Michael Mansfield: ‘Nowadays there’s one rule for the rich, and another for the poor’ – The Independent

Posted September 30th, 2013 in barristers, budgets, equality, inquiries, legal aid, news by sally

“He has represented everyone from the Lawrence family to the Hillsborough victims. But, he tells Emily Dugan, cuts to legal aid mean he can now only exist as a ‘virtual lawyer’.”

Full story

The Independent, 27th September 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Less money, less justice? – LegalVoice

Posted September 26th, 2013 in criminal justice, law firms, legal aid, legal profession, news, remuneration by sally

“Blaming over-zealous police or irresponsible prosecutors for miscarriages of justice makes for a simple and straightforward narrative, writes Daniel Newman. As with most things, though, the reality is more complicated, and defence lawyers may also have a role to play. This being the case, the neat binary opposition we so rely on in criminal justice is somewhat obscured.”

Full story

LegalVoice, 26th September 2013

Source: www.legalvoice.org.uk

Tooks Chambers to resurrect as low-cost Mansfield Chambers – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted September 26th, 2013 in barristers, legal aid, news by sally

“Fifteen members of leading civil liberties set Tooks Court are to form a new low-cost chambers that could be open within the next fortnight, the Gazette can exclusively reveal.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 23rd September 2013

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Transforming legal aid – why do the survey? – Legal Aid Handbook

Posted September 24th, 2013 in criminal justice, law firms, legal aid, news by sally

“Vicky Ling and Andrew Otterburn have been commissioned by the Law Society and MoJ to carry out a survey of firms to try to assess the impact that the government’s revised proposals will have on criminal defences practices.”

Full story

Legal Aid Handbook, 23rd September 2013

Source: www.legalaidhandbook.com

Legal aid residence test ‘will just shift cost to council taxpayers’ – The Guardian

Posted September 24th, 2013 in children, homelessness, legal aid, local government, news, reports by sally

“Introducing a proposed residence test for legal aid will lead to local authorities paying tens of millions of pounds to support children in care and prevent increased homelessness, campaigners have warned the Ministry of Justice.”

Full story

The Guardian, 23rd September 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Leading civil rights lawyers Tooks Chambers closes, blaming legal aid cuts – The Independent

Posted September 24th, 2013 in barristers, human rights, legal aid, news by sally

“One of Britain’s leading civil rights barristers’ chambers, which led inquiries into the deaths of Stephen Lawrence and Princess Diana and the Hillsborough disaster, is closing due to Government cuts to legal aid.”

Full story

The Independent, 23rd September 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Cash-strapped law centres turn clients away as legal aid cuts bite – The Guardian

Posted September 19th, 2013 in law centres, legal aid, news by sally

“Charitable sector faces dilemma of how to continue helping vulnerable people as funding for many cases dries up.”

Full story

The Guardian, 18th September 2013

Source: www.guardian.com

Two-tier bar will emerge from spending cuts, warn leading silks – The Lawyer

Posted September 17th, 2013 in barristers, legal aid, legal profession, news by sally

“A two-tier bar will emerge as a result of public sector sector spending cuts, with top level commercial sets breaking away from the mid-tier in the civil sector, leading barristers warn today.”

Full story

The Lawyer, 16th September 2013

Source: www.thelawyer.com

Legal Aid’s Still On The Brink – Garden Court Chambers Blog

Posted September 17th, 2013 in civil justice, immigration, law firms, legal aid, news, prisons by sally

“Liz Davies, writing in the Morning Star on Saturday 14 September, delivers a grim warning about the future of legal aid.”

Full story

Garden Court Chambers Blog, 17th September 2013

Source: www.gclaw.wordpress.com

Veils in Court, Grayling and the Left & Legal Aid Anxieties – The Human Rights Roundup

“Welcome back to the UK Human Rights Roundup, your regular breakfast cereal variety box of human rights news and views. The full list of links can be found here. You can find previous roundups here. Post by Sarina Kidd, edited and links compiled by Adam Wagner.”

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 16th September 2013

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

LAG: ‘disturbing’ drop off in legal aid cases – LegalVoice

Posted September 11th, 2013 in civil justice, debts, housing, legal aid, news, statistics by tracey

“The Legal Action Group has warned that what remains of civil legal aid could just ‘wither away’ as new research reveals ‘a disturbing reduction’ in the take-up of cases, writes Jon Robins. According to the group, there has been a marked drop off even for the cases still covered by legal aid.”

Full story

LAG report

LegalVoice, 11th September 2013

Source: www.legalvoice.org.uk

Specialist planning court proposed to boost UK business – Ministry of Justice

“A specialist planning court has been proposed by Justice Secretary Chris Grayling to help ensure crucial development projects no longer get mired in unnecessary legal delay.”

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 6th September 2013

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

Robbing Peter to Profit Paul – CrimeLine

Posted September 9th, 2013 in contracting out, costs, evidence, forensic science, legal aid, news, police by tracey

“In December 2010 the government announced plans to close the Forensic Science Service (FSS). The FSS was the primary source of forensic expertise to prosecution authorities, and a major provider of expertise to defence lawyers – demonstrating a world class position as provider of impartial evidence to the criminal justice system. Whilst at the time of closure there was already an increasing move to outsourcing services to private forensic providers, the bulk of market share was taken by the FSS, meaning that private providers had little commercial clout. Since the demise of the FSS the position has shifted and power is split between the buyers of services (primarily the police) and the private providers. One matter of grave concern at the moment is in relation to accessing forensic material.”

Full story

CrimeLine, 9th September 2013

Source: www.crimeline.info

Judicial Review and Legal Aid under threat… and a Human Rights Birthday – The Human Rights Roundup – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted September 9th, 2013 in human rights, judicial review, legal aid, news, solicitors by tracey

“Welcome back to the UK Human Rights Roundup, your regular Olympic opening ceremony of human rights news and views.”

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 8th September 2013

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

The Bar Standards Board responds to new proposals for criminal legal aid – Bar Standards Board

Posted September 6th, 2013 in barristers, competition, consultations, criminal justice, legal aid, press releases by tracey

“The Bar Standards Board responds to new proposals for criminal legal aid.”

Full press release

Bar Standards Board, 5th September 2013

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Bar Council Responds to New Legal Aid Consultation – The Bar Council

Posted September 6th, 2013 in barristers, consultations, legal aid, news by tracey

“The Bar Council, which represents barristers in England and Wales, has today responded to the publication of the Ministry of Justice’s new legal aid consultation.”

Full press release

The Bar Council, 5th September 2013

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

When can CFAs replace legal aid? – Legal Aid Handbook

Posted September 5th, 2013 in fees, legal aid, news by sally

“Many practitioners are concerned about the implications of recent delays in granting legal aid whilst the LAA is making detailed investigations about whether CFAs are available – even in cases where they clearly are not.”

Full story

Legal Aid Handbook, 4th September 2013

Source: www.legalaidhandbook.com

Grayling announces U-turn on legal aid competition plan – The Guardian

Posted September 5th, 2013 in competition, legal aid, news, solicitors, tenders by sally

“Plans to award legal aid contracts to the lowest bidders following criticisms it would reduce justice to a ‘factory mentality’ have been scrapped.”

Full story

The Guardian, 5th September 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Grayling refuses to delay legal aid cuts – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted August 29th, 2013 in delay, human rights, legal aid, news, select committees by sally

“The justice secretary has indicated that he will press on with ‘far-reaching’ legal aid cuts, ignoring pleas from MPs, peers and the Law Society to delay them to enable parliamentary scrutiny.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 28th August 2013

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Are Britain’s barristers living on borrowed time? – Daily Telegraph

“It’s a profession that’s been associated with glamour, intrigue and financial gain. But imminent changes to our legal system have criminal lawyers fearing for their livelihoods. Why? And who stands to lose the most? Julia Llewellyn Smith reports.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 20th August 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk