UK Law Societies make joint approach to UK Chancellor on Covid-19

The Law Society of Scotland has joined with the Law Society of England and Wales and the Law Society of Northern Ireland to make a unified and direct approach to the UK Chancellor.

In our approach we made clear that the support packages made available continue to leave significant numbers of companies and individuals without the financial help they need at this critical time.

We have been clear that the £50,000 profit cap for eligibility for the self-employed scheme needs to be revisited.  This has excluded many people from getting support.

In addition, some business owners paid predominantly through dividend payments with a smaller salary through the PAYE system now find themselves falling between the various support schemes.  There is a consequent risk to the sustainability of their business and their ability to support their families through this period.

The fact we have been able to link up as three Law Societies does, we hope, underline the severity of the situation to the government.  We have offered to work with Ministers and their officials on constructive changes to the scheme that would help affected law firms.