4 minute read
The Law Society Report
The Law Society Report
UK-Swiss deal creates opportunity for lawyers and law firms
On 14 June, an agreement was signed between Switzerland and the UK that included mutual recognition of professional qualifications, including legal qualifications. This recognition will continue indefinitely beyond 2024, something which the Law Society has welcomed as positive news for solicitors, law firms and the wider economy.
Switzerland is an important market for UK legal services exports. The deal, which exactly reflects the Law Society’s recommendations, confirms and extends indefinitely the current provisions for UK lawyers operating in Switzerland, giving them the permanent right to requalify in Switzerland after three years of registration and practice, without having to complete a Swiss law degree or sit any local exams.
Law Society President, Lubna Shuja, said that ‘the agreement provides a clear, transparent and proportionate requalification path for lawyers in another jurisdiction, which the UK can use as a blueprint for more ambitious commitments in trade negotiations with other countries.
‘This deal will benefit not only our members but also the wider economy. Legal services facilitate all international business transactions and provide crucial support to UK and multinational firms wanting to export. The sector consistently generates a trade surplus. In 2021, net exports of UK legal services stood at £5.4bn.’
Read more at https://www.lawsociety.org.uk/contact-orvisit-us/press-office/press-releases/uk-swiss-deal-createsopportunities-for-lawyers-and-law-firms
Memorandum of Understanding signed
The Law Society of England and Wales, the Bar Council of England and Wales and the Bar Council of India have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen cooperation and legal exchange in light of the opening up of India’s legal services sector to foreign lawyers.
In a MoU signed on Monday 5 June, the Bar Council of India committed to the implementation of its recently announced regulations to permit the practice of home jurisdiction law by English and Welsh lawyers and law firms in India, on the basis of reciprocity.
The MoU formalises an agreement reached in March this year between the Law Society of England and Wales and the Bar Council of India. The signing ceremony was hosted jointly by the Law Society of England and Wales and the Bar Council of England and Wales.
Millions more eligible for legal aid lifeline
On 25 May, the Ministry of Justice announced the outcome of its legal aid means test review consultation, which will see over six million more vulnerable people eligible for legal aid. Changes include raising the gross income threshold for civil legal aid for a single person from £31,884 to £34,950 and removing the £545 monthly cap on allowable housing costs. The upper gross income threshold for magistrates’ court representation will rise from £22,325 to £34,950.
Widened eligibility for civil and criminal legal aid is an important step in the right direction, and something the Law Society have long been pushing for. We are also pleased that the government listened to our concerns on how the original proposals disadvantaged single parents.
The Law Society have stated that all the thresholds need to be increased regularly with inflation as without this, the cost-of-living crisis will mean more and more people will fall back through the justice gap. Law Society President Lubna Shuja has said that the generous eligibility will only make a meaningful difference if people are able to find a solicitor. The Law Society’s legal aid desert maps and duty solicitor heatmaps show how serious the crisis in legal aid provision is, with swathes of England and Wales having no access to face-to-face civil legal aid, and ever-dwindling policy station duty solicitor schemes.
The Law Society will continue to push for greater investment in civil and criminal legal aid provision.
New Law Society Board chair
Amerdeep Somal is to succeed Robert Bourns as Law Society Board chair, and will take up the role on 1 January 2024.
Amerdeep brings a wealth of experience to the role. As well as having experience as a solicitor, she is the complaints commissioner to the financial regulators, a judge of the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal, and sits on the Board of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman. She is also the chief commissioner for the Data and Marketing Ombudsman.
The Law Society’s Board is our key oversight body, made up of Council Members, senior executives and independent members. You can find out more about the Board and how we are governed at https://www.lawsociety.org.uk/about-us/our-governance/. ■
