The Law Society Wales office has today released its ‘Reimagining Justice in Wales 2030’ policy paper, which highlights serious concerns around ‘legal deserts’, solicitor recruitment and crumbling court infrastructure in Wales, calling for the UK and Welsh Government to take urgent action.
The paper explores six key themes – access to justice, courts, technology, devolution, the 2030 law firm and legal data – and outlines the specific issues faced by solicitors in Wales and their clients.
Reimagining Justice in Wales 2030 highlights the geographical challenges in Wales finding that access to legal advice is ‘concentrated around the urbanised M4 corridor of in the South of Wales’, leaving those in rural areas of Wales cut-off.
In light of these findings, the Chair of the Law Society’s National Board for Wales, Mark Davies, said:
“As Chair of the Law Society National Board for Wales, I am deeply concerned about the growing legal advice deserts across our country.
“Access to justice is a fundamental right, yet many communities in Wales are being left without the vital legal services they need and deserve.”
These advice deserts, finds the Law Society, are unlikely to be resolved anytime soon as 85% of SME firms in Wales find recruitment as their top concern for the future.
Reflecting on recruitment in the sector, Emily Littlehale, owner of North Wales based law firm, Celtic Law Ltd, said:
“As the owner of a small practise, it comes as no surprise that other firms like mine across Wales are concerned about recruitment.
“With more employers offering remote work, we have the additional challenge of competing with larger city-based firms and firms across the border.”
The paper also spotlights the crumbling Welsh court system which is plagued by physical and technological problems such as ‘broken heating, antiquated sewage systems, mould, asbestos, and leaking roofs’, leaving 30% of solicitors feeling unsafe when attending court.
Devolution: sector requests
The paper also addresses conversations around devolution of justice to Wales, stating that if it is to happen there must be:
- Full funding from the UK Treasury following a rigorous costing exercise
- No barriers or restrictions for solicitors in Wales and England to practise across border
- Preservation of the current single regulatory framework for solicitors across Wales and England
On the potential devolution of justice, Jonathan Davies, Head of Wales at The Law Society, stated:
‘The Law Society believe that the Welsh Government must put the building blocks in place prior to devolution. For example, we will continue to echo the importance of a Minister for Justice which would create a much-needed budget line for the sector.
“This idea of evolution, not revolution, will ensure that the sector is in the best place before the Welsh Government take the reins.”
Reimagining Justice 2030: the paper
The paper was written as a continuance from the work undertaken by the Thomas Commission.
To access the full document and summary document, click here.
