By Monidipa Fouzder2021-01-18T15:55:00+00:00
A prominent London firm has criticised the ‘business as usual’ mentality within the courts system during lockdown after one of its criminal law solicitors tested positive for Covid-19.
Hodge Jones & Allen solicitor Rebecca Smart was tested for the coronavirus after learning one of her clients, who she saw at Highbury Magistrates’ Court, alerted the firm that they had tested positive for Covid.
The firm explained that Smart saw her client in court earlier this month. The client did not inform her or the HJA team that they were feeling unwell. The Metropolitan Police later informed the firm that the client did not attend an interview because they were waiting for a Covid test. The client then alerted the firm that the result was positive.
By Jemma Slingo2021-01-06T13:06:00+00:00
No plans are in place to test court users for coronavirus before they attend in-person trials, the government said today, as lawyers claim the criminal justice system cannot function without further safety measures.
HM Courts & Tribunals Service said Covid testing in courts is kept under constant review by the Department for Health and Social Care. However, the current position is that court users such as lawyers, jurors and witnesses will not be tested for the virus before entering the court estate.
A HMCTS spokesperson said: ‘We are in a much stronger position to manage the impact of the pandemic compared to last spring, and public health experts have confirmed our measures remain sufficient to deal with the new strain of the virus.
Filling out all the correct paperwork … but still unable to get probate. Photograph: AKP Photos/Alamy
My family is desperate to get probate for my mother’s will after applying in June. It is basic and the only issue was that she did not put a full date when she signed in 1990.
As requested by the probate office, we provided evidence of when it was completed. This was mislaid for eight weeks and there has been no attempt to expedite the case or provide updates.
A second-level complaint was raised six weeks ago and has not been replied to. It is now sitting at the Manchester office where it’s been for the last two months.