When is Judicial Review Available as a Remedy in Relation to Housing Benefit Issues Where There are Possession Proceedings for Rent Arrears? – Garden Court Chambers Blog

Posted August 13th, 2013 in benefits, housing, judicial review, legal aid, news, repossession, social security by sally

“Desmond Rutledge considers the scenarios in which judicial review is available as a solution to certain housing benefit issues and provides specific examples of housing benefit decisions that are susceptible to judicial review.”

Full story

Garden Court Chambers Blog, 13th August 2013

Source: www.gclaw.wordpress.com

Mediation: reasonable growth – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted August 12th, 2013 in arbitration, budgets, family courts, legal aid, news, reports by sally

“The government is introducing measures which it says will take pressure off the courts and tribunals, and in the case of family law disputes fill the gap left by cuts to legal aid. But many practitioners say the policies have not been properly thought through – and may actually hinder the use of mediation.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 12th August 2013

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Cuts to legal aid are an attack on working class, says ’80s miners’ lawyer – The Independent

Posted August 5th, 2013 in budgets, equality, legal aid, miners, news, police by sally

“A leading civil-rights lawyer who helped striking miners successfully fight false accusations from police during the infamous ‘Battle of Orgreave’ has said it would now be much harder for them to achieve justice under the Government’s legal aid reforms.”

Full story

The Independent, 4th August 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

ATE providers and unions – authors of their own misfortune? – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted July 31st, 2013 in costs, insurance, legal aid, news, third parties, time limits, trade unions by sally

“We all know the gravy train is coming to an end. With the abolition of inter partes recovery of After the Event (ATE) premiums and equivalents, ATE providers and unions are scrambling to fill the void in their coffers this will create. Recently, there has been outrage at the suggestion that retrospective reform should be introduced to limit the recoverability of pre 1 April ATE premiums and equivalents, imposing a finite timescale. But is this really justified, or are the ATE providers and union funders bringing such measures on themselves by their disproportionate attitude to the quantum of premiums?”

Full story

Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 30th July 2013

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

Surviving LASPO: ‘Be creative, be out there’ – LegalVoice

“Now that legal aid is diminished, is it possible to find new sources of public funding for legal advice? Yes, if you work at it, writes Sue Bent.”

Full story

LegalVoice, 31st July 2013

Source: www.legalvoice.org.uk

Legal Aid cheats to have cars seized to pay costs – Ministry of Justice

Posted July 30th, 2013 in assets recovery, legal aid, news, proceeds of crime by sally

“From today criminals who deliberately cheat the system and leave taxpayers to foot their legal aid bill, despite being able to pay, face having their cars seized.”

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 30th July 2013

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

New measures to clamp down on legal aid cheats – Ministry of Justice

Posted July 30th, 2013 in assets recovery, enforcement, legal aid, news, proceeds of crime by sally

“New measures launched today will see those criminals who deliberately cheat the system and leave taxpayers to foot their legal aid bill, despite being able to pay, face having their cars seized.”

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 30th July 2013

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

Convicted criminals can have cars seized under plan to cut legal aid bill – The Guardian

Posted July 30th, 2013 in assets recovery, legal aid, news, proceeds of crime by sally

“Convicted criminals who defy orders to contribute to their legal costs may have their cars seized by the Ministry of Justice and sold at auction from Tuesday.”

Full story

The Guardian, 20th July 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Retired appeal judge slams ‘substandard’ aid cuts – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted July 29th, 2013 in budgets, consultations, judges, judicial review, legal aid, news by sally

“Government proposals to restrict legal aid for judicial review will turn the clock back 50 years and perpetrate ‘significant and damaging injustice’, a retired Court of Appeal judge has warned.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 29th July 2013

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

The implications for access to justice of the Government’s proposed legal aid reforms – Joint Committee on Human Rights

“The Joint Committee on Human Rights, chaired by Dr Hywel Francis MP, is today launching an inquiry into the implications for access to justice of certain of the Government’s proposals to reform legal aid, as set out in its Consultation Paper Transforming Legal Aid: delivering a more credible and efficient system.”

Full press release

Joint Committee on Human Rights, 18th July 2013

Source: www.parliament.uk

Legal aid reforms could undermine fundamental principles of justice, warns CPS – The Independent

“Government plans to reform legal aid for criminal suspects could undermine the fundamental principles of justice in England and Wales, the official prosecuting body has suggested.”

Full story

The Independent, 16th July 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Surviving LASPO conference: ‘imperative’ that next government has advice strategy – LegalVoice

Posted July 17th, 2013 in appeals, benefits, budgets, legal aid, legal services, local government, news by sally

“A single helpline to act as ‘a safety net’ for those who can not find legal help and a £100m national advice fund, are likely to be two of more eye-catching recommendations of the Low Commission on the Future of Advice and Legal Support reports Jon Robins.”

Full story

LegalVoice, 17th July 2013

Source: www.legalvoice.org.uk

Is complicity with the death penalty illegal? – UK Human Rights Blog

“In a previous blog post on these pages, the case of Lindsay Sandiford was examined. Sandiford – a British citizen facing the death penalty in Indonesia – had asked the UK Government for funding to help her appeal, but was refused financial help. The Court of Appeal ruled in favour of the Government, stating that the decision to provide legal aid to a British citizen abroad is a discretionary matter for the executive.”

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 17th July 2013

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Roundtable report – LegalVoice

Posted July 11th, 2013 in criminal justice, legal aid, news, parliament by sally

“A roundtable meeting took place yesterday at the House of Commons, speakers included Andy Slaughter MP, Sadiq Khan MP, Emily Thornberry MP, Lord Willy Bach and Jeremy Beecham. Gemma Blythe reports.”

Full story

LegalVoice, 10th July 2013

Source: www.legalvoice.org.uk

Criminal solicitors “losing moral compass” – and not just because of falling legal aid pay – Legal Futures

“Defence lawyers bear partial responsibility for miscarriages of justice, and better ethics training and spending time with ordinary people are as likely to reverse ‘moral decline’ as boosting pay, according to new research.”

Full story

Legal Futures, 10th July 2013

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Woman won harrassment case against ‘bullying bank’ – Daily Telegraph

“A woman has won a case of harassment against her bank after she was plagued by more than 500 calls for missing a single loan payment.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 8th July 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

The Daily Telegraph have recently introduced a limited paywall. Users will be permitted to view 20 Daily Telegraph articles per month for free, after which they will need to pay a subscription fee to access content.

Terror suspect benefits could be cut – Theresa May – BBC News

Posted July 9th, 2013 in benefits, human rights, legal aid, news, social security, terrorism by sally

“Ministers are to look at curtailing benefits for those suspected of terror offences, the home secretary has said.”

Full story

BBC News, 8th July 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Pupillage ‐ the way ahead  – The Bar Council

Posted July 8th, 2013 in barristers, legal aid, legal education, news, pupillage by sally

“The autumn of 2013 will see Government proposals which may bring about the greatest changes to the provision of legally aided representation in criminal cases since the introduction of public funding for those accused of crime. The last two years have seen the most fundamental reduction of legal aid provision in family and general civil work since the introduction of legal aid in 1948.”

Full story (PDF)

The Bar Council, June 2013

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Interview: Lucy Scott-Moncrieff – Law Society’s Gazette

“It was a fitting end to a year’s presidency that has witnessed unprecedented changes in the way legal services are funded and delivered. On 1 July, just 10 days before she is to step down, Lucy Scott-Moncrieff was able to tell the profession that government has at last bowed to Law Society pressure and agreed to retain client choice at the heart of the criminal legal aid system.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 8th July 2013

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Judges call for urgent overhaul to cope with surge of LIPs – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted July 8th, 2013 in judiciary, legal aid, legal education, litigants in person, news by sally

“The government and judicial office must overhaul training, advice to litigants and the nature of the court process itself to deal with thousands more litigants in person (LIPs), a judicial working group has concluded.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 5th July 2013

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk