Welsh Legal Desk

Law Society president Mark Evans joins us on the latest episode of the Welsh Legal Desk to reflect on his journey from growing up in North Wales to leading the profession, and to share highlights from his presidential year.

People, technology and regulation: managing partners across Wales are facing the same challenges.

Clive Thomas joins us on the Welsh Legal Desk.

With more than 35 years’ experience, he’s managing director at Watkins & Gunn Solicitors and chairs the National Board for Wales’ Managing Partners Subgroup.

He’s been meeting with firm leaders across Wales to understand how these pressures are shaping practice. From recruitment and retention to the rise of AI, firms are under pressure to adapt.

If you’re a managing partner in Wales and would like to join a future Managing Partners Subgroup meeting, please email [email protected].

What does the legal system in Wales look like today and where is it heading?

In our State of the Nation episode of the Welsh Legal Desk, we bring together perspectives from across the profession.

Jonathan Davies, David McNeill and Mark Davies discuss:

• the pressure facing the courts
• access to justice
• devolution and the future of Welsh law

From the reality on the ground to the longer-term challenges, the conversations reflect both the scale of the issues and the opportunities to strengthen the system.

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Sut olwg sydd ar y system gyfreithiol yng Nghymru heddiw, a ble mae’n mynd?

Mae’r pennod State of the Nation’ o'r Welsh Legal Desk yn dod â safbwyntiau o bob rhan o’r proffesiwn ynghyd.

Mae Jonathan Davies, David McNeill a Mark Davies yn trafod:

• y pwysau sy’n wynebu’r llysoedd
• mynediad at gyfiawnder
• datganoli a dyfodol cyfraith Cymru

O realiti’r sefyllfa o ddydd i ddydd i’r heriau tymor hir, mae’r trafodaethau’n adlewyrchu maint y problemau a’r cyfleoedd i gryfhau’r system.

This highlights episode of the Welsh Legal Desk brings together key moments from our conversation with Adam Price MS, former leader of Plaid Cymru, on the legal landscape in Wales, the future of justice and the pressures facing the legal system.

A full discussion is available in Welsh.

Yn y bennod Gymraeg hon o'r Welsh Legal Desk, mae Adam Price AS, cyn-arweinydd Plaid Cymru, yn ymuno â ni i drafod y dirwedd gyfreithiol yng Nghymru. Mae'r sgwrs yn rhoi sylw i ôl-groniadau yn y llysoedd, carchardai gorlawn a'r diffeithwch cyfreithiol, ochr yn ochr â lefelau uwch o angen cyfreithiol a galw cynyddol am gymorth cyfreithiol.

Mae Adam hefyd yn holi a yw'r trefniadau ariannu presennol yn adlewyrchu amgylchiadau cymdeithasol ac economaidd ein gwlad, a pham mae hyn yn bwysig ar gyfer sut mae'r maes cyfiawnder yn cael ei lywodraethu a'i gyflawni.

Mae'r bennod yn edrych ymlaen at ddyfodol y proffesiwn yng Nghymru, gan gynnwys denu a chadw talent gyfreithiol a rôl addysg a hyfforddiant cyfreithiol.

Access to Justice and Legal Deserts with Mick Antoniw MS | Mynediad at Gyfiawnder ac Anialwch Cyfreithiol gyda Mick Antoniw AS 

Joshua Hurst, Wales Public Affairs and Policy Adviser, is joined by Mick Antoniw MS, former Counsel General for Wales and MS for Pontypridd. 

They explore the rise of legal deserts in Wales, how to widen access to legal aid, and the challenges facing young lawyers in criminal practice. Mick shares his views on solicitor apprenticeships, law centres, and the investment needed to keep local firms at the heart of communities. 

The conversation also looks at the case for devolving justice functions from youth justice to probation and the opportunities a dedicated Welsh Ministry of Justice could bring. 

Yn ymuno â Joshua Hurst, Cynghorydd Materion Cyhoeddus a Pholisi Cymru, mae Mick Antoniw AS, cyn Gwnsler Cyffredinol Cymru a’r Aelod o’r Senedd dros Bontypridd. 

Maen nhw’n pwyso a mesur cynnydd anialwch cyfreithiol yng Nghymru, sut i ehangu mynediad at gymorth cyfreithiol, a'r heriau sy'n wynebu cyfreithwyr ifanc mewn ymarfer troseddol. Mae Mick yn rhannu ei farn ar brentisiaethau i gyfreithwyr, canolfannau cyfreithiol, a'r buddsoddiad sydd ei angen i gadw cwmnïau lleol yng nghalon eu cymunedau. 

Mae'r sgwrs hefyd yn edrych ar yr achos dros ddatganoli swyddogaethau cyfiawnder o gyfiawnder ieuenctid i’r gwasanaeth prawf a'r cyfleoedd y gallai Gweinyddiaeth Gyfiawnder i Gymru eu cynnig. 

We sat down with Lord Carwyn Jones to talk about the future of justice in Wales — from the evolution of distinct Welsh law, barriers to justice devolution and distinct Welsh law to access, legal deserts, and legal Level 7 apprenticeships.

Yng nghwmni’r Arglwydd Carwyn Jones, buom yn siarad am ddyfodol cyfiawnder yng Nghymru — o esblygiad cyfraith ar wahân yng Nghymru a rhwystrau i ddatganoli cyfiawnder i fynediad at gyfiawnder, anialwch cyfreithiol, a phrentisiaethau cyfreithiol Lefel 7.

Join our Public Affairs lead for Wales, Joshua Hurst and family solicitor and advocate Hannah Newberry as they talk all things family law in Wales.

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To connect with Hannah, check out her LinkedIn here: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannah-rhianne-newberry-221070152/ ⁠

Join our Public Affairs lead for Wales, Joshua Hurst and former Counsel General for the Welsh Government (and current Member of the Senedd) Mick Antoniw MS as they discuss devolution of justice in Wales, a potential Ministry of Justice and areas of reform needed in the Welsh justice sector.

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LinkedIn ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-law-society-wales-cymdeithas-y-cyfreithwyr/?viewAsMember=true⁠

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Join our Public Affairs lead for Wales, Joshua Hurst and Deputy Director of Legal & Risk Services at NHS Wales, Daniela Mahapatra and General Counsel at Admiral Group, Dan Caunt.

This episode covers:

- What is in-house law

- The benefits of in-house law

- Challenges of in-house law

- Advice for people looking to get into in-house, including networking tips