Category: civil justice

Justice denied: the damning results of the latest report on the impact of legal aid cut – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted January 16th, 2017 in budgets, civil justice, legal aid, Ministry of Justice, news, reports, solicitors, statistics by sally

‘Secretary of State for Justice, Liz Truss, recently announced that the government would soon confirm the time-table for the post legislative review of the Legal Aid Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPO). There has been growing pressure on ministers for some time to announce this (see “Back to the drawing board”, 166 NLJ 7698 13 May 2016, p 6). The Legal Action Group (LAG) hopes that the review will be used as an opportunity by the still relatively new team at the top of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) to look at funding the provision of early advice in civil legal cases.’

Full story

Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 11th January 2017

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

Government forecast on impact of PI reforms “skewed against lawyers”, say economists – Legal Futures

Posted January 9th, 2017 in civil justice, consultations, damages, insurance, news, personal injuries, small claims, solicitors by sally

‘The government’s own assessment of the impact of its planned personal injury reforms “makes the implicit assumption that solicitors, and the civil justice system as a whole, produce no benefits to society”, according to independent economists.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 9th January 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Lecture by Sir Terence Etherton, MR: LawWorks Annual Pro Bono Awards lecture 2016 – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted December 7th, 2016 in civil justice, electronic filing, legal education, legal representation, litigants in person, litigation friends, speeches by sally

‘It is a real pleasure to have been asked to give this year’s LawWorks Annual Pro Bono Awards lecture. My subject is Access to Justice. I am not interested in it as a slogan. I am interested in it because access to justice lies at the heart of any society that aspires to call itself just, civilised, and committed to democracy and the rule of law.’

Full speech

Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 7th December 2016

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

MoJ unmoved by MPs’ damning verdict on court fee hikes – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted November 11th, 2016 in budgets, civil justice, fees, Ministry of Justice, select committees by sally

‘The Ministry of Justice shows no sign of backing down over court fee hikes, despite a damning verdict from an influential group of MPs. The Commons justice committee called in June for an overhaul of employment tribunal fees and the scrapping of this year’s increase in the divorce petition fee. The government initially stood firm on the necessity of the fees – and a full response to the committee now suggests that position has not changed.’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 9th November 2016

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Top judge warns rising court fees threaten access to justice – The Guardian

Posted November 3rd, 2016 in civil justice, courts, criminal justice, fees, judges, judiciary, news, reports by sally

‘Excessive court fees are in danger of driving away international legal business from London and preventing access to justice, the lord chief justice has warned. In his annual report, Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd also expresses concern about low morale in the judiciary and the difficulties in recruiting high court judges.’

Full story

The Guardian, 3rd November 2016

Source: www.guardian,.co.uk

Legal aid cuts have left ‘the most vulnerable people’ unable to pursue justice – The Independent

Posted October 12th, 2016 in civil justice, legal aid, news, reports by sally

‘Amnesty International report lays bare “a two-tier civil justice system, open to those who can afford it, but increasingly closed to the poorest and most in need”. ‘

Full story

The Independent, 11th October 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Legal aid cuts creating two-tier justice system, says Amnesty – The Guardian

Posted October 11th, 2016 in children, civil justice, legal aid, legal representation, news, reports by sally

‘Cuts to legal aid are far worse than anticipated and are creating a “two-tier” system which denies the poorest people access to justice, warns a critical report by Amnesty International.’

Full story

The Guardian, 11th October 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

First the UK deports people, then it denies them justice – The Guardian

Posted September 28th, 2016 in appeals, civil justice, deportation, human rights, immigration, news by sally

‘From Jamaica to Albania, the victims of Britain’s mass deportations are dumped destitute – and, as the Home Office is aware, usually unable to exercise their right to an ‘out-of-country appeal’.’

Full story

The Guardian, 27th September 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

10 steps to help safeguard access to justice – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted September 26th, 2016 in civil justice, legal aid, litigants in person, news by sally

‘On Thursday 22 September 2016, Halsbury’s Law Exchange (HLE) hosted a panel discussion on the future of access to justice and litigants in person, specifically focusing on proposing solutions to this critical problem. In the lead up to the panel discussion, HLE produced a state of the nation paper that looks at the state of legal aid provision in the UK currently and asks the urgent question: “Can we safeguard access to justice?”’

Full story

Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 26th September 2016

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

Profession expresses concern over online courts plan – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted September 20th, 2016 in barristers, civil justice, courts, criminal justice, internet, Law Society, news by sally

‘Professional bodies have reacted sceptically to the government’s plans to introduce online courts, raising concerns that defendants could be placed at a disadvantage.’

Full story

Law society’s Gazette, 16th September 2016

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Transforming Our Courts and Tribunals System: By the Lord Chancellor, the Lord Chief Justice and Senior President of Tribunals – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted September 16th, 2016 in civil justice, consultations, courts, criminal justice, reports, tribunals by sally

‘Our justice system is the envy of the world. We have an outstanding independent judiciary that is widely admired as an international leader. Our lawyers have a global – and deserved – reputation for excellence. And we have a legal services industry that contributes billions of pounds every year to the UK economy.’

Full report

Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 15th September 2016

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Fixing the vicious cycle – Counsel

Posted September 1st, 2016 in civil justice, criminal justice, Law Commission, news, parliament by sally

‘Rawdon Crozier considers what legislators and policy makers could learn from British cycling.’

Full story

Counsel, September 2016

Source: www.counselmagazine.co.uk

Landlords behaving badly – Nearly Legal

Posted August 15th, 2016 in civil justice, compensation, costs, damages, fines, harassment, housing, injunctions, landlord & tenant, news, part 36 offers, repossession, striking out, time limits, trespass by sally

‘While the Magistrates Courts continue to hand out paltry fines to landlords on conviction for illegal eviction, despite the removal of the upper £5000 limit, it is good to see that the civil courts are capable of taking a more reasonable approach to quantum.’

Full story

Nearly Legal, 13th August 2016

Source: www.nearlylegal.co.uk

Police to hire law firms to tackle cyber criminals in radical pilot project – The Guardian

Posted August 15th, 2016 in assets recovery, civil justice, computer crime, contracting out, criminal justice, evidence, fraud, internet, law firms, news, pilot schemes, police, proceeds of crime, statistics by sally

‘Private law firms will be hired by police to pursue criminal suspects for profit, under a radical new scheme to target cyber criminals and fraudsters.’

Full story

The Guardian, 14th August 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

What is London litigation’s place in the post-Brexit world? – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted August 12th, 2016 in brexit, civil justice, contracts, dispute resolution, EC law, enforcement, jurisdiction, London, news, referendums by sally

‘It will be a while yet before the dust settles following the outcome of the 23 June referendum on the UK’s membership of the EU. London’s litigators are likely to have voted in different ways on an issue that touches so many different areas of our lives. But I am sure all would agree that the uncertainties generated by the result have the capacity to damage London as a global centre for litigation if not properly managed and addressed. Other litigation hubs are already seeking to capitalise and highlight challenges litigants in London may now face in a bid to attract work. It is vital that as a profession we work to meet that head on.’

Full story

Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 9th August 2016

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

Briggs presses ahead with Online Court and challenges profession to get to grips with unbundling – Legal Futures

Posted July 28th, 2016 in civil justice, costs, courts, internet, news, reports by sally

‘Lord Justice Briggs published his final report on the structure of the civil courts and retained his strong support for the creation of an online court for claims worth up to £25,000 – which he said should be called the Online Solutions Court – although he has shifted position to say that parties should be able to recover a limited amount of legal costs.’

Full story

Legal futures, 27th July 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Bar Council response to Lord Justice Briggs’ review – The Bar Council

Posted July 28th, 2016 in barristers, civil justice, courts, internet, press releases, reports by sally

‘The Bar Council has responded to Lord Justice Briggs’ Civil Courts Structure Review. Chairman of the Bar, Chantal-Aimée Doerries QC, said: “Efforts to modernise the courts and improve efficiencies in our justice system are essential. It is surely time to make a proper investment in our civil justice system for the future, to provide justice for all.” ‘

Full press release

The Bar Council, 27th July 2016

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Civil Courts Structure Review (CCSR): Final Report published – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted July 28th, 2016 in civil justice, courts, press releases, reports by sally

‘The final report of Lord Justice Briggs’ Civil Courts Structure Review was published on 27 July 2016.’

Full report and report

Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 27th July 2016

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Breaking: ‘minimal assistance’ from lawyers in online court – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted July 27th, 2016 in appeals, civil justice, costs, courts, electronic filing, employment tribunals, internet, news, small claims by sally

‘A long-awaited report on the future of civil courts has recommended a new online court for dealing with all monetary claims up to £25,000.’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 27th July 2016

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

The Treatment of Migrant Workers: A Patchwork of Protection – Littleton Chambers

Posted July 26th, 2016 in civil justice, employment, immigration, news by sally

‘June was a bumper month in the developing field of claims concerning vulnerable migrant workers who are badly treated by their employers. English law offers a patchwork quilt of contractual and statutory protections. One of the challenges for advisers and representatives is identifying the most appropriate causes of action for the treatment received.’

Full story

Littleton Chambers, 14th July 2016

Source: www.littletonchambers.com