Bar Chairman Tells MPs to Protect Access to Justice as Controversial Legal Aid Bill Reaches Committee Stage – The Bar Council

Posted July 12th, 2011 in bills, civil justice, legal aid, press releases by tracey

“Peter Lodder QC, Chairman of the Bar Council, which represents barristers in England and Wales, has called for MPs to protect access to justice ahead of his appearance before the Public Bill Committee this afternoon.”

Full press release

The Bar Council, 12th July 2011

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Ian Hislop ‘worried’ by plans to limit libel juries – BBC News

Posted July 12th, 2011 in bills, costs, defamation, juries, news, public interest by tracey

“Private Eye editor Ian Hislop has said he is ‘worried’ by proposals to limit the use of juries in some libel trials.”

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BBC News, 11th July 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

DIY justice is justice denied – The Guardian

Posted July 12th, 2011 in bills, civil justice, legal aid, news by tracey

“The ransacking of legal aid means society’s most vulnerable will be left to fend for themselves.”

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The Guardian, 11th July 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Critics attack Theresa May plan to rush through emergency bail bill – The

Posted July 7th, 2011 in bail, bills, news, police by sally

“The home secretary, Theresa May, is to ask MPs to pass an emergency bill to resolve the police bail crisis amid warnings from defence lawyers that it amounts to a ‘smash and grab raid’ to boost police powers.”

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The Guardian, 7th July 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Police bail debate raises legal eyebrows – The Guardian

Posted July 7th, 2011 in bail, bills, detention, legislation, news, stay of execution, Supreme Court by sally

“The supreme court seemed to be exercising powers it does not have when it offered to consider suspending the bail ruling”

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The Guardian, 6th July 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Society calls for safeguards in bail legislation – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted July 6th, 2011 in bail, bills, news, police by sally

“The Law Society has urged the home secretary to consider safeguards to the emergency bail legislation about to go through Parliament to prevent abuse of the bail system by police.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 6th July 2011

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Parliament to hear emergency bill on police bail – BBC News

Posted July 4th, 2011 in bail, bills, detention, news, police by sally

“Emergency legislation designed to reverse a controversial judgement on police bail will go before MPs on Thursday.”

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BBC News, 4th July 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

News focus: our analysis of the legal aid and sentencing bill – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted June 30th, 2011 in bills, civil servants, legal aid, news by sally

“A close reading of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill has left many lawyers, campaign groups and politicians who support the legal aid system more worried than ever about future provision.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 30th June 2011

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Government to close squatters’ legal aid loophole – Ministry of Justice

Posted June 29th, 2011 in bills, budgets, legal aid, news, squatting by sally

“Squatters will no longer get legal aid to fight home owners trying to evict them from their properties, under proposals set out in the Sentencing, Legal Aid and Punishment of Offenders Bill which has it’s second reading in the House of Commons today.”

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Ministry of Justice, 29th June 2011

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Jane Clough murder: Bail law read in Commons – BBC News

Posted June 29th, 2011 in bail, bills, crime prevention, murder, news by sally

“A Lancashire MP has introduced a bill in Parliament which he claims could have prevented the murder of Blackpool nurse Jane Clough.”

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BBC News, 28th June 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

One nasty surprise in the legal aid bill escaped the headlines – The Guardian

Posted June 28th, 2011 in bills, fees, legal aid, legal representation, news, personal injuries by sally

“The bill all but removes sweeteners introduced in the 1990s when legal aid was abolished in most personal injury claims.”

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The Guardian, 28th June 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Fast-track for second reading of legal aid and sentencing bill condemned – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted June 27th, 2011 in bills, legal aid, news, parliament, sentencing by sally

“Lawyers and MPs have expressed outrage at the government’s attempt to fast track the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill through Parliament.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 24th June 2011

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Ignore the warnings about legal aid changes and risk meltdown in courts – The Guardian

Posted June 23rd, 2011 in bills, legal aid, legal profession, news by sally

“It is easy for politicians to dismiss lawyers as self-seeking fat cats, but their concerns should be listened to.”

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The Guardian, 23rd June 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Child abuse loophole to be closed – Ministry of Justice

Posted June 23rd, 2011 in assault, bills, child abuse, news by sally

“A legal loophole that could allow those who physically abuse children or vulnerable adults to escape justice is to be closed, the Government announced today (22 June).”

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Ministry of Justice, 22nd June 2011

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Plans to extend limit of detention without charge criticised – The Guardian

Posted June 23rd, 2011 in bills, detention, news, parliament, terrorism by sally

“A former cabinet secretary and a former leader of the Liberal Democrats have criticised government contingency plans to detain terror suspects for up to 28 days without charge as unsatisfactory and unreliable.”

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The Guardian, 23rd June 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Legal aid and sentencing bill – live blog – The Guardian

Posted June 21st, 2011 in bills, legal aid, news, sentencing by sally

“Live coverage as controversial justice bill is accidentally published early.”

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The Guardian, 21st June 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Government set to press ahead with legal aid cuts and Jackson reforms – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted June 21st, 2011 in bills, legal aid, news, sentencing by sally

“The government has today confirmed its intention to press ahead with controversial reforms to legal aid with the publication of the Legal Aid Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill. It also plans wholesale implementation of the Jackson reforms of civil litigation costs.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 21st June 2011

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Human rights warning over school discipline plans – BBC News

“Wide-ranging new powers for teachers to search pupils and delete photos from their phones may fall foul of human rights laws, MPs and peers have warned.”

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BBC News, 14th June 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Landowners say new laws will stop them making fields and buildings available to public – Daily Telegraph

Posted June 14th, 2011 in bills, commons, news by sally

“Playing fields and cricket grounds could be withdrawn from public use by landowners because of new laws that give the community the right to bid for private land.”

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Daily Telegraph, 13th June 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Bill limiting sharia law is motivated by ‘concern for Muslim women’ – The Guardian

Posted June 9th, 2011 in arbitration, bills, islamic law, news, sex discrimination, tribunals, women by tracey

“Islamic courts would be forced to acknowledge the primacy of English law under a bill being introduced in the House of Lords. The bill, proposed by Lady Cox and backed by women’s rights groups and the National Secular Society, was drawn up because of ‘deep concerns’ that Muslim women are suffering discrimination within closed sharia law councils.”

Full story

The Guardian, 8th June 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk