Abridged May 2008
Law Society Election Results Announced
The Law society announced the results of the 2008 Presidential elections on 15th April. Clinical negligence lawyer Linda Lee, will take office as Deputy Vice President in July this year when Paul Marsh becomes President and Bob Heslett Vice president.
Linda Lee, from the East Midlands, will help lead the profession through a period of complex change and challenge.
Linda, is currently Chair of the Legal Affairs and Policy Board, and aims to continue with the reforms of the Law Society that will enable it to offer the services that solicitors want
Law Society talks with government secure major legal aid benefits
The Law Society has today secured significant benefits for the civil legal aid system following robust negotiations with the Legal Services Commission (LSC) and the Ministry of Justice. More information available here
National press, outdoor and pr campaign launched to promote the solicitor brand
This month, The Law Society launched an initiative providing practical support for its members, kicking off a major national press, outdoor advertising and PR campaign promoting solicitors’ services to individuals.
The Your Solicitor, Qualified To Answer campaign is aimed at encouraging consumers to use solicitors by highlighting the kinds of problems they can help with and promoting solicitors’ unique selling points. Advertising directs viewers to the Society’s website where they can search for a solicitor to help them through the ‘find a solicitor’ service as well as more in-depth information about how solicitors can help.
Advertisements will appear between 5 May and 22 June in the national press, on billboards and on taxis.
Depressed staff too scared to inform HR of their condition
Only one in four people with depression inform their HR departments of their condition, many fearing it would harm their standing at work, research has revealed.
The Depression Alliance polled 288 of its members for the Inside Story report to coincide with Depression Awareness Week, which runs until 26 April. The report can be accessed in PDF format from the following link: http://www.depressionalliance.org/documents/Inside-Story-Report.pdf
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Twenty states have now ratified the convention. This means that it will be in force within those twenty states from 3rd May, and will immediately come into force in any state which ratifies it in the future.
The UK government has not yet ratified the convention, but it is expected that it will do so by the end of 2008
http://www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?navid=12&pid=150
EDF meets with European Commissioner on Transport, Jacques Barrot - "Disabled passengers at the core of EU's agenda"
Guaranteeing full accessibility of disabled passengers to the transport system and overcoming the existing barriers in Europe remain a priority for the European disability movement, but also for the European Commissioner Jacques Barrot "I can guarantee you my full commitment to advance access to disabled people of the transport system' For more information, please click here
UK Vision Strategy targets employer attitudes towards blind staff (from “Personnel Today”)
The UK will be missing out on thousands of talented workers unless organisations radically change their attitude to employing blind people, leading campaigners have warned. For more information, please click here: http://www.personneltoday.com/articles/2008/04/18/45442/uk-vision-strategy-targets-employer-attitudes-towards-blind-staff.html
Disabled jobs boost as Remploy places record number in mainstream roles
A record number of disabled people found work through using Remploy's services last year.
The specialist provider said in the 12 months to the end of March 2008, it found 6,600 jobs in mainstream employment for people with disabilities - an increase of 27% on the previous year. For more information, please click here:
http://www.personneltoday.com/articles/2008/04/24/45571/disabled-jobs-boost-as-remploy-places-record-number-in-mainstream.html
Consultations (also available on our website at: http://www.gsdnet.org.uk/content/training_lawfirms/ )
Legal Services Commission
Single Equality Scheme: Respecting Diversity, Valuing Difference 2008
The equality scheme contains information about how we will promote equality and tackle discrimination in everything we do be it as an employer or in the services we provide or contract with others to provide. Closing date: 16 May 2008
https://consult.legalservices.gov.uk/inovem/consult.ti/equality.scheme08/consultationHome
Managing legal aid cases in partnership - Delivery Transformation
This paper sets out our proposals for introducing new ways of working electronically with our providers in the future. We anticipate that the proposals laid down in this document would impact and benefit the provision of legal aid services and therefore welcome feedback from all individuals, organisations and groups who have an interest in the operation of legal aid and changes to legal aid processes. Closing date: 03 Jul 2008
https://consult.legalservices.gov.uk/inovem/consult.ti/delivery.transformation/consultationHome
And finally….
Candidates say the funniest things
CareerBuilder.co.uk has announced the top ten in interview faux pas, including a candidate who fancied a bit of James Brown and another who fancied the receptionist. View the whole list at:
http://newsweaver.co.uk/thepeoplebulletin/e_article001057358.cfm?x=bcpbdQb,b82dv0Md