The appointment of the new Lord Chancellor, Liz Truss, has caused members of the legal profession to call into question her ability to do the job.
Barrister Bob Neill, chair of the justice select committee, expressed doubts as Truss is neither a qualified lawyer nor has experience in a senior cabinet position. Justice minister Lord Faulks questioned her “clout” when standing up to the prime minister, and resigned from government in protest.
Writing in NLJ this week, columnist Jon Robins says Michael Gove, Truss’s predecessor, dodged criticism because his policies were pleasing to the legal profession. Chris Grayling, Gove’s predecessor, endured a rougher time in the post as he had both a non-legal background and unpopular policies.
As for Liz Truss, not much is known. Robins points out that she repeatedly voted in favour of cuts to legal aid during the passage of LASPO. She also served on the justice select committee for five years where, Robins says, she “demonstrated little sympathy for preserving access to justice”.
