Legal aid exceptional case funding application and determination: 1 April 2014 to 30 June 2014, which was published last month by the Ministry of Justice and the Legal Aid Agency, shows that between 1 April and 30 June 2014, 209 new applications were made, 61 of which were requests to review an earlier determination. However, only 21 applications were granted: inquest (14), family (four) and immigration (three). Of the total applications, inquest, family and immigration were the most requested categories of law.

■ See: www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/348119/exceptional-case-funding-apr-jun-14.pdf.

The Law Society has just launched its consumer campaign, ‘Use a Professional. Use a Solicitor’, to encourage people to use the expert knowledge of regulated and insured Society members. The campaign focuses on six areas of law: conveyancing, personal injury, wills and probate, business law, family law and criminal law.

The Law Society has appointed Catherine Dixon as its new chief executive. Currently, she is chief executive of the NHS Litigation Authority. Catherine Dixon will take up her new post in January 2015. Desmond Hudson, whom she will replace, retired at the end of August. Meanwhile, Paul Coen, who has 16 years’ experience in various chief executive roles, will act as the Society’s interim chief executive.