Council Member Update

REPORT

Council Member Update

May 2022

There’s lots going on at The Law Society (TLS) and around Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. Here are a few items that I hope will be of interest to you.

President’s Tour to Hampshire & IOW

The President of TLS, I. Stephanie Boyce, was the keynote speaker at a very enjoyable AGM and dinner on the IOW in March, followed by a meeting the next day for local solicitors.

On 3rd May, the President delivered her inspirational talk “Dare to Dream” to students and solicitors in Farnborough, Winchester and Southampton covering the barriers she has – and continues to – break down.

Students wanted to know more about new qualification routes and how to obtain work experience. I was pleased to welcome so many and to meet in-house solicitors.

Solicitors working in-house are encouraged to join the Hampshire and IOW Law Society: you have a unique perspective on legal practice – please contact me or Nicola Jennings, the HILS administrator, for details (administrator@ hampshirelawsociety.org.uk).

Many thanks to HILS and the IOW Law Society for supporting these events.

18 May online meeting with The Law Society

On Wednesday, 18th May you can speak with the President and colleagues at The Law Society via an online Town hall meeting from 4.30-6.30pm. If you would like to attend, please contact Elinor Westgate on Elinor.Westgate-Louttit@lawsociety.org.uk. Topics include a proposal to increase the practising certificate fee and a discussion of the current position on criminal legal aid. Submit any questions you have asap to Elinor.

Criminal legal aid

There is a government consultation (to 7 June) on fee uplifts: https://consult.justice.gov.uk/digital-communications/ criminal-legal-aid-independent-review-response/supporting_ documents/clairgovernmentresponseconultation.pdf

Rather hidden is the news that the increase for solicitors’ fees is 9% (written in the separate Impact assessment), despite the Bellamy Report’s recommendation of a minimum uplift of 15%. Even if you haven’t the stamina to plough through 106 consultation questions (these are listed at page 88 onwards), you can send in your comments – to CriminalLegalAidConsult@justice.gov.uk.

The Law Society has webinars on its website explaining the position. Also, please let your local MP know about the challenges criminal defence solicitors face: TLS lobbies government at senior level and we need to garner support locally.

Staying on the roll

The SRA is proposing an annual charge to remain on the roll, due it says to legal changes on how personal data is handled. The consultation proposes restoring the annual keeping of the roll exercise from April 2023 with the reintroduction of an associated administration fee of £30-£40 initially (it may increase later). It closes on 20 May 2022. Here is the consultation: https://www.sra.org.uk/sra/news/press/keeping-roll-2022/. ■

Contact me with questions and concerns – I will be pleased to hear from you:

Adrienne Edgerley Harris

Adrienne Edgerley Harris

aedgerleyharris@shentons.co.uk

01962 844544