The Law Society

We are delighted to announce that following our recommendations, Japan is taking steps to improve market access and welcome more foreign lawyers 🇯🇵 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 ⚖️    Today, the Japanese Ministry of Justice has introduced two measures which will make it easier for foreign lawyers to register to practice in Japan.  This will mean: 💡 A reduction in the number of documents law firms must submit on behalf of applicants.  💡 Ease for foreign lawyers previously registered in Japan to reapply. This decision is the result of extensive collaboration  with key stakeholders across the UK and Japan 🤝 Over the past year, we have worked closely with the British Embassy in Tokyo, the UK’s Ministry of Justice and the Department for Business and Trade to improve access to Japan’s legal services market, which was valued at over $5 billion in 2023. Ultimately, these changes will save time and money for both UK law firms and solicitors practising in Japan.  They will also create exciting new opportunities, making it easier for English and Welsh lawyers to take up global secondments and return to Japan. We’re pleased that through our dialogue, we’ve helped to secure market access for our members in a key, global jurisdiction. The push for more support and opportunities to help our sector will continue, until we reach its full global commercial potential.  Read more on the new registration changes here: https://lnkd.in/dbUZvf82  

Aspiring solicitors should be paid £24,320 outside of London and £27,418 in the capital for qualifying work experience for the Solicitors Qualifying Exam or during their training contract. As per our annual June review of minimum salary policy, this increase is the recommended salary we are encouraging employers to consider.  This rise is up 5.18% compared to our review last year, calculated on the latest Consumer Price Index's 12-month rolling inflation rate. We believe that employers paying the recommended minimum salary for aspiring solicitors could have a positive impact on equality and diversity within the legal profession, in addition to being good practice in supporting entrants to the profession.

Meet Shabina Begum, one of our 2023 Legal Hero winners! 🌟 Shabina has worked as an independent domestic violence advocate, handling high-risk cases and vulnerable clients. She was part of the pro bono team who campaigned for and drafted the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Act 2022, which raised the minimum age of marriage to 18. Shabina is one of the brilliant winners who takes initiative to make a positive difference, and the dedication to improving the lives of others is truly inspiring. 💫 There’s not long to go until our 2024 Legal Heroes are announced - keep an eye out for it in September!

48% of solicitors have taken annual leave because their firm does not offer alternative carer support 🫂 This is a thought-provoking finding from respondents of a recent report by RPC, LawCare and the Next 100 Years. Rachel Pears and Dana Denis-Smith share insights that can help employers support employees ⬇️ ⚖️ Flexibility should be given proactively rather than earned. This can be a lifeline for those with caring responsibilities. ⚖️ Building up managers’ knowledge is vital so they’re equipped to handle open conversations and signpost appropriate support. ⚖️ Caring responsibilities should be acknowledged as a barrier for career progression and therefore managed accordingly. What are your thoughts on these report findings? 💭

“At some workplaces, I had to fight for every adjustment. When I was more junior, I often didn’t know what I needed.” Coralie McKeivor, director (Real Estate) at Freeths LLP and member of the Law Society Disabled Solicitors Network, didn’t disclose she was disabled until she qualified. Post-pandemic, she has been empowered after being fed up with not being able to do her job. “I had to make the change: no one else was going to do it for me." Coralie reflects on the importance of accessibility in the workspace: “Often the tech and processes in firms are inaccessible and accessibility is very much an add on or afterthought. “Accessibility requirements of disabled users are often not considered when technology is developed, procured, or upgraded. “Many disabled employees feel uncomfortable talking about reasonable adjustments with their colleagues. “Firms need to get it right, so that their disabled employees are not disadvantaged." Getting it right means ensuring the workspace is inclusive in a digital accessibility sense. Make sure your firm is taking the right steps by checking out our latest accessibility guide: https://ow.ly/eqz150SK8UE

"I’m an accidental lawyer, I think." 💭 Gary Steel, a social welfare lawyer, was told during his work experience to give up his goals of becoming a lawyer because of where he had studied. "From a young age, I knew nothing would be handed to me on a plate. I wasn’t going to take no for an answer. "I nearly gave up law. I briefly worked as a paralegal in private practice. It was a toxic environment, where I was subjected to homophobic comments from my supervisor. I ended up thinking law wasn’t for me. However, Gary didn't let these setbacks stand in his way: "I applied for one training contract at the Derbyshire law centre and got it. If it wasn’t for the law centre, I wouldn’t be a solicitor. It made me a firm believer in great things come to those who stop trying to force things that aren’t meant for you. "As a social welfare lawyer, my job is to stand in front of the little person and make sure they get justice. We’re at the coalface of society... I feel like I’m doing my best work now, ensuring access to justice in difficult circumstances. "You can get what you want: just don’t take no for an answer, or allow someone else to dictate where you want to go. Work as hard as you can, make contacts and be broad-minded." 💡 What an incredible story of perseverance and resilience! Thank you Gary for sharing your story! 👏 Read Gary's full story here: https://ow.ly/BkNU50SJ8Eq

Saeeda left school with no GCSEs. Today, she's an investment banking lawyer ⚖️ With the support of our Diversity Access Scheme (DAS), Saeeda Rousselet-Yasmin’s journey into law has been a fruitful one. Read more about her journey here ⬇️ “My parents were first-generation British-Pakistani Muslims… Both were illiterate and didn’t speak any English…They sent me to school but struggled to understand or support it. “I didn’t finish school and left without any GCSEs. But I did my GCSEs on a re-sit course...Even though I was taking them for the first time! I scraped through with what I needed. “I signed up to law school...I got to the end of my degree not realising you needed the Legal Practice Course before you could practise. “I couldn’t fund it myself and applied for the Law Society’s DAS. They told me at the interview there were many applicants with compelling cases and asked why they should award me. I remember replying, “it’ll be the best return on your investment. I understand the outcome you’re looking for. If you back me, you’ll get it.” “I’ve worked hard to dispel doubts about my ability. Prejudice I might have suffered was never harder on me than I was on myself, so I became impervious to it. “If little Saeeda was sitting here, I’d give her a hot chocolate, put my arm around her and tell her it’s going to be alright. But I wouldn’t change a thing.” Thank you Saaeda for sharing your amazing story 💫 Read her full story here: https://ow.ly/t1qy50SHZ2V #SouthAsianHeritageMonth

£41. That’s how much a couple with two children will need to be surviving on per day to qualify for full legal aid next year – which is 57% below the minimum income standard. This is a finding from a recent report that we published today. The 2023 Means Test Review promised to address this problem, but the previous government delayed changes until 2026. In the King’s speech, the government pledged to reduce homelessness and violence against women and girls. These pledges cannot be fulfilled unless it introduces the changes that have already been agreed and budgeted for. Action must be taken to improve access to justice for millions. Find out more about the Means Test Review here: https://ow.ly/kTsS50SHf7V

We are deeply saddened by the passing of Nicholas Peter Fluck, who served as the president of the Law Society of England and Wales from 2013 to 2014. Nick Fluck made a range of prominent contributions to the Law Society and legal profession during his time as president. He worked tirelessly to support our members and defend the profession. His keen interest in communications and data technology enabled him to lead the profession into a new era of innovation. With extensive experience from a distinguished legal career, Nick was a steadfast advocate for access to justice and the rule of law. Our president Nick Emmerson said: “Nick was highly regarded and lauded for his kindness, sincerity and diligence by colleagues and members alike. His commitment to the legal profession transcended his time as president, as he continued to support the profession as a Council member for Lincolnshire. “He will be thoroughly missed by those in the organisation and across the profession. Our thoughts are with his family at this time.”

A "legal Alexa" at your fingertips ⚖️ Nnenna Ifeanyi-Ajufo, law and technology professor at Leeds Beckett University, gave a talk on how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can be used in the legal profession to save time and improve workflows and research. Here are three key benefits we learned: 🌟 Enhancing Legal Practice with AI "AI offers numerous opportunities to enhance legal practice, streamline processes, and improve outcomes for legal practice." Practical examples include document and workflow automation. 🤖 Virtual Legal Assistance AI-powered virtual assistants and chatbots are becoming common in law firms. "Legal chatbots provide legal information, guidance, and assistance through natural language conversations,". Nnenna likens them to a "legal Siri or legal Alexa." 📊 AI in Legal Research AI is revolutionising legal research with tools like Case Text and Lex Machina. These tools can examine large amounts of documents; making research more efficient and accurate. Watch the full talk: Dive deeper into these practical examples and explore the potential of AI in the legal profession, challenges, and next steps! 🤖➡️ https://ow.ly/yUlE50SFmsP #LegalTech #AI #Law #Innovation