“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’.”
LAG News Blog, 21st March 2013
Source: www.legalactiongroupnews.org.uk
“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.”
Legal Futures, 18th March 2013
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
“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.”
The Guardian, 11th March 2013
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“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.”
The Independent, 10th March 2013
Source: www.independent.co.uk
“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.”
The Independent, 7th March 2013
Source: www.independent.co.uk
“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.”
UK Human Rights Blog, 6th March 2013
Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com
“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.”
The Bar Council, 5th March 2013
Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk
“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.”
The Bar Council, 4th March 2013
Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk
“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].”
Ministry of Justice, 5th March 2013
Source: www.justice.gov.uk
“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?”
LAG News Blog, 5th March 2013
Source: www.legalactiongroupnews.org.uk
“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.”
BBC News, 5th March 2013
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
“Plans to make further savings to the £2bn bill for legal aid in England and Wales have been announced by Justice Secretary Chris Grayling.”
BBC News, 5th March 2013
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
“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.’
Legal Futures, 22nd February 2013
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
“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.”
LegalVoice, 12th February 2013
Source: www.legalvoice.org.uk
“The Legal Services Commission has agreed to drop controversial changes to ongoing legal aid contracts following talks with the Law Society.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 11th February 2013
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
“While financial law mushrooms, legal aid cuts are threatening basic access to the system and the future of high street solicitors.”
The Guardian, 7th February 2013
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
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