Following today's written ministerial statement by the secretary of state and lord chancellor Chris Grayling, Law Society president Lucy Scott Moncrieff said:
'A well-funded and effective courts service is an essential part of the UK's democratic system and fundamental for the rule of the law.
'The Law Society strongly supports further steps to update the courts service in England and Wales, particularly when it is to further enhance the international competitiveness of the England and Wales legal jurisdiction, building upon the excellent work of the creation of the Rolls Building which was firmly supported by the Law Society through the unlocking disputes campaign.
' In a time of fiscal austerity, it is right that the MoJ seeks to find new and innovative ways of funding and updating the courts service. The MoJ's review should have at its heart the principles of ensuring that justice is accessible to all, maintaining the rule of law through an effective impartial courts service, and enhancing the international competiveness of the jurisdiction.'
Read the ministerial statement (PDF)
Notes for editors
The Law Society is the independent professional body, established for solicitors in 1825, that works globally to support and represent its members, promoting the highest professional standards and the rule of law.
Contact: Catherine Reed, the Law Society, +44 (0)20 7320 5902