The Law Society of England and Wales has welcomed a peaceful resolution to threats of violence against solicitors and advice agencies after thousands of anti-racism protesters turned out across England last night (7 August) in a bid to quell the wave of riots by far-right groups.

Law Society president Nick Emmerson said: “We continue to support our members and have contacted the solicitors’ firms and advice agencies on the target list to ensure they are safe following the planned riots yesterday.”

Thousands of police officers are being deployed following a week of riots which were sparked by disinformation about the nationality of the suspect after a stabbing attack on a dance class in Southport left three children dead.

Emmerson said: “We thank the UK government and the police for their efforts and support in recent days to keep solicitors and legal advice centres safe. The threats have been incredibly distressing for those targeted.

“We also commend those in the community who came out to defend their local area peacefully and businesses last night. These threats against our legal profession attacked our democratic values.”

Similar statements were made by Samuel Townend KC, the chair of the Bar Council, and the Society of Asian Lawyers, along with many other lawyers’ groups. 

The counter-demonstrations followed the identification of potential riot targets online, which included law firms and immigration centres and prompted the Law Society to issue guidance on office closures. 

Bristol Law Society roundly condemned threats made against lawyers locally, saying it had “serious concerns” for members targeted in the Castle Park and Old Market area.

Thrings partner Salma Maqsood, a junior vice president of the local law society and a social mobility ambassador for the Law Society, thanked the society on social media for “speaking up, calling it out and supporting the Bristol legal community in these difficult times”.

In response to the proposed demonstrations, Lord Chancellor Shabana Mahmood MP said yesterday: “Every day, across the country, solicitors uphold the rule of law. Inciting mobs to attack their offices or threatening them in any way is unacceptable. Those found doing so will face the full force of the law.” 

City lawyers added their support on LinkedIn. 

Hogan Lovells partner and 2024 Women and Diversity in Law Awards judge Akima Paul Lambert wrote: “This does not feel like our Great Britain.”

She added: “I echo the words of Nick Emmerson, president of our Law Society, that these attacks are a direct assault on our legal profession. I add – they are also an assault on our humanity – and we must stand up to them.”

Laila Wood, a competition partner at Addleshaw Goddard, witnessed “a racist individual loudly spewing hate about people of my ethnicity” and said she was followed home by a man “hollering abuse and threatening to physically hurt me, repeatedly asking if I was scared yet”.

She called on bystanders who witness such behaviour to “consider speaking out if you feel safe to do so” and “reach out to the person targeted”.

Trevor Sterling, the senior partner of Moore Barlow, reported that while driving, a man in his mid-60s directed a racial slur at him, saying it “served as a stark reminder of our current climate”.

Seth Roe, an employment partner at Wiggin, said: “With an Asian wife and mixed-race children, I’ve found the grim reality that we share the country with people such as this particularly hard to comprehend.”

He said it was “difficult to find the words” to describe threats made to his fellow immigration lawyers. “Immigration has only ever made the UK stronger, and the lawyers who help migrants travel to and settle in the UK (whether it’s for asylum, for family reasons, or to build a successful business here) need congratulating, not vilifying.” 

However, there was also some optimism.

Maqsood said: “The messages of support, allies calling [racism] out, and steps being taken to check in and follow through with actions these last few days have been heartwarming.” 

Noting counterprotests in Walthamstow, Sterling wrote: “This gives me confidence that together, we can work towards a future where racism has no place.”