. Professional ethics and the rule of law will be debated as the […]
CILEX moves to transfer oversight to SRA
CILEX (the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives) is in talks with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) to explore a proposal to transfer the regulation of its members from its own regulator, CILEX Regulation Ltd (CRL), to the SRA. The aim is to ensure that the regulation of the 20,000 CILEX members continues to be both […]
