Barristers call off walkout after legal aid cuts suspended – The Guardian

Posted March 28th, 2014 in barristers, budgets, criminal justice, fees, industrial action, legal aid, news by sally

‘Criminal barristers have called off their industrial action over legal aid payments after reaching a deal with the Ministry of Justice to suspend cuts until after the next general election.’

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The Guardian, 27th March 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Bhatia Best Ltd v Lord Chancellor – WLR Daily

Posted March 27th, 2014 in appeals, homelessness, law firms, law reports, legal aid by tracey

Bhatia Best Ltd v Lord Chancellor: [2014] EWHC 746 (QB);   [2014] WLR (D)  142

‘In an appeal under section 204 of the Housing Act 1996 the county court was not “required by an enactment to make a decision applying the principles that are applied by the court on an application for judicial review” for the purposes of paragraph 19(10) of Schedule 1, Part 1 to the Legal Aid Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 with the result that the claimant was not entitled to receive civil legal aid funding for such an appeal.’

WLR Daily, 17th March 2014

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Prisoners’ Legal Aid, Malayan Killings and the Role of the Judiciary – the Human Rights Roundup – UK Human Rights Blog

‘This week, a challenge to the legal aid reforms by the Howard League for Penal Reform is rejected, while campaigners seeking an inquiry into the action of British soldiers in Malaya in 1948 face similar disappointment. Meanwhile, some of the most senior judges in the UK give their views on the role of the judiciary today.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 23rd March 2014

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Lawrence family lawyer Imran Khan: ‘We see what the state is capable of’ – The Guardian

‘Imran Khan has been routinely portrayed as an anti‑establishment troublemaker. Now, in the wake of the Ellison report on police corruption, he explains how it feels to be vindicated.’

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The Guardian, 25th March 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Criminal solicitors to walk out for third time over legal aid cuts – The Guardian

Posted March 21st, 2014 in budgets, criminal justice, industrial action, legal aid, news, probation, solicitors by sally

“Criminal solicitors across England and Wales are to stage a two-day walkout at the end of the month to coincide with a strike by probation workers.”

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The Guardian, 20th March 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Funding Family Proceedings and Legal Services Orders – Family Law Week

‘Tony Ward, Family Law barrister with 3PB analyses the latest case law relating to Legal Services Orders under s.22ZA MCA 1973.’

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Family Law Week, 18th March 2014

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Unsuccessful challenge to prison law legal aid cuts to be appealed – LegalVoice

Posted March 18th, 2014 in appeals, legal aid, news, prisons by tracey

‘The Howard League and the Prisoners’ Advice Service (PAS) this morning announced that they will appeal a decision by the High Court to dismiss their challenge to legal aid cuts for prisoners.’

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LegalVoice, 17th March 2014

Source: www.legalvoice.org.uk

High court rejects challenge to legal aid – The Guardian

Posted March 18th, 2014 in appeals, legal aid, news, prisons by tracey

‘The high court has rejected a challenge by charities working with prisoners over legal aid cuts introduced by the justice secretary, Chris Grayling. The Howard League for Penal Reform and the Prisoners Advice Service said vulnerable people in the prison system, including inmates with mental health problems and women with babies, would suffer injustice following the removal of the right to criminal legal aid in many prison law cases. Lady Justice Rafferty and Mr Justice Cranston, sitting in London on Monday, said they could “well understand the concerns” raised by the new regulations, introduced in December by Grayling, who is also the lord chancellor. “But we simply cannot see, at least at this point in time, how these concerns can arguably constitute unlawful action by the lord chancellor. For the time being, the forum for advancing these concerns remains the political.” ‘

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The Guardian, 17th March 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

High court to rule on Chris Grayling’s legal aid cuts for prisoners – The Guardian

Posted March 17th, 2014 in budgets, judicial review, legal aid, news, prisons by tracey

‘The high court will on Monday rule on a challenge by charities working with prisoners to the legality of legal aid cuts introduced by justice secretary Chris Grayling. The Howard League for Penal Reform and the Prisoners’ Advice Service (PAS) say vulnerable people in the prison system, including inmates with mental health problems and mothers with young babies, will suffer injustice.’

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The Guardian, 17th March 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Update for the profession from the Chairman of the Bar – The Bar Council

Posted March 13th, 2014 in barristers, fees, legal aid, news by tracey

‘Access to justice and the quality of our justice system are currently under threat on several fronts. As we face a number of challenges, I never fail to be impressed by the sense of unity across the profession, who are determined speak out for what we believe in. I for one have no intention to deviate from that course.’

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The Bar Council, 12th March 2014

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Legal aid cuts for prisoners face high court challenge – The Guardian

Posted March 10th, 2014 in budgets, legal aid, ministers' powers and duties, news, prisons by sally

‘The government’s decision to deprive prisoners of legal aid has been challenged in the high court on Thursday by charities warning that it will hamper rehabilitation efforts and fail to save money.’

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The Guardian, 6th March 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Lawyers to walk out for second time in protest against legal aid cuts – The Guardian

Posted March 10th, 2014 in barristers, budgets, industrial action, legal aid, news, solicitors by sally

‘Barristers and solicitors will attempt to bring the criminal justice system to a standstill on Friday in protest at the government’s latest round of £215m cuts to legal aid.’

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The Guardian, 7th March 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

The disturbing conflict of interest at the heart of British justice – Garden Court Chambers

‘Today, lawyers go on strike for the second time since January. The battle is with the Lord Chancellor, Chris Grayling, over his proposed reforms to legal aid. Strike action, from a generally traditional and conservative profession, is all but unprecedented and threatens to bring the criminal justice system to a halt. What has brought relations between the legal profession and Mr Grayling to this pitch?’

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Garden Court Chambers, 7th March 2014

Source: www.gclaw.wordpress.com

Cuts to legal aid: seeking permission for judicial review – CrimeLine

Posted March 6th, 2014 in judicial review, legal aid, news, parole, prisons by tracey

‘Two charities will go to court tomorrow (6 March) to seek permission to challenge the government’s decision to cut legal aid for prisoners.’

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CrimeLine, 5th March 2014

Source: www.crimeline.info

Inquisitorial system may be better for family and civil cases, says top judge – The Guardian

Posted March 4th, 2014 in civil justice, family courts, judges, legal aid, litigants in person, news by sally

‘A judge-led, inquisitorial system of justice may be a better way of conducting family and civil cases where litigants are unrepresented, the lord chief justice has suggested.’

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The Guardian, 4th March 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Further torment – New Law Journal

‘Rosalyn Akar Grams reviews the impact of LASPO on the provision of quality legal representation for survivors of torture, as part of an exclusive NLJ online series on legal aid post-LASPO.’

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New Law Journal, 19th February 2014

Source: www.newlawjournal.co.uk

Fears for legal aid justice as lawyer admits ‘I can’t afford my own wig’ – The Guardian

Posted February 28th, 2014 in budgets, criminal justice, fees, legal aid, news, remuneration, solicitor advocates by sally

‘Solicitor advocate Caitriona McLaughlin fears government cuts will deter firms from taking loss-making magistrates court cases.’

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The Guardian, 27th February 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Criminal legal aid fee cuts for lawyers confirmed by justice secretary – The Guardian

Posted February 28th, 2014 in barristers, criminal justice, fees, legal aid, news, solicitors by sally

‘Cuts in criminal legal aid fees of 17.5% on average for solicitors and 6% for barristers have been confirmed by the justice secretary, Chris Grayling.’

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The Guardian, 27th February 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Judge asks attorney general to intervene in VHCCs – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The attorney general is considering intervening to appoint an amicus curiae to assist the court on legal arguments expected to be made on behalf of defendants facing trial without representation in court, the Gazette can reveal.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 25th February 2014

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Family set blames legal aid cuts for closure – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted February 25th, 2014 in barristers, legal aid, news by sally

‘Barristers at a leading family law set with 28 members have voted to dissolve the chambers, blaming the impact of legal aid cuts.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 24th February 2014

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk