Simon Davis, president of the Law Society, said: ‘Solicitors with essential roles which put them at risk of infection will welcome their inclusion in the testing programme.
‘However, there are still significant areas for improvement. We will continue to raise the implications COVID-19 is having on the legal profession with government and key stakeholders to ensure all solicitors can carry out their vital work for society as safely as possible during the current outbreak.’
Applications for the test can be made at: https://self-referral.test-for-coronavirus.service.gov.uk/eligibility.
According to MoJ guidance, those ‘essential to the running of the justice system’ are key workers. The MoJ has clarified that this includes advocates (including solicitor advocates) required to appear before a court or tribunal (remotely or in person), including prosecutors; duty solicitors; solicitors, legal executives, barristers, paralegals and others working on imminent or ongoing hearings; solicitors working on wills; and solicitors and barristers advising people living in institutions or deprived of their liberty.
