National Law Society – Special General Meeting

The Law Society is holding the first Special General Meeting (SGM) over a decade, as a motion of no confidence has been presented to the Council.

Members who are on the Roll of Solicitors (NQ’s to 5 years PQE) can attend, comment, and vote on the motion.

The SGM will be held at 10:30am on Tuesday 17 December 2013. More details are available on the Law Society website. The meeting will consider a motion of no confidence in the Law Society’s leadership. The motion relates to the strategy adopted by the Law Society to influence the government actions regarding proposed cuts to criminal legal aid.

The JLD executive can report that, following consultation with our national representatives, it is apparent that our members agree with the following position:

“The Junior Lawyers Division (JLD) firmly opposes the government’s current proposals to cut legal aid and the executive committee of the JLD has previously responded to the government consultations on behalf of JLD members confirming our opposition to previous cuts to legal aid. The JLD also has supported, and continues to support, the Save Legal Aid campaign of the Young Legal Aid Lawyers.

For these reasons, the JLD supports statements made by the Law Society opposing the legislative changes that would make further cuts to legal aid. The JLD also supports proposals of the Law Society to mitigate the impact of changes to legal aid funding.

We, the executive committee of the JLD, call for the legal profession to be united in their opposition to further cuts to legal aid. We believe it is in the interests of both the profession and the public to minimise the damaging effects that the changes proposed by the government will have.”

 
On this basis, the JLD invites members to attend the SGM on 17 December 2013 to support the Law Society. Voting at the SGM is limited to solicitors on the Roll. Accordingly, no trainee solicitor members, students  or paralegals are able to attend the SGM and vote.

For those qualified solicitors who would like to attend, please note that space within the Law Society is limited and so it will assist (and guarantee your place) if you email the Law Society in advance (by 12 December) to reserve a place via SGMattendance@lawsociety.org.uk.

We look forward to welcoming you at the event in full support of the Law Society.

The Bristol and National JLD Committees

Sign the Petition…

An email from Bob Nightingale of the London Legal Support Trust regarding the petition calling on the Government to stop cutting legal aid.

Hello everyone

I imagine you all know about the petition calling on the Government to stop cutting legal aid.

epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/48628 

But have you seen how well it’s doing. As I write this the petition needs just 7,100 more signatures to reach the magic 100,000 mark at which point the Government have to take notice and the press certainly will (for good or ill)

Well it has to make it soon as over 2,000 people have signed this week alone. But could everyone please give it a big push now to get it to sail past 100,000.

Things to do:-

  1. If you haven’t signed it yourself please do
  2. Please let everyone you know who might sign it have the link
  3. Tweet the link
  4. Put something on your Facebook.

Thanks

Bob

Legal Pride London – 29 June

On Saturday 29 June, members of the legal professions will once again process through the streets of London. The groups taking part include:

  • Law Society,
  • Bar Council,
  • Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx),
  • Interlaw Diversity Forum for LGBT Networks (InterLaw Diversity Forum),
  • Bar Lesbian and Gay Group (BLAGG)
  • Junior Lawyers Division

They will be celebrating Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Trans (LGBT) diversity in the legal profession under the banner ‘Equality under the Law‘ and promoting the message ‘Lawyers extending and defending LGBT rights.’

If you are interested in marching for equality with the legal sector in the PRIDE in London Parade please email legalpride@lawsociety.org.uk. Banners and t-shirts will be provided for those marching.

For further information about the legal sector Pride please visit – http://www.lawsociety.org.uk/representation/articles/legal-pride/