Category: criminal justice

Offenders ‘not getting support they need’ due to decline in pre-sentence reports – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted July 19th, 2018 in community service, criminal justice, news, reports, sentencing by sally

‘Fewer pre-sentence reports (PSR) may be linked to the worrying decline in community sentences in England and Wales, according to interim analysis conducted by a justice thinktank. The Centre for Justice Innovation says community sentences are significantly more effective than short-term custodial sentences to reduce reoffending – a key priority for justice secretary David Gauke. However, community sentences have fallen in England, in contrast to other UK jurisdictions.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 19th July 2018

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Criminal solicitors in England and Wales challenge cut to fees – The Guardian

Posted July 18th, 2018 in criminal justice, fees, news, solicitors by sally

‘Criminal solicitors have had their fees for reading large quantities of crown court evidence cut by up to 37% under changes imposed by the Ministry of Justice, the high court has heard.’

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The Guardian, 17th July 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Independent barristers “better quality” than other criminal advocates, say judges – Legal Fututes

Posted July 2nd, 2018 in advocacy, barristers, criminal justice, news, solicitor advocates by sally

‘The standard of criminal advocacy is “generally competent”, but that of solicitor-advocates and in-house barristers is inferior to the self-employed Bar, research among judges has found.’

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Legal Futures, 2nd July 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Justice secretary’s plan for female prisoners ‘underfunded by £15m’ – The Guardian

Posted June 28th, 2018 in criminal justice, news, prisons, women by sally

‘The government’s advisers on dealing with female offenders have written a joint letter to the justice secretary branding a new strategy for women in prison a missed opportunity that is underfunded by at least £15m.’

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The Guardian, 27th June 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Trials and tribulations: my life as a criminal barrister – The Guardian

Posted June 26th, 2018 in barristers, criminal justice, news, rehabilitation, young offenders by sally

‘Years spent representing young offenders left me unconvinced that the system was giving them a fair shot at rehabilitation.’

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The Guardian, 26th June 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Consultation launched on General guideline for offences not covered by specific guidance – Sentencing Council

Posted June 21st, 2018 in consultations, criminal justice, press releases, sentencing by sally

‘The Sentencing Council has launched a consultation on a General sentencing guideline for use when sentencing offences for which there is no existing guideline.’

Full press release

Sentencing Council, 19th June 2018

Source: www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk

Speech by Lord Justice Gross: Disclosure – Again – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted June 21st, 2018 in case management, criminal justice, disclosure, police, speeches by sally

‘Speech by Lord Justice Gross: Disclosure – Again.’

Full speech

Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 19th June 2018

Source: www.judiciary.uk

MPs warned of court modernisation risks – Legal Futures

Posted June 18th, 2018 in civil justice, courts, criminal justice, electronic filing, news, select committees by sally

‘Evidence provided to MPs by those involved in or observing the courts have outlined wide-ranging concerns about the government’s court modernisation programme.’

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Legal Futures, 18th June 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Bar Council statement on AGFS vote – The Bar council

Posted June 14th, 2018 in barristers, criminal justice, industrial action, legal aid, press releases by sally

‘Statement from Andrew Walker QC, Chair of the Bar, and Richard Atkins QC, Chair-Elect of the Bar, on the criminal Bar’s vote on the Advocates’ Graduated Fee Scheme (AGFS).’

Full press release

The Bar council, 12th June 2018

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

52:48 again – criminal barristers vote to accept government legal aid deal – Legal Futures

Posted June 13th, 2018 in barristers, criminal justice, fees, legal aid, news by sally

‘The criminal Bar has narrowly voted to accept the government’s offer of £15m additional funding for the advocates’ graduated fee scheme, a result described as “neither a defeat nor a victory”.’

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Legal Futures, 12th June 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Barristers in England and Wales call off industrial action – The Guardian

Posted June 12th, 2018 in barristers, criminal justice, industrial action, legal profession, news by sally

‘Criminal barristers have voted by a narrow margin to call off industrial action over fees that has been disrupting court cases across England and Wales for the past few months.’

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The Guardian, 12th June 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Bar Council chair says he would vote for government’s criminal legal aid deal – Legal Futures

Posted June 8th, 2018 in barristers, criminal justice, fees, legal aid, news by sally

‘The chairman of the Bar Council said yesterday that he would support the £15m deal being offered by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) to end the action over criminal legal aid fees, as barristers began voting on whether to accept it.’

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Legal Futures, 8th June 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Court users “must buy in to reforms”, says MoJ as it pledges vulnerable will not be left behind

Posted June 7th, 2018 in civil justice, courts, criminal justice, elderly, electronic filing, mental health, news, select committees by sally

‘The Ministry of Justice’s top civil servant has told MPs that the government’s massive court reform programme will have failed if it does not carry the support of those who use the courts.’

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Legal Futures, 7th June 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Barristers bring flexible courts into legal aid action – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted May 31st, 2018 in barristers, courts, criminal justice, flexible working, industrial action, legal aid, news by sally

‘Criminal barristers refusing to take on new legal aid work have asked the government to abandon plans to test new operating hours for courts, as heads of chambers prepare to discuss whether or not to accept the government’s surprise offer of investment last week.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 30th May 2018

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Gauke: criminal bar’s action to disrupt the courts is unacceptable – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted May 24th, 2018 in barristers, criminal justice, fees, industrial action, legal aid, news by sally

‘A dispute between the government and the criminal bar over legal aid fees shows no signs of being resolved soon, after the lord chancellor said he was disappointed by the action being taken by advocates and declaring that any disruption to the courts is “unacceptable”‘.

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Law Society's Gazette, 24th May 2018

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

New legislation will modernise the courts – Ministry of Justice

Posted May 24th, 2018 in civil justice, courts, criminal justice, judiciary, lists, press releases by sally

‘The Courts and Tribunals (Judiciary and Functions of Staff) Bill will increase efficiency by allowing greater flexibility to deploy the right judge to the right case.’

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 23rd May 2018

Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice

Right to see Parole Board decisions comes into force – The Guardian

Posted May 22nd, 2018 in criminal justice, disclosure, news, parole, reasons by sally

‘Members of the public will be able to request summaries of Parole Board decisions on whether prisoners are safe to release under a law change prompted by the handling of the case of serial sex attacker John Worboys.’

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The Guardian, 22nd May 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Just four of 100 highest-earning criminal defence barristers are women – Legal Futures

Posted May 21st, 2018 in barristers, criminal justice, news, remuneration, women by sally

‘Women barely feature among the top 100 criminal defence barristers when judged by earnings, new figures have shown, and the Bar has been warned that the government could use EU rules on equality in procurement to force change.’

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Legal Futures, 21st May 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

ABSs can facilitate criminal legal aid revolution, argues former justice minister – Legal Futures

Posted May 21st, 2018 in alternative business structures, criminal justice, legal aid, news by sally

‘The legal market is “totally fragmented, under-capitalised, technologically semi-illiterate and structurally redundant”, a former justice minister has claimed, arguing that a smaller number of big firms is the answer to the problems with criminal legal aid.’

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Legal Futures, 21st May 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

HMCTS behind schedule on “ambitious” court reform programme, says watchdog – Local Government Lawyer

Posted May 11th, 2018 in budgets, civil justice, courts, criminal justice, delay, electronic filing, news by sally

‘HM Courts Service is behind where it expected to be at this stage of its ambitious reform programme, the National Audit Office has warned.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 10th May 2018

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk