Legal aid: Lawyer’s strike warning over reform plans – BBC News

Posted March 25th, 2013 in barristers, bills, budgets, costs, industrial action, legal aid, news, solicitors by sally

“A Welsh barrister has warned that lawyers could go on strike against the UK government’s latest plan to cut the legal aid bill in England and Wales.”

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BBC News, 24th March 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

No consultation on principle of criminal legal aid tendering – LAG News Blog

Posted March 22nd, 2013 in consultations, criminal justice, legal aid, news, tenders by sally

“It was clear from the meeting of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Legal Aid yesterday evening that there is a wide gulf between legal aid practitioners and the government on the issue of competitive tendering for criminal legal aid services. Members of the audience, many of whom were solicitors and barristers specialising in criminal work, were shocked to hear Dr Elizabeth Gibby, the senior official at the Ministry of Justice responsible for the policy, declare that the consultation on competitive tendering planned for next month ‘will be on the model only and not the principle’.”

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LAG News Blog, 21st March 2013

Source: www.legalactiongroupnews.org.uk

QASA: part of a sustained attack on legal aid? – LegalVoice

Posted March 21st, 2013 in advocacy, barristers, legal aid, legal profession, news, quality assurance by sally

“Amongst criminal lawyers, the issues surrounding QASA – the Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates – that have been rumbling on for a few years, is coming to a head, writes Dan Bunting. The Criminal Bar Association have come out very strongly against it which prompted a strong response from Baroness Ruth Deech, the Chair of the Bar Standards Board. It has also managed to achieve the impossible – uniting barristers and solicitors.”

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LegalVoice, 21st March 2013

Source: www.legalvoice.org.uk

Update from the Chairman – The Bar Council

Posted March 18th, 2013 in barristers, consultations, fees, legal aid, news, public interest by sally

“These are remarkably difficult times for all the publicly-funded Bar. Whilst there is great concern and unrest at the criminal Bar, civil and family practitioners will see entire practice areas removed from the scope of legal aid in just a few weeks. The Bar Council has to watch and protect the interests of all practitioners.”

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The Bar Council, 15th March 2013

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

‘Unbundling’ the new craze as lawyer-backed family mediation service launches – Legal Futures

Posted March 18th, 2013 in dispute resolution, divorce, fees, legal aid, legal representation, news by sally

“A lawyer-backed service that supports divorcing couples during mediation, charging fixed fees to halve the cost, is being billed as a possible lifeline for family legal aid lawyers after 1 April.”

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Legal Futures, 18th March 2013

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Reform agenda to create “two-tier Bar”, with bulk of chambers to suffer – Legal Futures

Posted March 12th, 2013 in barristers, fees, legal aid, legal profession, news by sally

“Legal aid cuts, the Jackson reforms and the introduction of competitive tendering for criminal law work will split the Bar into a two-tier profession, with mid-sized generalist chambers set to suffer, a specialist Bar consultant has predicted.”

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Legal Futures, 12th March 2013

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Legal aid cuts force closure of almost a third of Shelter offices – The Guardian

“Cuts to legal aid are forcing the closure of almost a third of Shelter’s housing advice centres and compelling the Red Cross to abandon its assistance for family reunions, the organisations claim.”

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The Guardian, 11th March 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Government failing to bring Britain in line with European rules on human trafficking, say charities – The Independent

“The Government has failed to bring Britain in line with European laws on human trafficking, according to leading charities, who say victims of the crime are being left vulnerable to further abuse.”

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The Independent, 10th March 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Family of royal hoax suicide nurse denied legal aid for inquest – The Independent

Posted March 7th, 2013 in families, inquests, legal aid, legal representation, news, suicide by sally

“The family of the nurse who apparently took her own life after answering the Duchess of Cambridge hoax call has been denied legal aid for her inquest, The Independent can disclose.”

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The Independent, 7th March 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Lord Neuberger to the executive: get your tanks off the judicial lawn – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted March 6th, 2013 in human rights, judiciary, legal aid, news, United Nations by sally

“In a rare public intervention Lord Neuberger, President of the UK Supreme Court, has flagged three important issues that should be of concern to us all.”

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UK Human Rights Blog, 6th March 2013

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Criminal legal aid scheme of the future must be based on quality and public interest, not just price – The Bar Council

Posted March 6th, 2013 in advocacy, competition, 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 announcement that its consultation and implementation of a new scheme for criminal legal aid will be brought forward, with price competition put forward as one key proposal.”

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The Bar Council, 5th March 2013

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Bar Council calls for proportionate regulation in response to LSBs Business Plan – The Bar Council

Posted March 6th, 2013 in budgets, legal aid, news, public interest, regulations by sally

“The Bar Council, which represents barristers in England and Wales, has called for proportionate and financially responsible regulation in its response to the Legal Services Board’s (LSB) draft business plan for 2013-14.”

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The Bar Council, 4th March 2013

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Nowhere to hide for legal aid dodgers – Ministry of Justice

Posted March 6th, 2013 in legal aid, news by sally

“Convicted criminals who leave taxpayers to foot their legal bills, when they can afford to pay, will no longer be able to get it away with, Justice Secretary Chris Grayling announced today [5 March].”

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Ministry of Justice, 5th March 2013

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Criminal legal aid tenders – LAG News Blog

“Lord McNally, the minister with responsibility for legal aid, has announced a decision to ‘accelerate’ the timetable to introduce competitive tendering for criminal legal aid. The government wants to save cash, but LAG asks can it succeed where the last government failed, as designing a tender system will be complex with no guarantee of savings?”

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LAG News Blog, 5th March 2013

Source: www.legalactiongroupnews.org.uk

Q&A: Legal aid changes – BBC News

Posted March 5th, 2013 in civil justice, legal aid, news by sally

“In an effort to cut the £2bn annual legal aid bill in England and Wales by £350m a year, there are soon to be fewer types of civil proceedings for which people can get funding, while changes to funding for criminal cases also looks set to change.”

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BBC News, 5th March 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Legal aid: Chris Grayling plans further cuts – BBC News

Posted March 5th, 2013 in criminal justice, legal aid, news by sally

“Plans to make further savings to the £2bn bill for legal aid in England and Wales have been announced by Justice Secretary Chris Grayling.”

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BBC News, 5th March 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Neuberger warns against risk of profits before principles in the ABS world – Legal Futures

Posted February 22nd, 2013 in alternative business structures, judges, legal aid, legal services, news by sally

“The president of the Supreme Court has urged the legal profession not to lose sight of its fundamental principles in the rush for modernisation, warning about the risks of pressure from “hard-nosed businessmen” who may invest in law firms.’

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Legal Futures, 22nd February 2013

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

International legal aid: private conscience and public duty – LegalVoice

“Lindsay Sandiford, the British woman sentenced to death for smuggling just under five kilos of cocaine into Bali, has obtained sufficient funds to appeal, writes Roger Smith.”

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LegalVoice, 12th February 2013

Source: www.legalvoice.org.uk

LSC drops legal aid contract changes – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted February 11th, 2013 in contracts, disclosure, Law Society, legal aid, news, prosecutions by sally

“The Legal Services Commission has agreed to drop controversial changes to ongoing legal aid contracts following talks with the Law Society.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 11th February 2013

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

UK law is a booming export but at home crime work doesn’t pay – The Guardian

Posted February 8th, 2013 in legal aid, legal profession, legal services, news, remuneration by sally

“While financial law mushrooms, legal aid cuts are threatening basic access to the system and the future of high street solicitors.”

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The Guardian, 7th February 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk