Council Members Report

REPORT

Council Members Report

Adrienne Edgerley Harris

Adrienne Edgerley Harris is the elected Law Society Council representative for all the solicitors in the Southern Region (Hampshire & IOW) and has been in post for just over a year. She is also a member of the Law Society Regulatory Processes Committee, which has oversight of the activities of the SRA, the Legal Ombudsman and Legal Services Board. This provides a clear perspective on regulatory developments from which she can inform HILS members.

This is a summary of some of the Council activity over the last year.

Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth II

With the news of the death of Her Majesty, TLS President sent a message of condolence ad loyalty to His Majesty King Charles III on behalf of Law Society members.

Change was not to stop there, as Boris Johnson gave way to the new Prime Minister, Liz Truss – and now we have Rishi Sunak. This has resulted in the disruption of various bills through Parliament and a renewed direction of travel: there is hope that proper funding of the criminal justice system will take a higher profile – and the new Law Society President Lubna Shuja is continuing to press government on this. Influencing the Bill of Rights Bill continues to be a priority: the Society welcomed the opportunity afforded by the pause in the passage of the Bill to revise and rethink its contents.

There is also active engagement over the National Security Bill and proposals for legislative reform concerning SLAPPs (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation).

President’s visit to Hampshire & IOW

In May 2022, Adrienne was delighted to secure President I, Stephanie Boyce’s visits to various educational establishments in Hampshire, namely Farnborough Sixth Form College, Southampton University and Winchester University. The IOW Law Society also hosted the President on the Island. She gave a talk about her challenges in working in the law which was well received by the students, in house lawyers and local solicitors attending.

I am liaising with the new President’s office as to how HILS members might engage with her in the coming year. All ideas are welcome.

Her priorities include the ethical challenges the profession faces, being an influential voice on justice, the rule of law and the value of solicitors and listening to members (there will be Roadshows to the regions and President’s Surgeries open to all members).

Member engagement

This has been a major plank for The Law Society. TLS recognises it must do more to show that it can answer the question “what does TLS do for me?”.

The initiative seems to be working: there was a record level of responses to the PC Fees Consultation and the strongest-ever performance, in terms of member readership, of the Society’s Professional Update.

Enhanced work to engage members through Local Societies had continued, with peer support, online information (including the bulletin), another successful virtual Town Hall Meeting for local societies and ongoing Presidential visits.

Please remember that engagement is a two-way process, so please let me know if you have ideas to enhance the links with Chancery Lane. I encourage you to sign up to myLaw Society via the Law Society website.

SIF

You will be aware of the SRA’s proposal to abolish the Solicitors Indemnity fund (SIF). The SRA argued that it was not cost effective and gave only a few protection from claims. TLS was successful in persuading the SRA to look again at this, as a result of which SIF life has been extended again, now to September 2023.

The SRA has conceded that there would be a negative impact on consumers if SIF is abolished and is now engaged in discussions with TLS as to how it, or something equivalent, will operate.

Legal Aid

Another area of intense lobbying has been over the rates of pay for legal aid. The Government ignored the recommendations of its own Committee, led by Sir Christopher Bellamy, for a 15% increase, awarding 9% for solicitors instead. The Criminal Bar Association has now called off its strike, accepting a 15% increase for new Crown Court cases and some other funding. This is not the case for solicitors. President Boyce put our views across at the Justice Select Committee, stressing the risk that the defence service might disappear altogether and the evidence of this in the increasing age of duty solicitors and decline in their number – and the number of firms providing criminal defence advice. The new President is continuing the lobbying for proper funding of both the civil and criminal justice system. She will also be pressing the Government to do more about court backlogs.

Chartered Institute of Legal Executives

It is now public knowledge that CILEX has asked the SRA to be its regulator. Some may consider that this could have a detrimental effect on the position of solicitors; others feel we ought to work more closely together. TLS is watching developments and if you have any views, please let me know so that I can voice them to Council on your behalf.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Law Society has launched a new framework, which serves as a roadmap for workplaces, to develop and deliver a strategic approach to Diversity and Inclusion (D&I):

Charitable Grants

Each year the Law Society advertises that charities can apply for grants and/or sponsorships for activities that promote TLS themes of access to justice and/or promoting a modern, diverse and inclusive profession.

This year, TLS had £380,000 available for such grants. The funds come from the annual practicing certificate and equate to around £2.50 per solicitor. The grants awarded this year were:

Access to Justice Foundation - Awarded £5,000

To sponsor 25 Legal Walks organised across England and Wales (outside of London and the South East) which in turn raise funds for good causes as well as raising the profession’s profile.

Aspiring Solicitors Foundation - Awarded £10,000

A charity that pays out small sums to aspiring solicitors with limited means to pay for laptops, clothes for interviews and similar.

Legal Aid Practitioners Group Awards - Awarded £5,000

Sponsoring their Legal Aid ‘LALY’ awards which showcase the work of legal aid solicitors. The Law Society sponsors the Best Legal Aid firm award.

LawCare - Awarded £130,000

The mental health support charity dedicated to the legal profession and clearly crucial in the current climate. Their recent ‘Life in Law’ research is particularly noted. This grant supports their core funding, but even with it they fear only 25% of the legal community know they exist.

LawWorks (formerly the Solicitors Pro Bono group) - Awarded £100,000

The only pro-bono charity which provides a wide range of pro-bono activities and training (including insurance). They support a network of law clinics and pro-bono work across the country. £5,000 of the grant was given as sponsorship for their Pro-Bono award ceremony.

London Legal Support Trust - Awarded £10,000

Sponsorship of the London Legal Walk (and walks in the South East) which raises very significant funds for legal advice centres as well as raising the profile of Solicitors.

Sutton Trust - Awarded £15,000

A contribution to support their important Pathways to Law programme which reaches out to and encourages diverse entrants to the legal profession.

SWSQF - Awarded £20,000

This is a new innovative project set up by a collaboration of the Young Legal Aid Lawyers and the City of London Law Society and others. The funds are to secure funding for SQE1 & 2 to enable social welfare workers take the next step in qualifying to enable them to work for the most vulnerable members of society.

Young Citizens - Awarded £85,000

A public legal education charity going into schools to provide basic legal education to young people. Often involving local solicitors, it provides a well-researched Big Legal Lesson designed by educationalist, as well as mock trials and other work. It does excellent work which we do not have the resources to do ourselves.

Council and Town Hall meeting dates for 2023

17 JANUARY

23 FEBRUARY

29 MARCH

10 MAY

4 JULY

11 OCTOBER

11 NOVEMBER