I attended the Law Society Council meeting, along with Clive Sutton, on 5 December 2019. Some of the key issues we discussed at the Council meeting are set out below together with an update on current Law Society activities.
Council welcomed Anna Bradley, Chair of the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). She set out the SRA’s draft strategy for 2020-2023 which is out for consultation until 23 January 2020. The draft strategy has three main objectives – high standards for the SRA and the profession, technology and innovation, and anticipating and responding to change.
Reflecting on her first year as Chair of the SRA, Anna talked about the good foundations in place at the SRA and the big agenda of change that had just been delivered. She also highlighted issues such anti-money-laundering, access to justice, diversity and lawtech which were affecting sectors of the profession. Anna also spoke about the need for strong relationships, including with the Law Society, and the need to recognise the respective roles and responsibilities of each organisation. Anna emphasised that together the Law Society and the SRA could work very effectively.
Council had a discussion around its response to the SRA strategy consultation and the need to be clear about the respective roles of each organisation.
Anna Bradley is due to attend the SPG Annual Conference in June 2020 so you will have an opportunity to chat to her there.
Academic Review of Regulation
Stephen Mayson’s review of legal services regulation, under the auspices of UCL, was discussed and it was agreed that a short letter would be sent in response to his interim report, setting out the Law Society’s concerns about its suggested multi-layered approach to regulation.
The Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE)
Since the SRA began to develop SQE in 2014, the Law Society has responded to all four rounds of consultation and the SRA have responded to many of the key issues raised. The inclusion of a degree level qualification and two full working years of qualifying work-experience as requirements were major wins.
The Law Society has also been heavily engaged in ensuring the profession is aware of the upcoming change to legal education, working closely with the Junior Lawyers Division. Most recently this culminated in an updated SQE overview available on the Law Society website. The overview outlines all currently known information on the SQE and is regularly updated with new information as it becomes available.
Alan East (Chair of the Law Society’s Education and Training Committee) has been conducting a podcast series focusing on different elements of the SQE. The most recent of these was recorded with Julie Brannan (Director of Education and Training at the SRA) covering the SQE 1 pilot results. The podcasts are released every 4-6 weeks and aim to provide different perspectives on the SQE’s development. Alan has also spoken at regional meetings with sole practitioners around the country to explain what the changes will mean in practice.
Wales Commission on Justice
The published recommendations of the Commission on Justice reflect long held frustrations based on the view that Wales has been historically under funded and hit harder than England by the cuts to justice funding by Westminster Governments over the last decade. Estimated expenditure by the UK government on the justice system in Wales has fallen by a third since 2009-10, although increased funding by the Welsh Government and Welsh local authorities has offset some of this. The Commission’s recommendations are wide ranging, and the Law Society’s Wales office is in the process of canvassing members across Wales for their views.
Criminal Justice Campaign
The Law Society achieved a number of successes as part of its criminal justice campaign, which was initially launched in January 2019. Highlights from the September to October period included:
- Publishing new analysis on “released under investigation”, which highlights problems with increased usage. This resulted in wide press coverage in the Express, Daily Mail, Channel 4 News, the Guardian, the Telegraph, the Times and over 115 local news outlets. This was based on new data obtained by the law firm Hickman and Rose and a Law Society paper written in collaboration with members of its Criminal Justice Committee. Following this, the Government announced a review of the use of these provisions. The Law Society also held meetings with Diane Abbott (Shadow Home Secretary) and Louise Haigh (Shadow Policing Minister) to discuss the issue.
- A “Write to the Lord Chancellor” e-action was launched calling for action on legal aid deserts and criminal justice – 640 members took part sending letters through the link provided on the Law Society website.
The Solicitor Brand Campaign
Council heard that the Solicitor Brand campaign continues to promote the profession as honest and honourable, approachable and accessible experts in their field, client focused, delivering value for money and adding value to society. The media relations team, with the support of subject matter experts from the staff team and the many volunteer Committees, achieved a 59% increase in broadcast media coverage in the year to 31 October 2019. The member survey made it clear that being a strong voice in the media is one of the things members expect and value from the Law Society.
Other Council Business
Council agreed its annual workplan, having agreed the budget and business plan in September. It also made some changes to the Law Society’s General Regulations further clarifying aspects of the SRA’s independence following changes to the internal governance rules set by the Legal Services Board, and heard details of the Law Society’s ongoing programme to ensure full compliance with these changes by the required date of July 2020.
A further discussion about the future size and shape of Council was held, with the aim of getting Council’s views on the latest stage of the Council Membership Committee’s work. The intention is to ensure that the profession is effectively reflected in the governance structure of its professional body.
The next Council meeting is due to take place on 12 February 2020. Regular updates from my Law Society activities can be found on the SPG website on www.spg.uk.com. If you would like any further information on Law Society activities, or wish to discuss any issues affecting sole practitioners, or would like me to raise any matters with the Law Society, please do not hesitate to contact me on info@legalswan.com or on 0121 551 7866. I would also be interested to hear any thoughts you may have about how the Law Society can support you or what you would like to see it doing for you.
Lubna Shuja
Law Society Council Member for SPG
Chair of the Law Society Membership and Communications Committee Member of the Law Society Board
December 2019