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17 November 2023
Issue: 8049 / Categories: Legal News , Legal aid focus , Profession
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NLJ this week: Legal regulators & the evergreen issue of unmet legal need

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Roger Smith reports back from a Legal Services Consumer Panel conference on unmet legal need, in this week’s NLJ

Smith, a former director of JUSTICE, notes that ‘the regulators have, to their credit, faced up to some of the issues’. But what answers do they have?

Smith relays some of the points raised, including by law centre advisors, at the conference. These include that most legal problems arise in clusters. Smith writes: ‘Unsurprisingly, the most common clusters involved welfare benefits (ie poverty) and, for example, housing.

‘People encountered both systemic (such as how public service are administered) and personal barriers (such as poor knowledge of sources of help).’ 

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Bell Yard Kysen—Liz Giles

Bell Yard Kysen—Liz Giles

Bell Yard Kysen appoints senior legal PR and ex-government communications adviser, Liz Giles

Clarke Willmott—Lee Edwards

Clarke Willmott—Lee Edwards

Clarke Willmott boosts Southampton commercial property team with addition of partner Lee Edwards

Lime Solicitors—four promotions

Lime Solicitors—four promotions

Lime Solicitors announces four promotions

NEWS
The Attorney General, Ellie Reeves KC MP, and Solicitor General, Andy Slaughter KC MP, marked the 25th anniversary of Pro Bono Week by joining lawyers, charities, students and parliamentarians at events celebrating voluntary legal work
A polished legal defence may owe more to artificial intelligence than legal merit—and creditors risk paying the price in delay and expense
Witness evidence can be compromised by AI before a solicitor sees the draft, leaving safeguards focused on authorship incomplete
Possession claims are entering a new digital era, with procedural traps awaiting practitioners who assume familiar rules still govern every step
The Environment Agency can prosecute offences beyond environmental legislation where proceedings support its statutory functions, the Divisional Court has confirmed
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