Beats places like New York, Dubai, Qatar and Singapore

The London Commercial Court (LCC) has cemented its position as the world’s leading centre for complex commercial litigation, with parties from a record 93 countries appearing before it in the past year.

New figures from the Law Society’s International Data Insights Report 2025 show that over 60% of litigants came from outside the UK, underlining London’s global dominance in resolving high-value business disputes.

The court delivered 196 written judgments between October 2023 and September 2024, surpassing international rivals in New York, Dubai, Qatar and Singapore.

Speed is also a defining feature of the court. More than half of contested trials (54%) were completed within just four working days, a higher proportion than in previous years.

Unsurprisingly, London’s status as a hub for arbitration feeds into this caseload — around one in five LCC claims arises from challenges to arbitral awards, according to the report.

The top foreign litigants came from the UAE (68) and the US (66), while the number of Russian parties more than doubled year-on-year, rising from 27 to 60. Other frequent users included Cyprus, the Cayman Islands, Switzerland and Luxembourg.

£28,090 in London, £24,916 elsewhere

The Law Society of England and Wales has recommended a 2.45% increase in the minimum salary for trainee solicitors, aligning the uplift with the current rate of inflation.

From September 2025, the recommended minimum salary for those undertaking qualifying work experience (QWE) or a training contract will rise to £28,090 in London and £24,916 elsewhere in England and Wales.

This marks a smaller increase compared to the previous year’s uplift of 5.18%, when the recommended rates rose to £27,418 in the capital and £24,320 outside.

Although the recommendation is not legally binding — firms are not obliged to follow it since the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) abolished the statutory minimum in 2014 — the Law Society maintains that the guidance plays an important role in promoting fair and sustainable entry into the profession.

“The minimum salary policy and uplift supports those seeking to enter the profession,” said Law Society president Richard Atkinson. “We encourage employers to consider this recommendation, as paying the recommended minimum salary could have a positive impact on equality and diversity within the legal profession.”

The recommended salary levels are reviewed each summer and adjusted annually in line with the Consumer Price Index’s 12-month rolling inflation rate and other economic indicators.

The recommended rates cover both traditional training contracts and QWE placements under the SQE.

While salaries at the top end of the profession continue to soar — with some City trainees earning over £120k across their two year TC — many aspiring solicitors, particularly those in legal aid or high street firms, are still paid below the recommended minimums.

Hogan Lovells and Latham & Watkins among those to make online tweaks

The Law Society of England and Wales has joined a raft of legal organisations worldwide in signing a joint letter condemning the Trump administration’s recent actions against legal professionals, both internationally and within the US.

Published yesterday, the letter accuses the US government of “acts of intimidation, hindrance or harassment” targeting lawyers and legal institutions. The signatories express “dismay” over what they describe as “actions that violate international human rights law and undermine the rule of law”.

Signatories include the Paris Bar, the German Bar Association, the Law Council of Australia, and the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute.

At the centre of the controversy is a 6 February executive order signed by Trump, which imposes sanctions on staff at the International Criminal Court (ICC) and their families — a move the letter argues punishes lawyers simply for doing their jobs. The measures, which include travel bans and asset freezes, were roundly criticised by UN experts and ICC member states, and are described in the letter as having a “chilling effect” on access to justice for victims of war crimes and other atrocities.

The signatories also raise concerns about escalating interference in the US domestic legal system, citing political pressure on federal prosecutors, the revocation of security clearances for lawyers representing controversial clients, and even direct attacks on the American Bar Association (ABA) by federal agencies.

“Lawyers must be able to represent their clients without fear of retaliation,” the statement reads, “and must not be punished because of who their clients are”. The organisations are urging the US to reverse its sanctions and respect the international principles safeguarding the independence of the legal profession.

The letter comes amid what many in the profession see as a broader campaign by the Trump administration to target diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies in the legal industry. As Legal Cheek reported earlier this week, the administration has dramatically escalated its war on diversity in law, launching federal probes into the DEI policies of 20 major US and international firms, including some of the most recognisable names in London.

A&O Shearman, Freshfields, and Hogan Lovells are among those facing probes, with the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) demanding detailed breakdowns of hiring and client practices. The move follows another executive order isolating firms that the administration views as politically hostile, particularly those representing clients critical of the government. Firms like Perkins Coie and Paul Weiss have already been caught in the crossfire.

In an open letter, thousands of US-based associates accused the administration of “creating a culture of fear” in which law firms are pressured to toe the political line or face the consequences.

The pressure exerted on law firms by the Trump administration has already led some major legal names to quietly adjust or remove DEI content from their websites

Law.com (£) reports that Hogan Lovells has renamed its “diversity, equity and inclusion” pages to “HL Inclusion”, removed references to LGBTQ+, disability and “institutional racism”, and replaced its DEI video with a message from its CEO. Meanwhile, Latham & Watkins has redirected its DEI webpage and removed language referencing institutional racism and its Diversity Leadership Committee. Its “diversity scholars program” has also been renamed the “pathways scholars program”.

Hogan Lovells declined to comment while Latham & Watkins didn’t respond to our request for comment.

These changes were reportedly made following the EEOC’s letters, which cite law firm websites extensively and request information on internships, partnership decisions, compensation and recruitment practices related to diversity.

The letters mark the first time the Trump administration has specifically targeted UK-founded global firms as part of its broader assault on corporate DEI initiatives.

Law Society report shows 50% growth in decade

The UK’s legal services sector has firmly established itself as a key pillar of the national economy, with new research highlighting its strong growth and wide-ranging contributions.

The Law Society’s latest economic value report reveals that the sector generated £34.2 billion in gross value added (GVA) in 2022, a 50% increase since 2013, and achieved a turnover of £44 billion. These figures highlight the legal profession’s role as an economic powerhouse, growing faster than the UK economy as a whole over the last decade.

Jobs are another major benefit, with the sector supporting over half a million roles across the country, both directly and indirectly. While London still accounts for nearly half of the sector’s turnover, the majority (53%) comes from outside the capital, highlighting its significance nationwide.

Law Society president Richard Atkinson emphasised the profession’s dual role in driving economic growth and supporting other industries. “Without question, the legal sector is a key contributor to the UK’s economy and is consistently growing,” he said. “Legal services are instrumental for the continued success of other sectors and improving living standards.”

On the international stage, the sector continues to punch well above its weight, exporting £9.5 billion worth of legal services in 2023. The law of England and Wales remains a global benchmark, attracting clients from around the world and bolstering the UK’s positive trade balance.

The sector’s social impact is equally noteworthy. In 2022, an estimated 68,000 solicitors provided 1.5 million hours of pro bono legal services, valued at £474 million. These efforts reflect the profession’s ongoing commitment to justice and access for all.

Looking ahead, the sector’s future appears bright, with turnover forecast to reach £59 billion by 2031. The research paints a clear picture of a thriving and indispensable industry, driving not only economic success but also social progress across the UK.

Chancery Lane body says MoJ needs essential funding to address courts backlog

The Law Society has warned that further cuts to the Ministry of Justice’s budget are “untenable” and would embolden criminals while causing victims to lose faith in the justice system, ahead of Labour’s Autumn budget announcement tomorrow.

Labour’s first budget for 14 years will be delivered by chancellor Rachel Reeves tomorrow, with rumours swirling about what the government will do to shore up the country’s finances.

New Law Society president Richard Atkinson welcomed Reeves’ assurance that there will be no return to austerity under a Labour government, but expressed concern over reports of potential cuts to some departmental budgets.

Atkinson described any cuts to the Ministry of Justice’s already depleted budget as “untenable” and urged the chancellor to provide the necessary funding to “address the courts backlog, tackle the crisis in civil and criminal legal aid, and implement stalled reforms to the legal aid means test”.

Atkinson, a solicitor specialising in criminal law, warned, “Unless investment is forthcoming, criminals will feel emboldened and victims will lose faith in our justice system.”

With this in mind, the Law Society expressed its hope that, in addition to securing the necessary budget for the Ministry of Justice to address the court backlog, the government will also assign Skills England, its skills agency, the task of mapping out existing skills gaps in legal services. This, it said, would enable firms to better address the challenges they face in acquiring talent.

The Chancery Lane body also voiced hope that the government will continue to offer incentives for firms to hire legal apprentices, enabling smaller firms to provide opportunities for those starting their legal careers. This comes in response to Sir Keir Starmer’s announcement last month that Labour plans to exclude some level 7 apprenticeships from levy funding.

“The UK government has put forward ambitious plans to get our economy growing, break down barriers to opportunity and keep our streets safe,” Atkinson said.

“Legal services are integral to achieving these missions and our sector stands ready to play its part”, he continued. “By implementing the changes and policies we outline, legal services, from the high street legal practice to the global law firm, can rapidly be unleashed to help drive innovation and economic growth across all our communities.”

Immigration law specialists

Law firms across the UK are on high alert after a number of outfits, predominantly practicing in immigration law, have been listed as supposed targets for potential protestors and rioters.

The list, seen by Legal Cheek, appears on WhatsApp and encrypted chats on the social messaging platform Telegram. It provides the names and addresses of 39 law firms and other organisations across the country.

Details have been shared widely on social media platform X, with one post including a link to the list stating: “Wednesday night lads. They won’t stop coming until YOU tell them. No more immigration 8PM. Mask up.” The message also features a number of flame Emojis.

At least one organisation named the list has been forced to temporarily close amid “threats of far-right violence” towards staff.

Commenting on this development, Law Society president Nick Emmerson said: “We deplore the violent scenes and rioting that we have witnessed across the past week.”

“We have serious concerns about the safety and wellbeing of our members following names and addresses of a number of solicitors’ firms and advice agencies being shared on a list of targets for further protest and violence this week,” Emmerson said.

He continued: “I have written to the prime minister, lord chancellor and home secretary today asking that the threats against the legal profession are treated with the utmost seriousness. A direct assault on our legal profession is a direct assault on our democratic values and we are supporting our members who are being targeted.”

“It is paramount that justice is done for all those who have been involved in, or are victims of, the riots. We commend the government for its swift response and want to see that the necessary support and resources are provided for both prosecution and defence lawyers, courts staff and judiciary in dealing with this emergency.”

News of the list comes amid rioting across several major cities including Liverpool, Southport, Middlesbrough, Nottingham, Rotherham and Belfast.

Despite discussions about courts operating 24 hours to address the violence fallout, the Criminal Law Solicitors Association has written to Lord Chancellor Shabana Mahmood, expressing “disappointment” at not being consulted on the proposal.

With more than a third of criminal legal aid solicitors having left the profession and a third of firms having closed since the last series of 24-hour courts following the 2011 riots, CLSA chair Daniel Bonich noted that “firms have neither the capacity nor the resources… even in the short term”.

SRA v Law Society

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has taken a step towards regulating CILEX lawyers in spite of the Law Society’s continued objection to the plans.

The SRA began discussions with CILEX (Chartered Institute of Legal Executives) in 2022 about a change to the regulatory structure of the two professions.

The solicitor’s regulator has said that there would be public interest benefits to it regulating all CILEX members, namely that the regulatory landscape would be less complex and easier for consumers to navigate, and that it would allow for more consistent standards and levels of protection.

There has been significant opposition to these proposals, however, with the Law Society amongst the most vocal opponents.

Despite what the regulator describes as “mixed” views among the profession, the SRA board has now agreed that it would regulate CILEX members, if CILEX decides to re-delegate this task.

The regulator would, it says, “make sure the costs of regulating CILEX members would be fully recovered from their practising certificate fees”, whilst ensuring that “the distinct identities of CILEX members and solicitors” are maintained.

A CILEX lawyer is a legal professional who has qualified through the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives. CILEX members typically start with a level three diploma in law and practice, equivalent to A-levels, followed by a level six diploma, equivalent to an undergraduate degree.

Anna Bradley, SRA chair, commented:

“We have reflected long and hard on the potential risks and benefits. In making this decision we are conscious of the strong professional interests that are in play, but the key question for us has always been — is this in the public interest? All the evidence shows that consistency and relative simplicity in regulation matters to the users of legal service. This change would result in a simpler system, with more consistent levels of protection for consumers. There will also be efficiency benefits.”

“Most people find the current regulatory landscape bamboozling. This change won’t solve all the issues of complexity, but it would benefit the public,” she continued.

The Law Society hasn’t let up its opposition, however. Its statement on the development notes the “serious concerns from solicitors, CILEX members and consumer representatives” about a move that would “irreparably change the legal regulatory landscape”.

Ian Jeffery, chief executive officer of the Law Society, also commented that the body is “deeply concerned that the SRA Board has given the go ahead to regulating CILEX members, despite its own regulated community, and CILEX’s members objecting to the idea of regulatory change, and the Legal Services Consumer Panel stating that the consumer case has not been made”.

“We are concerned that the redelegation of CILEX’s regulatory functions to the SRA could adversely affect the SRA’s ability to meet its duty to regulate the solicitor profession in a way that supports and promotes the regulatory objectives,” Jeffery continued. “This is of particular concern in light of the collapses of Axiom Ince, Metamorph, Kingly and the SSB Group.”

The existing CILEX regulator, CILEx Regulation, has gone public with its concern over the plans, stating that it is “considering next steps including recourse to the courts”.

Another potential hurdle, or brick wall, faced by the SRA is that its proposals, even if agreed by CILEX, would need approval from the Law Society. The Society’s consent for the changes “cannot be assumed” it has said, although the matter would ultimately be left to the Law Society’s Council to decide.

2030

The Law Society has joined a growing list of legal organisations looking to reduce its carbon emissions.

The Chancery Lane body has committed to being net zero by 2030, following similar moves by the likes of Osborne Clarke, TLT, Pinsent Masons, Eversheds Sutherland and Burges Salmon.

The commitment comes after the Law Society published guidance on the impact of climate change on solicitors in April this year. The guidance, among other things, advises that law firms may be able to refuse to act for clients whose business contradicts net zero targets or the firm’s own stance on climate change.

Law Society president Nick Emmerson, who spoke about the guidance at the annual conference of the International Bar Association this week, said:

“It is important that as well as providing guidance for the profession, the Law Society demonstrates what we are doing to reduce carbon emissions in our own operations. We are setting this ambitious net zero target despite Chancery Lane being a listed building.”

He continued: “We have already begun to drive down energy usage across the business and the net zero target will be at the heart of all our decision-making. We get all our electricity directly from verified renewable sources via a power purchase agreement and are exploring further innovative options to retrofit the building to reduce carbon emissions.”

Calls for consultation before any decision is made

The Law Society has expressed its concern over the possibility that solicitors may be hit with a one-off levy in order to plug the multi-pound black hole likely to be left in the regulator’s finances following the collapse of Axiom Ince.

Earlier this month the SRA admitted it may require solicitors to make an additional payment as means of addressing the millions of pounds in potential claims from Axiom Ince clients. The firm was shut down earlier this month, not longer after it emerged £64 million had gone missing from its client account.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) controls a special compensation fund that aims to support people who are owed money by a regulated law firm. Solicitors contribute to the fund through a levy added to the practising certificate fee.

Law Society chief exec Ian Jeffery said:

“As the representative body for the solicitor profession, we are of course greatly concerned that our members could be asked to plug a gap of many millions of pounds in the Compensation Fund arising from the collapse of just three law firms, which were set up under atypical business models and with their own clear and inherent risks.”

He added: “We would expect the solicitor profession to be consulted before any decision is made by the SRA on its approach to these exceptional compensation questions, given that our members would be required to pay for it and it is their collective reputation at stake.”

The Law Society Gazette previously reported that there is around £18 million currently available in the fund, which typically pays out, on average, £13 million a year.

Outperforms New York, Singapore and Hong Kong

London is the preferred destination for clients dealing with commercial disputes, a new report published by the Law Society has found.

Chancery Lane says the capital is the “most attractive centre” for commercial litigation and international arbitration, outperforming global rivals such as New York, Singapore and Hong Kong.

The report found that the London Commercial Court remains the go-to choice thanks to international companies preferring English law when it comes to doing business.

The report also cited data from the Office of National Statistics that showed UK legal services exports increased by nearly half a billion pounds to £6.6 billion in 2021, further demonstrating the sector’s strength.

The European Union is the UK’s most valuable trading bloc for legal services, accounting for £2.15 billion in exports from the UK in 2021, the report noted.

UK-headquartered firm DLA Piper brought in the most revenue between 2021-2022 with £2.64 billion, followed by Magic Circle player Clifford Chance with £1.96 billion.

Law Society of England and Wales president Nick Emmerson said:

“The UK is currently the second largest market for legal services globally. It is recognised and respected the world over because of the stability and quality of our courts, our laws and legal professionals. Our report shows that in an increasingly competitive global market, London’s commercial courts continue to thrive. English law is the governing law of choice in international transactions and a vital asset to the UK’s economy.”

The Law Society stressed the report is an “objective, neutral, evidence-based assessment of the global position of English law” and is intended to be used as a practical tool for firms who wish to attract business or inform their clients about the widespread use of English law.

M&A specialist Nick Emmerson takes top Chancery Lane role

A City lawyer has become the 179th president of the Law Society of England and Wales.

Nick Emmerson specialises in international capital market transactions and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, and is a partner at Square Mile outfit Lewis Mathys Emmerson.

Emmerson studied politics and East Asian studies at Newcastle University before training as a solicitor with Dentons. He went on work for Herbert Smith Freehills, Eversheds Sutherland and Gateley.

The Yorkshire-born president is fluent in Japanese and has spent a good chunk of career in far-flung destinations including Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore. As well as England and Wales, Emmerson has been admitted as a solicitor in Hong Kong and Ireland, and as an attorney in the state of California.

We are delighted to welcome Nick Emmerson as the 179th president of the Law Society of England and Wales!

Currently a partner at Lewis Mathys Emmerson LLP, Nick has qualified to practise law in four different countries; bringing a high level of international expertise that… pic.twitter.com/S8HJSnBhOd

— The Law Society (@TheLawSociety) October 11, 2023

Commenting on his appointment, Emmerson said: “I am honoured to serve as Law Society president. It is critical that we continue to focus on improving the justice system, upholding the rule of law and supporting members.”

He continued:

“I am eager to lead a profession that is both outward-facing and internationally minded. In an increasingly interconnected world, I have adopted a global approach to my work. I have coupled this approach with both regional experience and time in the City. This triangle of experience will allow me to bring a fresh perspective to the Law Society and strengthen the future of the profession.”

Emmerson succeeds Lubna Shuja, who made history in October 2022 when she became the Law Society’s first Asian and Muslim president.

Question mark over future of embattled outfit

The City of London Law Society (CLLS) has called on City firms to step in and save trainees at Ince as questions grow over the future of the embattled outfit.

CLLS chair Colin Passmore has written to managing partners across the City urging them to help find homes for around 30 Ince trainees. Ince didn’t respond to our request for comment.

Ince has had a difficult year to say the least. In April, Legal Cheek reported that the firm had fallen into administration before eventually finding a buyer in the form of Axiom DWFM, which itself rebranded to Axiom Ince. At the time, a spokesperson for Ince — which operates as a separate entity from Axiom — confirmed trainee solicitor roles were safe as well as those with training contract offers.

Fast forward several weeks and the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) suspended three of Axiom Ince’s directors for alleged breaches of the Solicitors Act. This included the now former managing partner, Pragnesh Modhwadia.

It was also reported yesterday Modhwadia has been made subject to a freezing order after at least £64 million was found to be missing from Axiom Ince’s client account. The firm has brought a claim for breach of fiduciary duty against Modhwadia and obtained the order seeking to him from “disposing of or dealing with any of his assets which are in England and Wales up to the value of £57,522,510,” the website RollOnFriday reports.

Modhwadia’s whereabouts are currently unknown, but a lawyer purporting to represent him said the SRA’s investigation was at an early stage and asked that “premature conclusions” not be drawn.

Axiom Ince has been approached for comment.

UPDATE: September 6 — 8:57am

Timur Rustem, a senior solicitor at London firm Rustem Guardian Solicitors which is representing Modhwadia, said: “Our client is fully engaging with both the regulator and individual solicitors acting on behalf of the company. He is the owner and is fully engaged to providing information and documentation as and when required. His major concerns are for his employees, the clients and the company.”

Next month

The Law Society has announced its first regional admission ceremony for solicitors qualifying outside London.

The ceremony, hosted by the Law Society of England and Wales, will take place at Leeds Civic Hall on Monday 11 September.

It comes after the success of “mission admission” a campaign by Manchester-based in-house solicitor and blogger Emma Lilley and bar course graduate James Joseph.

The campaign looks to broaden access to the ceremony for newly qualified solicitors celebrating their entrance to the profession. Traditionally, the ceremony takes place at the Society’s HQ on London’s Chancery Lane.

The Law Society has partnered up with Leeds Law Society to organise the celebration, which will also be open to solicitors who previously entered the profession but were unable to attend the London ceremonies.

Law Society of England and Wales president, Lubna Shuja, commented:

“We are delighted to be introducing regional admissions ceremonies for our members. We hope the event in Leeds will be a step towards ensuring all lawyers, no matter where they are based, can attend, and celebrate their achievements. This has long been a Law Society goal, as well as being part of my presidential priorities to support members and address the barriers to entering the profession. It has been great to work alongside James Joseph and Emma Lilley, who have tirelessly campaigned for “Mission Admission” to realise this goal.”

She continued: “Not all qualified solicitors can make it to the London ceremony. We want everyone to have the chance to be cheered on by their peers and loved ones in recognition of their accomplishments. We hope that holding regional ceremonies will help achieve this. I’m excited to be at the Leeds ceremony and look forward to celebrating with attendees on the day.”

Announcement draws criticism from profession

The government has today announced the launch of new taskforce which aims to clampdown on what it describes as “crooked lawyers who coach illegal migrants to lie”.

But the Law Society has hit back at the move, describing it as an attempt by the government to deflect from the severe backlog in asylum claims.

The government says the inter-departmental team, dubbed the ‘Professional Enablers Taskforce’, will work with industry bodies and law enforcement to “increase enforcement action against lawyers who help migrants exploit the immigration system”.

Despite today being the scheme’s official launch, the government said preliminary work from the task force has been underway for several months.

So far it has focused on improving intelligence sharing with regulators and developing a training package for frontline immigration staff to “identify and report suspect activity so they can support law enforcement to prosecute crooked immigration lawyers”.

The government also said that fresh prosecutions are being brought “against corrupt immigration lawyers who could face up to life in prison for assisting illegal migrants to remain in the country by deception”.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the announcement hasn’t gone down well with lawyers.

“The overwhelming majority of immigration lawyers continue to support the rule of law through their adherence to the law and professional standards set by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and provide an essential service to clients,” said Richard Atkinson, vice president of the Law Society. “The focus of the Home Office on a tiny minority of lawyers to which they are apparently applying considerable resources should not deflect from the fact that there remains significant backlogs in asylum claims or the unworkability of the Illegal Migration Act.”

Bar chair, Nick Vineall KC, added: “The taskforce must not fall into the trap of identifying lawyers with the causes of their clients, nor should it assume that misbehaviour by clients amounts to misbehaviour by lawyers.”

News of the taskforce follows a covert sting operation by the Daily Mail which led to the closure of three law firms specialising in immigration law.

Lawyer-turned-lecturer Mark Evans will take the top spot in 2025 after being appointed deputy-vice president

A tutor at The University of Law is on course to become president of the Law Society of England and Wales in 2025 after securing victory in a recent election.

Lawyer-turned-lecturer Mark Evans won the 2023 election to become deputy-vice president from October. He will then take the position of vice president from current VP Nick Emmerson next year, before being elevated to the role of president in 2025 — when the Chancery Lane outfit celebrates its 200th birthday.

Evans was a practising property and private client solicitor for over 28 years. In 2021, he swapped houses for students, becoming a tutor at The University of Law. He teaches various courses on real estate, private client and other professional skills to aspiring solicitors at the law school’s Manchester, Liverpool and Chester campuses.

Within the Law Society, Evans has been chair of the Wales committee for four years and a member of the wider council for eight years. He will become the society’s first president from North Wales.

Speaking on the achievement, Evans said: “I am extremely proud to have been elected as the next Deputy Vice President of the Law Society and the first in our history to be elected from North Wales.”

Congratulating Evans, current Law Society president Lubna Shuja said:

“I extend my deepest congratulations to Mark, who emerged as the winner from a strong field of candidates. Mark will bring his own unique perspective and experience to the role. As we are the Law Society of England and Wales, it is great to see a Welsh member will take office. I look forward to seeing what Mark accomplishes in post and warmly wish him all the very best.”

Law Society highlights concerns over effectiveness

The Ministry of Justice has launched a new legal advice scheme to support tenants and homeowners at risk of being made homeless.

The plan comes days after statistics revealed a record number of households and children are living in temporary accommodation and an estimated 38,000 people are at risk of losing their homes each year.

The new Housing Loss Prevention Advice Service (HLPAS), which launched this week via a dedicated webpage, will offer expert legal advice free of charge to tenants or homeowners who have received a written notice from their landlord or mortgage provider. 

As well as free legal advice, those accessing the scheme will receive government-funded legal representation where necessary, without any assessment of their financial situation. This may ease the pressure on student-staffed pro bono clinics which are currently one of the options available to members of the public who are unable to afford legal advice.

HLPAS has been funded with the extra £10 million that the government has directed into housing legal aid this year. The goal is to continue this aid and assist tens of thousands of families every year in keeping their homes.

Law Society president Lubna Shuja said the society supports the introduction of HLPAS, but warned that it could put further strain on existing legal aid:

“In principle we support the HLPAS. It is also a welcome recognition of the value of early advice and the need to address a client’s problems holistically. We cannot overestimate the value of early legal advice as it can help address problems before they escalate, preventing cases from going to court unnecessarily.”

She continued: “However, we have continuing concerns as to whether the system will be effective, and about the increasing legal aid advice deserts caused by long-term underfunding of the system. The scheme is provided by solicitors and therefore contingent on the number of solicitors able to do the work. With rising legal aid advice deserts, there are fewer and fewer legal aid practitioners able to give legal advice.”

“Those facing eviction will not be able to access vital legal advice if there is no legal advice provider in their area,” Shuja added.

£26,068 in London and £23,122 elsewhere

The Law Society of England and Wales has increased its minimum salary recommendations for aspiring solicitors by 10%.

Rookies undertaking a training contract or qualifying work experience (QWE) should be paid a minimum of £26,068 in London and £23,122 elsewhere, according to the Chancery Lane-based body. The recommended rates come into effect on 1 September 2023.

“We consider the increase in the recommended salary for aspiring solicitors to be appropriate at this time,” said Law Society President Lubna Shuja. “There are a range of factors that were considered during our discussions around the minimum salary policy and uplift, including the rise in cost-of-living expenses — which have particularly hit those on lower salaries — and the economic impact on solicitors’ businesses,” said Law Society President Lubna Shuja.

Shuja continued: “We encourage employers to consider this recommendation when looking at how much they will pay their employees.”

Legal Cheek’s Firms Most List 2023 shows that trainee rates across the City are much higher than the minimum guidelines, with the highest paid rookies topping out at £60,000 in their first year. But some trainees continue to be paid less than the Society’s guidelines, particularly those working in areas of the law supported by legal aid.

As with all The Law Society’s recommended salary increases, the new levels are only a guideline and are completely unenforceable — i.e., firms can simply ignore them — following the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s (SRA) decision to scrap statutory minimums in 2014.