A new approach: access to justice in criminal cases – LegalVoice

“Anyone concerned over the need to check the power of the police and prosecution authorities by providing a counter-balance holding these state funded entities to account may find this paper helpful, writes Robin Murray. It is a proposal to save millions of pounds of tax-payers’ money whilst at the same time preserving independent access to justice, an essential pre-requisite to prevent abuse and injustice to which anyone of us, high or low can become a victim.”

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LegalVoice, 5th February 2013

Source: www.legalvoice.org.uk

Pro bono and access to justice: mind the gap – The Guardian

Posted February 4th, 2013 in legal aid, legal education, news, pro bono work by tracey

“Should the UK follow New York’s lead and create a compulsory pro bono scheme to fill the legal aid gap?”

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The Guardian, 4th February 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Bali drugs: UK government accused of breaching Lindsay Sandiford’s rights – The Guardian

“The government’s failure to provide an ‘adequate’ lawyer to represent a British woman sentenced to death in Indonesia for drug smuggling is a breach of her rights, the high court has been told.”

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The Guardian, 31st January 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Butler-Sloss condemns advice cuts – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted January 31st, 2013 in judges, law centres, legal aid, litigants in person, news by sally

“Removing funding for a service that helps litigants in person on the day wide-ranging legal aid cuts take effect will create ‘absolute disarray’ in the courts, a former head of the family division has warned.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 30th January 2013

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

A new generation of lawyers – LegalVoice

“As the Skills Minister Matthew Hancock gives his backing for Apprentice Lawyers, Nick Skeet of Skills for Justice discusses the impact on the industry and what this could mean for legal aid.”

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LegalVoice, 30th January 2013

Source: www.legalvoice.org.uk

Silk cut: are QCs a luxury we can’t afford? – LegalVoice

Posted January 25th, 2013 in fees, legal aid, news, quality assurance, queen's counsel by tracey

“Criminal defence silk’s earnings from legal aid came into focus this week after Justice Secretary Chris Grayling gave strong indications he is considering targeting QCs, writes Elizabeth Davidson.”

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LegalVoice, 25th January 2013

Source: www.legalvoice.org.uk

Listen carefully: jeopardising legal advice services is reckless – The Guardian

Posted January 23rd, 2013 in budgets, legal aid, litigants in person, news by sally

“Cuts to legal aid and grants means courts will be dealing with unprecedented number of self-represented litigants.”

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The Guardian, 23rd January 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

More legal aid cuts will lead to poor relying on ‘second best’ lawyers – The Guardian

Posted January 21st, 2013 in barristers, budgets, legal aid, legal representation, news by sally

“Poor defendants in criminal cases will be condemned to be represented by ‘second best’ lawyers under proposals to slash the costs of legal aid, the chair of the Bar Council has warned.”

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The Guardian, 21st January 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Criminals should not be allowed to hire expensive lawyers, Chris Grayling says – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 21st, 2013 in barristers, budgets, legal aid, legal representation, news by sally

“Criminals should not be allowed to hire the most expensive lawyers when taxpayers are covering their legal costs, the Justice Secretary has said.”

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Daily Telegraph, 21st January 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

The Low Commission: ‘no magic solution’ – LegalVoice

Posted January 16th, 2013 in budgets, consultations, legal aid, legal representation, news by sally

“The Low Commission on the Future of Advice and Legal Support will take evidence over the next year on the impact of the government’s funding cuts, writes Vicky Ling. The Commission will focus on social welfare law covering advice and legal representation on law relating to asylum, benefits, community care, debt, employment, housing, immigration and other areas of public law, such as special educational needs and judicial review.”

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LegalVoice, 15th January 2013

Source: www.legalvoice.org.uk

Foreign national prisoners lose right to legal aid – The Guardian

Posted January 9th, 2013 in appeals, deportation, immigration, legal aid, news by sally

“In April, new legislation will end legal aid for foreign national prisoners facing deportation.”

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The Guardian, 8th January 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

A Second Bite at the Cherry..? Applying for a Rehearing in Family Proceedings – Family Law Week

Posted January 9th, 2013 in appeals, family courts, legal aid, litigants in person, news by sally

“Rodney Noon, solicitor, looks at the scope for bringing a family law case back before the first instance court and asking it to ‘think again’.”

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Family Law Week, 8th January 2013

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Bang to human rights – The Lawyer

Posted January 7th, 2013 in human rights, judicial review, legal aid, legislation, news, reports by sally

“On the one hand the former Lord Chancellor Ken Clarke declared London’s courts to be among the best of British exports, while on the other the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) tore up the legal aid budget. Then there was the proposed crackdown on judicial reviews, while the personal injury sector has seen its business model declared dead, with no detail on an alternative forthcoming.”

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The Lawyer, 7th January 2013

Source: www.thelawyer.com

DIY divorces set to surge as legal aid vanishes – The Independent

Posted January 7th, 2013 in budgets, dispute resolution, divorce, legal aid, litigants in person, news by sally

“On the eve of ‘D-Day’ – that’s Divorce Day, the first Monday back to work after the festive period, when warring couples are more likely to register for a divorce – lawyers warn that tens of thousands of people could find splitting up harder and more costly this year. And the number of those turning to ‘DIY divorce kits’ is expected to surge.”

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The Independent, 6th January 2012

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Government to pay legal fees for families of Hillsborough victims – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 20th, 2012 in health & safety, inquests, legal aid, news, sport, victims by tracey

“The Government will fund legal representation for the families of the 96 Liverpool fans killed in the Hillsborough disaster at the new inquest ordered into their deaths.”

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Daily Telegraph, 20th December 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Fee remissions in the First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) – Ministry of Justice

Posted December 19th, 2012 in asylum, consultations, immigration, legal aid, news by sally

“The consultation is aimed at anyone who has an interest in immigration, asylum and nationality matters or who would be affected by the removal of legal aid for most non-detention immigration appeals when the relevant provisions of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 comes into force in April 2013.”

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Ministry of Justice, 18th December 2012

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Model charity: ‘whatever happens, we’ll carry on, but it won’t be easy’ – The Guardian

Posted December 12th, 2012 in asylum, budgets, charities, homelessness, legal aid, news, refugees by sally

“Southampton and Winchester Visitors Group, which supports destitute refugees, may be hit by sweeping legal aid cuts.”

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The Guardian, 11th December 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Unmeritorious appeals ‘clogging the arteries’ of CoA – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted December 12th, 2012 in appeals, budgets, courts, legal aid, legal representation, news by sally

“Increasing numbers of ‘unmeritorious’ appeals could have the effect of ‘clogging the arteries’ of the court of appeal, the registrar of criminal appeals has warned.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 11th December 2012

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Barristers threaten strike action over legal aid reforms – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 3rd, 2012 in barristers, industrial action, legal aid, news by sally

“Barristers will be forced to take strike action for the first time if the Government pushes ahead with its proposed reform of the legal aid system, the new head of the Criminal Bar Association has said.”

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Daily Telegraph, 1st December 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Commission to examine effect of legal aid cuts as demand for service surges – The Guardian

Posted December 3rd, 2012 in citizens advice bureaux, civil justice, legal aid, legal services, news by sally

“An independent commission is being launched on Monday to examine how to cope with deep cuts to legal aid at a time of complex benefits reforms. The Low Commission, named after its chairman, Lord Low, will hold its first public meeting this week as law centres and Citizens Advice centres across the UK begin turning away those seeking advice.”

Full story

The Guardian, 3rd December 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk