4 minute read
Council Member's Report
Council Member’s Report
BY SUSHILA ABRAHAM
As the Council meeting on 2nd July, we had the SRA provide a report on their activities. Questions were raised about the quality assurance around the SQE exams including the assessments like conduct and ethics training for those coming into the profession. Given the recent debacle in the errors around marking of the exam papers where some 175 candidates failed and the stress those candidates had to undergo. If they had not appealed many would not have realised that they in fact had passed. Questions were raised as to the numbers doubling taking the SQE.
No doubt you would have all read in the press about the SRA’s decision to regulate CILEX members. The increase in the Compensation Fund levy has been raised and the SRA have not provided the evidence to justify the increase.
There is a potential impact of proposed changes to the Money Laundering Regulations (MLRs) on the legal profession. Solicitors Journal, Today’s Wills and Probate The SRA will be consulting on proposals to update their approach to issuing financial penalties to law firms and solicitors. They are proposing amendments to their band-based approach which will involve new fining bands. There will also be changes to their published fining guidance. The financial penalties consultation will end on Friday 20th September 2024. Here is the link: https://www.sra.org.uk/sra/consultations/consultation-listing/ financial-penalties-further-developing-framework/ SRA Consumer Protection Review – The ability for Solicitors to continue to handle Client money. You can find the response from the Law Society on the SLS website. Further news in relation to the work of the international team at the Law Society - The Law Society has been in discussion with the Bar Council of India on the opening of the Indian legal market to foreign lawyers. It has now been confirmed that the Indian legal market will be open to UK law firms by the end of July.
The Criminal Justice system is crumbling with backlogs spiralling leaving victims and defendants waiting years for justice. There is a decline of Criminal Defence Lawyers, and this has not helped with the reduction in legal aid fees, lawyers facing a lot of stress and poor working conditions.
The large Family Court backlogs are having an impact on children and families. We hope that any new government will get to grips with the failing court system and bring about changes to help families at an early stage of breakdown.
Hague – 19 Convention – the UK government has ratified the Hague Convention of 2nd July 2019 which provides a framework for recognising and enforcing judgments between the UK and the other contracting states. It will now provide a greater certainty for business and consumers who litigate in England and Wales.
No doubt you would have all read that following the release of the TA6 property Information Form in March 2024, the Property Lawyers Action Group (PLAG) called for a SGM of Law Society members to debate and vote on a motion of no confidence in the ability of the Law Society in representing its members who undertake conveyancing. The SGM has been called and this will be on 23rd July 2024 at the Law Society and online.
The Law Society has launched the TA6 consultation and is inviting you to sign up and take part in the consultation. You can details on how to sign up at https://www.lawsociety.org.uk/ topics/property/sign-up-to-take-part-in-ta6-form-consultation.
The Law Society Interim Report on the 21st Century Justice project - The aim of this programme is to tackle some of the biggest problems in the justice system and increasing access to justice. https://www.lawsociety.org.uk/campaigns/21st-centuryjustice
I would once again request that if you have not updated your details on MyLS then please do it and if you have not registered on MyLS then please do register in order to receive updates etc.
Please do let me know if you have any issues that you wish to discuss with me or would like me to take to the Law Society. ■
