It’s time for another update from MLS. It has been another busy week putting together the October Messenger and delivering our first Manchester Professionals Breakfast Club on the impact of AI. More networking events will be coming for 2024
Meetings for next week include:
MLS Council – 12:30-14:00 Tuesday 3rd October
Communications Committee – 13:00-14:00 Wednesday 4th October
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Committee – 13:00-14:00 Thursday 5th October
If you’d like to attend the committee meetings or have any issues raised at any of the meetings please do let me know.
The Black Solicitors Network (North) is delighted to invite you to celebrate Black History Month on Wednesday 11 October 2023 from 6.00pm – 8:30pm at Squire Patton Boggs, No 1 Spinningfields 1 Hardman Square, Manchester M3 3EB.
Drinks and nibbles will be served on arrival and there will be an opportunity to enjoy authentic Caribbean food later in the evening. This is a free event, but spaces are limited and require an RSVP.You can reserve your place here. We are grateful to Squire Patton Boggs LLP for their generosity.
The theme this year is “Celebrate our Sisters”, and we will be doing so by hearing from a selection of distinguished female speakers, with the final line-up to be confirmed next week.
In addition, we are excited to welcome a group of talented performers who will be performing live a number of contemporary musical pieces:
Sophie Iliafar (@sophieiliaifar.singer)
Verona-India Braich (@verona.india.singer)
Brennan Alleyne
Harry Lai (@harrykhlai)
Dominic Downs (@dominic_downs_piano)
We hope you will join us for what promises to be an inspiring and thought-provoking evening.
Civil Legal aid review
The Ministry of Justice has commissioned an independent online survey as part of its Review of Civil Legal Aid (RoCLA). Please encourage those within your membership that provide civil legal aid to participate in this online research survey, which aims to explore legal aid provides’ experiences of the civil legal aid sector and how it operates. All survey responses received will help build a robust evidence base for the review and contribute to the sustainability of legal aid.
Responses will be anonymous and confidential. On average, the survey takes 20-30 minutes to complete and can be filled out here.
Civil legal aid contract tender
The deadline for bidding on civil legal aid contracts is rapidly approaching (Tuesday 17 October 2023). These contacts encompass a wide array of civil and family legal aid categories, including the Housing Loss Prevention Advice Service (HLPAS).
Read the Law Society’s guide on tendering for legal aid contracts and see more information on changes to public law and HLPAS bids, help with applications and next steps on their website.
They’re calling for fair funding for civil legal aid. These contracts are being tendered without a pay increase, meaning that for many firms the contracts are not going to be financially viable. Civil legal aid fees have not increased since 1996, representing a real-terms cut of 49.4% in fees to 2022. The Law Society are continuing to call on the government to shore up the civil legal aid market by bringing in an interim 15% for providers of early legal advice, while the civil legal aid review is ongoing. You can see more about their campaign here.
Free webinar: All you need to know about the contact tender process (Wednesday 4 October, 12:00-14:30)
This free webinar will cover the key changes to civil legal aid contracts to ensure members understand the process and meet all the requirements to bid for 2024 contracts. Attendees will also have a chance to put questions to the Law Society’s Head of Justice, Richard Miller, and DG Legal’s Director, David Gilmore. Find out more and register.
LawtechUK, the groundbreaking initiative aimed at spearheading the digital transformation of the legal sector in the United Kingdom, is excited to invite aspiring entrepreneurs and legal tech enthusiasts to join their Lawtech Fundamentals programme.
This programme is designed to empower individuals at any stage of their lawtech startup journey, offering insights and resources to help companies make their mark in the dynamic world of legal technology.
The Lawtech Fundamentals programme is a continuous and transformative learning experience, conducted entirely online through a series of five modules, allowing participants to complete it at their own pace. It covers critical aspects such as ideation, skill acquisition, teamwork, and building a thriving culture from your startup.
As an independent investment manager, we at Shard Capital afford ourselves many luxuries that are not available to many of our more well-known competitors. Due to our ownership, structure and size, we are free to focus on achieving the best outcomes for our clients without the competing voices of shareholders and private equity partners. Our pursuit is pure, our focus is clear.
As qualified legal professionals, you are frequently guiding your clients through some of the most disruptive and distressing events they will experience in their personal and professional lives. Events that most will never forget; including the part you played in educating, guiding, and supporting them along the way. So, when the dust settles, and you open the curtains that morning and say to yourself “I’m pleased that’s over. What do I do now?” For many the answer may not be clear. As one challenging life event concludes it must often feel that another has been quietly waiting in the wings ready to take its place. How do I look after myself financially? How do I plan and provide for my future? How much money do I need? Do I have enough?
Financial decisions are often daunting, especially so at times of upheaval. At Shard Capital we have one clear objective; to achieve the very best financial return for our clients that we can, within their given risk tolerance. We are unashamedly not financial planners (IFAs), but we work in partnership with them. Financial Advisors are the GPs, we are the surgeons if you will. And the medical analogies don’t stop there. A financial advisor, much the same as your local GP, has an unenviable task. A vast array of complex requirements, ever changing regulation and an evolving financial landscape to stay on top of. From inheritance tax planning to capital gains, mortgages to life insurance, cash flow forecasting to pension planning; their role is a complex juggling act, where all elements need to work together.
September is almost over and so is this fantastic deal from Manchester Hall! Book a room for any night in September for £99 bed and breakfast.
Manchester Hall has 8 luxurious bedrooms, each named after a Manchester icon, and all decorated beautifully – a brilliant space to relax. Having stayed there myself I highly recommend it!
So don’t delay – get your room booked before they run out!
To take advantage of this offer you need to quote “MLS99” in the promotional code on the website booking form. Book your room here!
Don't worry if you missed taking advantage of this offer - we have more coming up in October!
Date: 5 Oct 2023 Time: 16:45 - 19:30 Location: Manchester Civil Justice Centre, 1 Bridge Street, Manchester, M60 9DJ Cost to attend: Free but you need to book your place here
In 2023 the Technology and Construction Court will be celebrating its 150th Anniversary. This is the Manchester event to mark and celebrate this important milestone.
Chair: Mr Justice Timothy Fancourt High Court Judge, Vice-Chancellor of the County Palatine and Supervising Judge for the Business and Property Courts in the North.
Moot judge: Mr Justice David Waksman TCC High Court Judge, former TCC Circuit Judge, Manchester.
Moot advocates: Local practitioners and 6th form students from Liverpool, Leeds, Manchester and Newcastle.
Thank you to our sponsors for this event - Kings Chambers, 23 Essex Street Chambers, DLA Piper, 18 St John Street Chambers, Exchange Chambers, and Gateley Vinden.
TCC150 is supported by The Society of Construction Law (SCL), The Technology and Construction Solicitors' Association (TECSA) and The Technology & Construction Bar Association (TECBAR).
Date: 4 October 2023 Time: 09:30-15:30 Location: Manchester Marriott Victoria & Albert Hotel, Water Street, Manchester, M3 4JQ Cost to attend: MLS Members £95.00 + VAT (£114.00)
Non-members £120.00 + VAT (£144.00)
Don't miss the MLS Private Client Conference will take place on 4th October 2023 and take the form of a drafting masterclass.
The interactive sessions will give practical tips on how to improve your drafting of wills, trusts, Court of Protection applications and Deeds of Variation and s144 appointments. A great refresher for the more experienced and a brilliant guide for those early in their careers.
The day will round off with a session looking at Imposter Syndrome with QCH Therapist and Coach Sally Heady. Sally will cover what Imposter Syndrome is, how to spot it and what you can do about it.
The masterclasses will be delivered by:
Trusts:Steven Appleton, Brabners
Court of Protection applications:Beverley Beale, Principal Associate, Weightmans LLP
Wills:Rebecca Clarke, Clarke Willmott and Nicola Walker, Private Client Solicitors
Deeds of Variation and s144 appointments: Paul Davies, Clarke Willmott
Date: 5 October 2023 Time: 10:30 to 11:30 Location:Online via Teams Cost to attend:Free but you must book your place
Please join us for our first menopause coffee morning.
Taking place during International Menopause Month 2023, under Chatham House Rules, this will be a safe and supportive space where we can share our experiences and insights about menopause.
The coffee morning will be hosted by MLS Chief Executive Fran Eccles-Bech and by Lisa Wright, a member of the International Menopause Society, Newson Health Menopause Society and founder of Menopause the Wright Way.
Date: 18 October 2023 Time: 09:00-16:20 Location: Manchester Marriott Victoria & Albert Hotel, Water Street, Manchester, M3 4JQ Cost to attend:
Full day MLS Member £120.00 + VAT (£144.00)
Full day Non-member £160.00 + VAT (£192.00)
Half day MLS Member £75.00 + VAT (£90.00)
Half day Non-member £100.00 + VAT (£120.00)
Don't miss the MLS Family Law Conference taking place on 18th October 2023!
The morning will focus on the Children side of Family Law with the afternoon exploring finance and divorce.
Delegates can attend the full day or opt to attend either the morning or afternoon, both including a networking lunch where you can catch up with your colleagues in the sector.
Topics covered at the conference include:
Parental Alienation Dr Gemma Parker, Clinical Psychologist, Director of Altogether Human CIC
Domestic Abuse – where are we now? Shaun Spencer KC, St John’s Buildings Chambers
Grandparent Applications Jack Harrison and Claire Athis Schofield, Deans Court Chambers
Tracing Crypto Currencies in Divorce Proceedings Rob Moore, Security Consultant at Grant Thornton
The Court’s view on Expert Evidence Andrew Wastall and David McCormick of Exchange Chambers
Debate: Is an expert’s report worth the paper it is written on? Chair: Sam Hillas KC Debaters: Charles Eastwood and Abigail Bennett
The last 12 months has seen a revival in the conversation surrounding upfront information (UFI). Of course, the idea of upfront data is nothing new. How many of you remember Home Information Packs (HIPs)? The original idea, conceived in Labour’s manifesto back in 1997, proposed to address the problem of gazumping. HIPs were officially launched in August 2007 and although the concept was a good one, the scheme was scrapped in May 2010 for a number of different reasons.
So how has 2023 moved the situation forwards? The predominant difference in the last 12 months is that we have seen a considerable rise in the number of inbound enquiries about how we can make this shift to UFI real. Those who previously were not involved in the conversation are being brought in as the direction of travel becomes clear. We also can now show how clients already using these methods are seeing significant real benefits. Certainly, as a company, we are leading several changes to making trusted and more fulsome data available and connecting everyone who needs it. We are only here to really do one thing: we would like our clients’ customers to like buying and selling houses far more than they might ever have in the past. To make this happen, we want to share more data, earlier, with our clients so that they can advise and support their customers in a far better process. We encourage businesses to consider how and when they’re going to use upfront information in the future. As a starting point, companies can ensure their systems are able to accommodate these changes by starting to plan and build new cross industry collaborations into their workflows. If you’d like to learn more,we have compiled a quick video that explains more about upfront data.
