The Bar in society: A vital force for good – Speech by Maura McGowan QC, Chairman of the Bar

The Bar in society: A vital force for good (PDF)

Speech by Maura McGowan QC, Chairman of the Bar

Annual Bar Conference, 2nd November 2013

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Hazards with the use of Court-approved Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) and Legal aid – Thirty Nine Essex Street

Posted November 5th, 2013 in deprivation of liberty safeguards, legal aid, mental health, news by sally

“This paper has been prepared for the information of legal practitioners by the Law Society’s Mental Health and Disability Committee. It sets out our concerns as to the impact of the Civil Legal Aid (Financial Resources and Payment for Services) Regulations 2013 on the entitlement to non-means tested legal aid in DoLs cases where there is court challenge to a DoLS authorisation.”

Full story (PDF)

Thirty Nine Essex Street, November 2013

Source: www.39essex.com

Legal aid cuts criticised by Treasury Counsel and Bar Council – BBC News

Posted November 4th, 2013 in barristers, budgets, legal aid, news by sally

“Government plans to cut legal aid in criminal cases have been criticised by an elite group of barristers used by it to prosecute the most serious crimes.”

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BBC News, 2nd November 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Bar Council responds to legal aid consultation: MoJ is putting cuts before justice – The Bar Council

Posted November 1st, 2013 in barristers, consultations, criminal justice, legal aid, news by sally

The Bar Council, which represents barristers in England and Wales, has today responded to the Ministry of Justice’s (MoJ) second consultation on legal aid cuts, launching a profound and reasoned criticism on the Department for putting instant savings above the long-term health of the justice system.

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The Bar Council, 1st November 2013

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Lawyers to earn higher legal aid fees for early guilty pleas – The Guardian

Posted November 1st, 2013 in criminal justice, fees, guilty pleas, legal aid, news by sally

“Lawyers will be given financial incentives to encourage clients to plead guilty early under government reforms to legal aid but will lose money if cases go to trial, according to solicitors in London.”

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The Guardian, 1st November 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

‘Disastrous’ drop in out-of-court mediation for divorcing couples – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 29th, 2013 in arbitration, courts, divorce, legal aid, litigants in person, news by sally

“The number of divorcing couples using special out-of-court sessions to settle disputes over property and children has collapsed in the wake of legal aid cuts.”

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Daily Telegraph, 28th October 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

‘Family Law Reform: Some Missing Views’ by Rebekah Wilson – Garden Court Family Law Blog

“It is with interest, as a barrister committed to representation of parties in care proceedings that I read the monthly, View from the President’s Chambers (available online). And more recently an interview with the President himself in Counsel Magazine (Justic Delayed is Justice Denied, Chris McWatters talks to Sir James Munby, Counsel October 2013).”

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Garden Court Family Law Blog, 25th October 2013

Source: www.gcfamily.wordpress.com

A Handbook for Litigants in Person – Judiciary of England and Wales

Posted October 23rd, 2013 in courts, legal aid, litigants in person, press releases by tracey

“A guide to appearing in civil cases without legal representation has been produced and published by the judiciary.”

Full guide

Judiciary of England and Wales, 22nd October 2013

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Why breaking up is getting even harder to do – BBC News

“Dozens of centres designed to help couples split up amicably are in danger of closure.”

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BBC News, 19th October 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Lord Neuberger: Don’t restrict right to judicial review – Daily Telegraph

“The Government should not restrict people from seeking judicial review, the UK’s most senior judge has warned.”

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Daily Telegraph, 15th October 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

‘A rank denial of justice’ for vulnerable people: Senior judge attacks plan to cut legal aid by £350m – The Independent

“Britain’s most senior judge has warned the Government that its proposed cuts to the legal aid budget could mean ‘a rank denial of justice’ for vulnerable people.”

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The Independent, 15th October 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Changes to Public Access rules come into effect – Bar Standards Board

Posted October 7th, 2013 in barristers, codes of practice, legal aid, legal education, licensing, news by sally

“Changes to Public Access rules come into effect today, as the Bar Standards Board (BSB) announces the appointment of the Bar Council and HJT to deliver new Public Access training schemes. The BSB also expects to be approving other providers shortly.”

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Bar Standards Board, 4th October 2013

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Claimant and defendant lawyers cross swords over mesothelioma reform – Litigation Futures

Posted October 7th, 2013 in consultations, costs, damages, legal aid, news, personal injuries by sally

“The low costs risk for claimants making mesothelioma claims means they should not longer benefit from an exemption from the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPO), a leading defendant law firm has argued.”

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Litigation Futures, 7th October 2013

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Legal aid protests held by UK Uncut – BBC News

Posted October 7th, 2013 in budgets, demonstrations, equality, legal aid, news by sally

“Demonstrators have staged events across England in opposition to planned changes to legal aid.”

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BBC News, 5th October 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Mousa – a costly costs quirk – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted October 4th, 2013 in costs, legal aid, news by sally

“In the substantive judgment (see Adam Wagner’s post on the order), the Divisional Court decided two main issues, one relating to the independence of the Iraq Historic Allegations Team, and one relating to the extent to which an inquiry conducted through IHAT complied with Article 2 of the ECHR. The Secretary of State succeeded on the first issue, whereas the claimant succeeded substantially on the second issue relating to the need for a different form of inquiry. Hence there was no overall winner; the Secretary of State won on the first issue and the claimant succeeded substantially on the second issue. But more time was spent on the first issue.”

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UK Human Rights Blog, 3rd October 2013

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Lord chancellor faces legal aid court action – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted October 4th, 2013 in housing, judicial review, law firms, legal aid, news by sally

“A leading East Midlands firm is to take court action against the lord chancellor Chris Grayling over restrictions on its legal aid contract.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 3rd October 2013

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Bingham Centre launches independent review of Administrative Court – Litigation Futures

Posted October 3rd, 2013 in Administrative Court, judicial review, legal aid, news by sally

“The Bingham Centre for the Rule of Law has launched its own review of how to improve the conduct of judicial review cases in light of the government’s own proposals.”

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Litigation Futures, 2nd October 2013

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Justice: Closing Down Sale – everyone must go! – LegalVoice

Posted October 3rd, 2013 in criminal justice, legal aid, legal profession, news by sally

“More than 400 defence lawyers packed into Camden Town Hall last night to discuss the next steps to fight the Ministry of Justice’s Transforming Legal Aid proposals, reports Gemma Blythe. The Justice: Closing down sale meeting (organised by the London Criminal Courts Solicitors Association) featured speakers including Greg Powell, past president of the LCCSA; Des Hudson, chief executive of the Law Society; Bill Waddington, chair of the Criminal Law Solicitors Association; Nigel Lithman QC of the Criminal Bar Association; and Carol Storer OBE, director of the Legal Aid Practitioners Group.”

Full story

LegalVoice, 2nd October 2013

Source: www.legalvoice.org.uk

Grieve: legal aid cuts hurt, but bar is just too big – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted October 2nd, 2013 in attorney general, barristers, budgets, legal aid, litigants in person, news by tracey

“Attorney general Dominic Grieve has spoken of his sympathy for lawyers affected by the legal aid cuts – but insisted the legal sector cannot be immune from austerity measures.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 30th September 2013

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Mediation services hit by legal aid cuts, Ministry of Justice figures reveal – The Guardian

“Government attempts to promote mediation as an alternative to expensive courtroom divorce and custody battles are failing, according to figures obtained through freedom of information requests.”

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The Guardian, 30th September 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk