A thinktank with close ties to David Cameron has recommended that lawyers should be forced to spend 10% of their time on pro bono work to restore public confidence in the profession.
ResPublica's report, In Professions We Trust, warns that the teaching, legal and medical professions are all seen by the public as "self-serving interest groups propagating their own agenda and interests". It claims that for many lawyers the law has, shockingly, become a "revenue generating business".
ResPublica founder Philip Blond, who has been credited with inspiring Cameron's Big Society project, co-authored the report. It advocates obliging every lawyer to spend 10% of their time on pro bono. For lawyers on "very low incomes", such as those in the legal aid field, it advises that 5% would be permissable. ResPublica predicts that the requirement would produce 30 million hours of free legal advice across England and Wales per year. The report also says that lawyers should take an oath on qualificaton to "re-assert a sense of vocation" and re-establish bonds of trust between clients and lawyers.
Given that there is no compulsory requirement on possibly anyone else in society, other than convicted criminals, to spend their time working for others without pay, it's a pretty racy proposition. Law Society president Jonathan Smithers said that, on average, each solicitor already volunteers more than 50 hours a year of free advice, "benefitting some of the most vulnerable people in society". He added, "We know of no other profession doing so much".
However, ResPublica is understood to regard comparisons with other professions as invalid on the basis that, unlike NHS doctors and state school teachers, lawyers can charge large sums. It would not comment on whether mandatory pro bono was intended as a cheap means to plug gaps in legal aid.
Tip Off ROF
ResPublica's report, In Professions We Trust, warns that the teaching, legal and medical professions are all seen by the public as "self-serving interest groups propagating their own agenda and interests". It claims that for many lawyers the law has, shockingly, become a "revenue generating business".
ResPublica founder Philip Blond, who has been credited with inspiring Cameron's Big Society project, co-authored the report. It advocates obliging every lawyer to spend 10% of their time on pro bono. For lawyers on "very low incomes", such as those in the legal aid field, it advises that 5% would be permissable. ResPublica predicts that the requirement would produce 30 million hours of free legal advice across England and Wales per year. The report also says that lawyers should take an oath on qualificaton to "re-assert a sense of vocation" and re-establish bonds of trust between clients and lawyers.
"As Gove is my witness, I hereby vow to superplease my clients, record my
time promptly, attend all update sessions, even the ones on easements,
and above all to smash my false idol Mammon. As a brand on
my forehead shall henceforth declare, working for free shall set me
free." |
Given that there is no compulsory requirement on possibly anyone else in society, other than convicted criminals, to spend their time working for others without pay, it's a pretty racy proposition. Law Society president Jonathan Smithers said that, on average, each solicitor already volunteers more than 50 hours a year of free advice, "benefitting some of the most vulnerable people in society". He added, "We know of no other profession doing so much".
However, ResPublica is understood to regard comparisons with other professions as invalid on the basis that, unlike NHS doctors and state school teachers, lawyers can charge large sums. It would not comment on whether mandatory pro bono was intended as a cheap means to plug gaps in legal aid.
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"Unlike NHS doctors and state school teachers" lawyers are commonly contractually banned from working for others without express permission.
.....unlike NHS doctors with a private list or state school teachers that tutor.
And that's not even the weakest part of this daft proposal.
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Hi ResPublica
Thanks for the memo.
Love,
Capitalism
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He's got a lovely head of hair, you can't deny that.
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Why is it that so many so-called 'think-tanks' are staffed by people who quite plainly are unable to think?
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I mean, I'm always happy to do my bit, but wouldn't wish to be represented by me (or someone like me) in family or criminal proceedings.
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Also the state should fully indemnify and hold us harmless against the advice given for nothing.
There is a competition law pro bono scheme and I am on the panel but some of us do work so specialist we should not stray outside it so it's all going to be very difficult if it goes ahead.
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Small and impoverished firms probably already practice in the most relevant areas. Large and rich firms will employ pro bono lawyers covering 10% of their billable hours! but not at their usual salaries.
Difficult to see how it will be enforced, HRA or none. Slavery is illegal, even if it's part-time.
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Fingers crossed the Government will commission a full report on these proposals, maybe using some of the money they saved by slashing legal aid.
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http://crashbangwallace.com/2012/03/14/exclusive-leak-phillip-blond-donor-dissects-respublicas-unpublishable-and-inadequate-work/